Settings for an Ebook only (for smartphones and tablets) on Affinity publisher

[Goldeneast]

I have a problem. In all tutorials  only the way to prepare a print ready book is introduced. But i want only to write an Ebook for Amazon (i know i have to convert it). There are many settings for documents. But which one is appropriate for an ebook that is ok on Smartphones and tablets? I not know what to select from these..

[mopperle]

So you want to make a pdf which will later be converted into Amazon's Kindle format? Doesn't Amazon provide some details?

I am not sure, but at least the pdf shouldnt matter for being viewed on a mobile device. I just checked it with a pdf (userdefined size) I recently sent to a printing shop (including text, pictures and some graphic elements). When I load this pdf on my iPhone (13Pro) and on my Ipad (Ipad Pro 9,7", several years old), the pdf will be automatically scaled to fit to the display size.

This can be improved, when using Adobe's Liquid Mode. Whether it can be used depends e.g. on file size, number of pages etc. When you open a document in Acrobat on a mobile device you can use the Liquid Mode, when the document fits Adobe reqiurements. Best is that there are no special settings needed, when creating a pdf.

What you can do to optimize the pdf for mobile devices: Open it Acrobat Pro -> save as -> optimized pdf, there you can coose predefined settings for mobile devices.

Googling gives me e.g. this:
https://flippingbook.com/de/blog/marketing-tips/creating-mobile-friendly-pdf

https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/create-a-mobile-friendly-pdf.html

 

[Martyn Folkes]

Affinity Publisher is not the correct tool for this. You will want to use an app that creates .epub files, such as Sigil, which you upload to Amazon KDP. Alternatively, use the app provided by Amazon, Kindle Create.

Although you can upload a PDF to Amazon, it is unlikely to give you as good a result as making and ePub or using Kindle Create.

[Goldeneast]

I have published ebooks and paperback on Amazon which i wrote with Affinity publisher. Both I had to export as PDF, then convert  to epub and then I could upload it to Amazon kindle. There was a special upload for ebooks and another one for paperbacks. Thats why i am asking. The paperback i chose A5 ready to print in the setting and 14X21. It workes pretty well. The ebook is just ok on smartphones but not really good. And on tablets its not acceptable.

[Twolane]

Publisher does not do .epub files, as you have found out. Amazon, Kobo, and Google Play books require an .epub file for their e-books. I use calibre to convert Word .docx files to .epub for uploading to those book sites. Your file will display properly on all phones and tablets if you use the appropriate reader to do so. If you try to jury-rig something, as you have already tried, it will not work properly on those devices.

[Paul Mudditt]

If you have an Apple device you can use the built in free word processing app “Pages” to create ePub books very easily on a Mac, iPad or even an iPhone.

[Goldeneast]

21 minutes ago, Paul Mudditt said:

If you have an Apple device you can use the built in free word processing app “Pages” to create ePub books very easily on a Mac, iPad or even an iPhone.

Thx, but i want that my readers can use any smartphone not just IOS based devices

 

 

[Alfred]

28 minutes ago, Twolane said:

I use calibre to convert Word .docx files to .epub for uploading to those book sites.

Calibre

[Alfred]

30 minutes ago, Paul Mudditt said:

If you have an Apple device you can use the built in free word processing app “Pages” to create ePub books very easily on a Mac, iPad or even an iPhone.

 

8 minutes ago, Goldeneast said:

Thx, but i want that my readers can use any smartphone not just IOS based devices

 

You would only need Pages to create the ePub files, not to read them.

[Paul Mudditt]

30 minutes ago, Goldeneast said:

Thx, but i want that my readers can use any smartphone not just IOS based devices

 

 

As Alfred stated, you can “create” ePub on any Apple device for free that can be used on any .epub compatible system not just IOS. 

EDIT: Just did a quick test, from a notes file on my iPad into Pages exported to ePub then uploaded to my Kindle (using Send to Kindle on Amazon site) took about 10 minutes to achieve.

Edited February 25, 2024 by Paul Mudditt
Notes -> Pages -> ePub -> Kindle

[Goldeneast]

6 minutes ago, Alfred said:

 

 

You would only need Pages to create the ePub files, not to read them.

So Affinity publisher is not  a tool for publishing? Why they mention in the setting  several choices like print, web, devices?? I fiully understand that it has after the export to be converted for epub. My simple question is only when i open a new document for a new book which is for publishing as ebook: Which of the more than 6 choices  to select from the web setting??

setting?

[mopperle]

Depends on what you mean by eBook. It can be a product in EPUB format or a pdf that can be viewed on any device.

So you can make an "eBook" with APub, you just cant export it in EPUB format. Maybe it will come one day.

[Goldeneast]

thx