- what is a fixed layout ebook?
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Fixed layout ebooks keep everything fixed still and unchanging from device to device. They are essential when you want your
ebook to have exactly the same look and layout as your printed book. Good examples would be a recipe book or children’s book.
You can search for and select text in these ebooks, but they’re not reflowable. This means the pages do not adapt themselves
for each screen, and the reader can’t change the font or the font size. What you see on page 25 on one device, will be exactly
the same as page 25 on all other devices. In a lot of ways, fixed layout ebooks are like a PDF.
Currently, you can only sell fixed layout ebooks through a few specific retailers, but the marketplace is changing rapidly.
The fixed layout epub is the principal format but, once again, Amazon will convert this to their own proprietary format for
Kindle devices.
Technicians generate these files from your print book files by adapting aspects of the book design (pagination, blanks,
trim size, links, references, etc.) to optimize the pages for digital devices. This isn’t always simple, however. Deciding
on fonts for these ebooks means a tough decision between purchasing an expensive ebook font license or swapping everything
for a free alternative.
The biggest challenge with fixed layout ebooks is text size. A children’s book in a large font will look great on a big
tablet. A customer trying to read a textbook font on a smartphone, however, is likely to end up with a headache. Some devices
do let customers zoom in on text, but this doesn’t make reading it much fun. In fact, the device determines almost everything
about the fixed ebook reading experience, making it something of a lottery. Other than the Kindle Fire, Kindle devices don’t
have color displays, which mean high-quality fixed pages just won’t look their best to your readers.
It’s not all bad news, however. High-resolution devices like the iPad do make fixed layout ebooks look fantastic. Apple iBooks
and Google Play are both proving increasingly popular platforms for fixed layout ebooks showing there is some demand.
- any other considerations?
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There are a few other considerations that it is important to be aware of when deciding if a fixed layout ebook is
appropriate for your material. These include the quantity of text on the pages, the shape of the book pages and how
you intend to sell the ebook.
text quantity
A children’s book in a large font will look great on a big tablet. A customer trying to read a textbook font on a
smartphone, however, is likely to end up with a headache. Some devices do let customers zoom in to read smaller text
but this really doesn't make for a pleasant reading experience. If your book contains lots of text chances are it's
just not suited to fixed layout.
page shape
The aspect ratio of the pages in your print book will not be the same as an ebook device. There is likely to therefore
be an empty white padding area above/below your pages when you view them on a small screen. Also, if your book is
designed to span double-page spreads it is possible to adjust the settings so your ebook opens across a double page.
Things like this just need to be taken into account.
limited retailers
There are currently two main formats of fixed layout ebook: epub fixed layout (for Apple), and KF8 fixed layout
(for Kindle). Currently that means you can only really sell fixed layout ebooks through iBooks and Amazon.
- what about my ebook cover?
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The first page of your ebook will be an elastic cover image. Here we take the front cover image from your
print book and style it so it expands to fit the screen appropriately on any small ereader device. If we have created
your print book cover then we will have the cover file in the format required. If your cover was created elsewhere
please provide it as a pdf and we will crop and include this accordingly.
The back cover is not typically included in an ebook file. Marketing information such as the book synopsis or author
bio should instead be included as metadata when the book is submitted for distribution.
- how can I review my ebook?
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You cannot just double click an epub file and try to review it on your PC or in a browser. Not only are these
filetypes not supported by most browsers but your readers won't be reading your ebook on their desktop computer so it
is just not representative of their experience.
The best way to review your ebook and see how it will look on a range of devices is to use Amazon's Kindle Previewer
software which is free to download and is a great way to see your ebook as it will look on a tablet, a phone or a
Kindle device. See this page for tips on how to review your ebook.
- what if I need changes?
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Your ebook is a conversion of your print book. Any changes required will typically fall into one of these categories.
styling and edits
Your pages should look identical to your print version so if you spot anything to change then you will want to update
this in the print book first. Our standard changes fee of $48 USD will apply
to each file that requires correction.
errors
When your book is converted items are tagged with html it is theoretically possible for an error to creep in such as
pages in the wrong sequence or something missing. If you spot something please just send us include an image of the
issue—either as a screen capture or photo—and we will investigate for you.
- what are your terms?
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We do not have a written contract for you to sign. Instead we ask that you have read this know what you're buying
section and accept our general terms and conditions which we have
tried to make short and readable.