eBook Formats
You will hear more about eBook formats in the coming months and years as publishing moves in an increasingly digital direction. It’s important to understand that not all eBooks are created equal. Some basic knowledge about eBook formats will save you a lot of headache. While a print book can technically be digitized by creating a PDF, a PDF is not the same as an eBook. When it comes to book distribution, a PDF is not considered a valid eBook format and cannot be distributed through sites like Amazon.com and the iBookstore. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the acronyms and ePublishing-related jargon, so we are providing you with a cheat sheet on the different eBook formats, file types, and the eReaders that they are compatible with.
MOBI
This file type can only be recognized by the Amazon Kindle eReader and the various Kindle apps, such as Kindle for PC, Kindle for Mac and Kindle for iPad.
EPUB
This file type, sometimes referred to as the “universal” eBook format, is recognized by iPad, Nook, Sony Reader, and most other eReading devices. It’s recognized by many software eReaders, too, like Adobe Digital Editions and the Sony Reader for PC. These programs allow people to read eBooks on their laptops or computers, rather than purchasing a separate device.
PDF
This file type is recognized by Adobe Acrobat Reader and is the format that you are probably most familiar with. PDFs can be transferred to an eReader, but it’s important to note that they cannot be purchased through eBook stores like Amazon or iBookstore. Because they do not have the same functionality as MOBI or EPUB files, PDFs are not considered a “true” eBook.
When your book is converted into eBook format by our sister company Publish Green, we convert the original file type - PDF, Word document, or InDesign - and we create both MOBI and EPUB files.
This then allows for your book - now an eBook - to be accessible on all major eReading devices.
It's important to note that, even if an eBook is converted and formatted into a “true” eBook, it is never going to look the same on all eReading devices. An eBook is built using a “liquid” layout. This means that the person reading the book can adjust the font size and style according to their reading preferences. The font can be increased or decreased in size, and the reader can even select whether they want to read in Times New Roman or Helvetica (just to name a couple of different fonts). This is part of the great “flexible” aspect of the eBook format - they really allow you to personalize your reading experience.
FAQs
Will My eBook look exactly like my print book or PDF?
No. As previously mentioned, an eBook is built with a “liquid” layout, and this allows for a user to customize their reading experience. This means that things like the way a page is formatted for print - the specific layout - will not directly translate to the eBook format. Things like bold and italicized text will stay the same, but the number of pages and how each page appears in the final product is dependent on the device that the eBook is being viewed on.
Will my eBook look exactly the same on all the different eReading devices?
No. Each device is built a certain way and each device has its own specified technical requirements for displaying an eBook file. The iPad has a larger screen than the Kindle, so therefore the book won’t have an identical display on these two devices. Similarly, the default fonts on each device are different, so on the iPad you might initially be reading in Helvetica, but on the Kindle you might initially be reading in Geneva.
Will my eBook have all the typical elements of a print book, such as table of contents, page numbers, and index?
No. Since eBooks do not have actual pages (only “locations”), an index would be irrelevant. The page numbers listed in the index would only correspond to pages in the print version, and so wouldn't make sense in an eBook format. Your eBook will have a Table of Contents, but it will be “interactive” - this means that it is “built” into the eBook itself, so that a user can click on the chapter that they want to read and be automatically directed to that specific chapter. An eBook will not have page numbers or the book title and author name at the top of each page, but certain devices will include “location” numbers at the bottom of the screen. By knowing which “location” they are at, a user has an easier time navigating the eBook.
Can my eBook have images and footnotes?
Yes! The eBook format can support images and footnotes. Publish Green can format photos, illustrations, and other graphics into your eBook. There are a few requirements: if the item in question is a chart or table (or some other sort of graphic that is not “normal” text), it will have to be inserted into the eBook as an image. Also, images can only be aligned left, right, or center, and they cannot be overlaid with text. Publish Green can format footnotes into your eBook as well. They will be hyperlinked straight from the text, so it will be easy for the person reading the book to jump to the footnote, and then right back to their place in the book!
Will my eBook be protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management)?
Yes. Publish Green is “DRM-neutral,” meaning that they cannot directly add DRM to the file. Whenever an eBook is submitted to a retailer like Amazon.com or the Apple iBookstore, those specific stores will add DRM specific to their own devices. For example, Amazon adds Kindle-specific DRM to the MOBI file, and the Apple iBookstore adds iPad- or iPhone-specific DRM to the EPUB file. This means that your eBook will be available for one user and one device, and it cannot be shared between users or devices.
