Why no Covers in ePub from Kobobooks?

[hpjrt]

I ordered a book from Kobobooks.com ... and downloaded the ePub book to ADE. Despite paying $14 for the book ... the ePub version downloads without the cover art. I'd like to know why?

It's not as if the cover art can't be a part of the ePub ... and given that one isn't given a discount for taking the ePub over some other format ... so I feel terribly cheated by kobobooks.

Anyone have any ideas?

Mary

[taming]

The Publishers often do not have the contracts in place with the artists for the cover art to be part of the ePUB file. This is not a Kobo issue and you will see this complaint all over the place. From my POV, Publishers have often "cheaped out" when releasing digital editions. This is reflected not only in the lack of cover art, but also in the sloppy job they often do with the files themselves.

[Psyke]

Originally Posted by taming

The Publishers often do not have the contracts in place with the artists for the cover art to be part of the ePUB file. This is not a Kobo issue and you will see this complaint all over the place. From my POV, Publishers have often "cheaped out" when releasing digital editions. This is reflected not only in the lack of cover art, but also in the sloppy job they often do with the files themselves.

but why the difference between formats? you would figure there was a master ebook that's then converted to whatever format they are selling in, be it kobo sql, kindle mobi, epub, etc? Doing the job for each seperate version seems to be even more of a waste of money?

[taming]

Psyke, if I knew the answer to that problem I would quit my day job and reinvent publishing.

[p_a_smith]

Originally Posted by hpjrt

I ordered a book from Kobobooks.com ... and downloaded the ePub book to ADE. Despite paying $14 for the book ... the ePub version downloads without the cover art. I'd like to know why?

It's not as if the cover art can't be a part of the ePub ... and given that one isn't given a discount for taking the ePub over some other format ... so I feel terribly cheated by kobobooks.

Anyone have any ideas?

Mary

I read somewhere (don't remember where) that the problem is how ADE processes the epub- it assumes that the first page is the cover rather than searching elsewhere for the art. Some publishers include the cover as the first page and but most include it somewhere elsewhere in the file. (Which is I think Taming's point about them cheaping out. I suspect it's simpler to covert the file and include the cover seperately rather than embed it as the first page).

Most books I download with ADE don't have a cover but every book I've added to my Kobo via the desktop has included the cover.

[pokee]

Originally Posted by p_a_smith

I read somewhere (don't remember where) that the problem is how ADE processes the epub- it assumes that the first page is the cover rather than searching elsewhere for the art. Some publishers include the cover as the first page and but most include it somewhere elsewhere in the file. (Which is I think Taming's point about them cheaping out. I suspect it's simpler to covert the file and include the cover seperately rather than embed it as the first page).

Most books I download with ADE don't have a cover but every book I've added to my Kobo via the desktop has included the cover.

It's been hit and miss with me. Some of my Kobo-downloaded books have the official cover (other's don't). Some of my side-loaded library books have the official cover (other's don't). I figured it just had to do with the deal with the publisher...

[EDinNB]

It is definitely an ADE problem, All my covers show up in Kobo Desktop and all my covers showed up in ADE prior to the 1.8.1 firmware upgrade... somewhere along the line something got missed and ADE messes with "Some" of the cover art.



EDinNB

[kiwipippa]

Originally Posted by p_a_smith

Most books I download with ADE don't have a cover but every book I've added to my Kobo via the desktop has included the cover.

This sounds familiar. I don't think I have ever got a cover on an ADE loaded book. It really annoys me as the covers show when you buy the book - but then get stripped out and you get some grotty almost courier font cover - or a standard blue bar down the side. It's one of the reasons I liberate my books and add a cover in calibre - and I get to pick the cover I want, even if it is a different edition.