ePDFs

Your questions answered

what is an ePDF?

An ePDF isn’t really a proper ebook at all. Instead, as the name suggests, it’s simply a type of PDF file, specifically designed to make it easier for people to view on an electronic screen. This means each page will look exactly like your printed book. Text is searchable and selectable but it does not reflow to fit the screen. When you require a version of your book to read on a PC screen then they can work really well. However, in comparison to reflowable ebooks they do have a number of drawbacks that are important to understand.

retail

Online ebook retailers do not sell or distribute ePDF files. They have instead become an attractive choice for people who want to sell their publication directly via their own website without worrying about complicated conversion processes.

reading

ePDFs are cheaper and easier to produce than other ebooks. They’ll also have exactly the same layout as your printed book. Since each page is effectively one fixed image, these books can be almost impossible to read on smaller devices. What’s more, the file size will be significantly bigger, so unless people have a lot of space on their device, they may be put off.

production

An ePDF needs to be generated directly from source book files created in InDesign. If we have already designed your print book for you then we can now produce an ePDF from your source files. However, if these source InDesign files are not available then unfortunately we will not be able to produce a fixed-layout ebook for you.

how much will my job be?

The majority of ePDFs will be . There are just a few circumstances in which it might be more.

content changes

Authors may want to take the opportunity to include advertising links, clickable urls or additional bits of information in the ePDF verses the print book version. This requires a bit of extra work for us to amend the PDF file to put these in.

layout adaptation

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There may be some aspects of the page design you want to adapt in order to optimise the appearance on a small screen device. For example your print pages may have been setup with mirror margins and page numbering on the outer corners of the pages, alternating left to right. This is going to look a bit odd when displayed as single pages on a digital screen. Also, you might want to remove blank pages from the ePDF file, but then this will mess up your page numbering and make it non-sequential. In cases like these there are a number of things our designers can do — such as centre page numbers or repaginate the file — to adapt it ready for conversion.

color

If your print book files was produced in greyscale but you need your ePDF in full color then your images will need reworking and swapping out in order to achieve this.

complex structure

If your book is exceptionally large with a complex structure of levels and sections then the navigation panel may be more time consuming to build and additional fee may therefore apply.

what if I need changes?

Your ePDF 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.

links

The list of contents and any hyperlinks in your book should now be clickable. Your file should also open with a navigation panel down the side to enable you to see the structure of the book and click directly between chapters or sections. If you spot any issues with the way these work then 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?

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.