Converting Topaz

[sadievan]

When converting from Topaz to Mobi, should I convert to epub first, then convert from epub to Mobi or is it OK to convert directly from HTMLZ to Mobi. Have read some posts where Topaz doesn't convert well and it seemed that the thinking was converting to epub was better.

Thanks,
Carol

[DiapDealer]

The only reason to convert to epub first would be so you could easily use Sigil (or other editing software) to fix up the formatting and OCR errors that will be anywhere from mild to "holy hell what is that?!"

I definitely back up my topaz books in an epub or html format for future security/use, but as long as I have a device/app that can actually read those original topaz files, I feel no need to convert them to mobi.

The fonts used in a Topaz book are often not that good for reading. So conversion is usually my best option. However, I find that the OCRed text is usually terrible and requires a LOT of tweaking. You will find the usual OCR errors such as T being rendered as "I" or 'I', G being rendered as C and vice versa, E being rendered as F and vice versa, et cetera. It is usually worse if the original scanned text was from a serif font.

At any rate I usually just convert to HTMLZ and then open the html file and run search and replace on those typical OCR errors and any others I can find. I rarely buy Topaz books, otherwise I would try to find an app that will automatically do search and replaces on common OCR errors.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The only reason to convert to epub first would be so you could easily use Sigil (or other editing software) to fix up the formatting and OCR errors that will be anywhere from mild to "holy hell what is that?!"

I definitely back up my topaz books in an epub or html format for future security/use, but as long as I have a device/app that can actually read those original topaz files, I feel no need to convert them to mobi.

Thanks. I back up all my purchases too. I do have a Kindle so I really don't have to convert from the HTMLZ format. That's a good point. I think I mostly convert out of habit and partly OCD.

Thanks,
Carol

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by jswinden

The fonts used in a Topaz book are often not that good for reading. So conversion is usually my best option. However, I find that the OCRed text is usually terrible and requires a LOT of tweaking. You will find the usual OCR errors such as T being rendered as "I" or 'I', G being rendered as C and vice versa, E being rendered as F and vice versa, et cetera. It is usually worse if the original scanned text was from a serif font.

At any rate I usually just convert to HTMLZ and then open the html file and run search and replace on those typical OCR errors and any others I can find. I rarely buy Topaz books, otherwise I would try to find an app that will automatically do search and replaces on common OCR errors.

Thanks for the tips. This was a free offering from Amazon so if it's bad, no money lost.

Carol

[Fschumaur]

Here's an OCR free method to convert Topaz books to PDF

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...65#post1759765