Sample file. Formatting Comics for the Kindle and Nook, updated. Table of Contents. Introduction

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2 Formatting Comics for the Kindle and Nook, updated Table of Contents Introduction Part 1: Preparing Graphics Adjusting for a Smaller Screen Tweaking the Text Size Adjusting Image Legibility, and Deciding on Grayscale vs Color Setting Pixel Dimensions for Kindle Setting Pixel Dimensions for Nook Adjusting the File Size Streamlining the Formatting Process Creating the Cover Part 2: Uploading Your ebooks Uploading Your Comic for the Kindle Uploading Your Comic for the Nook Part 3: Working with Digital Distributors About the Creators Updated August 25, 2011 Copyright 2011 by Michael Jasper and Niki Smith

3 Introduction Formatting comics and image-heavy ebooks can be a confusing and sometimes frustrating task. Every e- reader on the market has a different screen size, meaning that as a creator/publisher, you have to format your comic multiple times. In this how-to guide, we'll be talking about putting together your ebook images for the two biggest e-readers on the market: Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nooks. Note: As of April 2011, other e-readers (such as Kobo's and Sony's e-readers) have yet to open their storefronts to self-published books in the manner of Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly known as Amazon s Digital Text Platform, or DTP) and Barnes & Noble's PubIt program. Text-based books can be distributed to these readers through Smashwords and other systems, but such options are currently not available for comics and image-heavy ebooks. We'll cover how to convert the images for your comic into the Kindle and Nook formats, how to package those images in the most effective manner for those two formats, and we'll also share what we've learned about digital distribution for comics, with some tips and suggestions to help you sell more digital copies of your comic, once they're up at Amazon.com and BN.com.

Part 1: Preparing Graphics Before you can start uploading issue to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, you need to get your comic into the proper digital format.

4 Part 1: Preparing Graphics Before you can start uploading issue to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, you need to get your comic into the proper digital format. Some resizing and tweaking is necessary, as we said earlier, for each e-reader, and we'll step you through the processes for both Kindle and Nook. All processes related to preparing your graphics will be through Adobe Photoshop, though a number of similar programs will allow you to follow the same steps. You'll need to consider a number of factors when putting together a digital comic for ebook distribution. These factors include: Adjusting for a Small Screen Tweaking the Text Size Image Legibility Grayscale vs Color Pixel Dimensions for Kindle Pixel Dimensions for Nook File Size Streamlining the Formatting Process Final Considerations

If you're adapting a standard American comic into digital ebook form, the answer will probably be no.

5 Adjusting for a Smaller Screen Before anything else, consider the layout of your comic or image-based book. Will it be legible when each page is seen on a Kindle or Nook screen that is approximately 4.8 inches tall? If you're adapting a standard American comic into digital ebook form, the answer will probably be no. The floppies (monthly comics) you find in comic shops are 10 1/4 " tall, and trying to squeeze that into less than half the size would result in an image too small to read. There are a number of ways to get around this. Many creators have started "slicing" their pages into halves, or even showing each panel individually. You'll have to decide what works best for your book.

You may be intending to create an ebook of comic strips, similar to those seen in newspapers, or the standard format of many webcomics. In this case, you might consider rotating every page 90 degrees.

6 You may be intending to create an ebook of comic strips, similar to those seen in newspapers, or the standard format of many webcomics. In this case, you might consider rotating every page 90 degrees. Your readers will simply hold their devices on their side, and flip through the pages the same way they normally would. There are a number of layouts in between. Experiment and see what fits your book best! If you've yet to create the artwork, you may want to keep the Nook and Kindle screen dimensions in mind from the beginning, so when you get to the formatting you'll have a simple time sizing the pages. Keep reading for those dimensions.

Tweaking the Text Size One of the advantages of reading an ebook versus a paper book is the reader's ability to increase and decrease font sizes, and change the fonts themselves.

7 Tweaking the Text Size One of the advantages of reading an ebook versus a paper book is the reader's ability to increase and decrease font sizes, and change the fonts themselves. Unfortunately, this is not yet possible in comic and image-based ebooks. Text and lettering must be done ahead of time, and be a part of the final flattened.jpgs. Keep in mind the size of your lettering, however. As mentioned earlier, a standard American comic, typically printed to be 10 1/4" tall, will not be legible on the 4.8" tall Kindle screen. What's legible as a webcomic may still be too small on an e-reader. It's better to be safe and have the text a bit larger than necessary, just in case. This is easiest to do when your text and word balloons (if formatting a comic) are on layers separate from your art. If not, you may have to do some tweaking! From this step, you'll want to save two versions: 1) An unflattened, high-quality PSD or TIF, with all your text unrasterized and on layers. This version will be useful in case you need to go back and make any adjustments, or fix a typo. Ebooks also make it incredibly easy to have translated versions of your work available. E-readers sell all over the world! You may want to make a French version of your comic someday, and this file means you won't have to resize all your text balloons again. 2) A flattened, high-quality TIF. This is the version you'll be working on for the rest of the formatting. Everything should be a single, flat layer.

Self-Publishing with Scrivener

Self-Publishing with Scrivener Ebook Devices and Formats Seller Device File Name Amazon Kindle.mobi,.azw Amazon Kindle Fire.KF8(.azw3).mobi Barnes & Noble Nook epub Adobe Adobe Digital Ed. epub Rakuten