Can You Upload A Mobi File For Print On Demand

For over a decade, self-publishing authors who were looking to distribute their ebooks with major retailers had two dissimilar ebook formats to manage: EPUB files and mobi files. But with recent developments on KDP, Amazon's writer publishing platform, nearly indie authors now only take to deal with one format: the EPUB.

In this mail service, yous'll larn about the most pop ebook formats of 2021, and find the one reason why the mobi format isn't completely dead and gone.

What is an EPUB?

An EPUB file is the about widely accepted ebook format on the market place. Information technology'due south the industry standard, used by Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Sony, and Google eastward-readers. A gratis and open standard based on HTML (much like the files your web browser would read), EPUB is a flexible format that supports a wealth of features. It can:

optimize a volume'south text to fit your device;
embed images;
let for bookmarking, highlighting, and text-to-speak.

The latest version, EPUB 3, volition even permit yous to add multimedia content like video and sound clips.

All things considered, it'due south a pretty great format — which is why the publishing industry has rallied around it as its ebook format of choice.

What is a mobi file?

*Like the electronic musician Moby, Amazon'southward proprietary ebook format is now a best-forgotten relic from decades past*

Mobi files are the ebook files used exclusively by Amazon'south Kindle devices. Or, if we're staying upward-to-date, the bodily proprietary standard is now chosen AZW (or AZW3 or KFX depending on the generation). Without getting into the weeds with technical details, the major divergence between mobi files and EPUBs is that the Amazon format is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) which 'locks' the book and then it can but be read on devices associated with your account.

Amazon is the largest ebook retailer in the world by quite a long way: in 2015, they were responsible for over 70% of ebooks sold in the U.s.. This massive market share was part of why they could insist on using their own format for such a long time.

However, every bit of 2020, authors are now encouraged to upload EPUB files of books they're looking to publish. In fact, uploading a mobi version to Kindle Directly Publishing (KDP) isn't fifty-fifty an option anymore.

Tiptop Tip: To make sure that your book looks merely right earlier you beginning selling information technology on Amazon, you can upload and validate your EPUB using Amazon's own Kindle Previewer tool.

Is the mobi format now dead?

The format hasn't joined the choir invisible just yet: all Kindle devices still utilise mobi files for ebooks. When authors and publishers upload their EPUBs to KDP, the platform quietly converts them into the mobi format, which they will sell through their online stores.

The only reason anyone notwithstanding might have to create a mobi file themselves is to "sideload" a book onto a Kindle device.

What is sideloading?

Sideloading is where you download a book that you haven't purchased from a shop onto an e-reader. The about mutual (legal) reason to sideload a volume is to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). So if you wish to share an early version of your ebook with a reviewer who owns a Kindle eastward-reader, you'll need to send them a mobi version.

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When should you use PDF files?

The PDF, which has remained 1 of the almost popular document formats since its debut in 2001, is all the same widely used in publishing for 2 purposes.

Print on Demand

Perhaps the virtually cost-effective way of selling concrete copies on a pocket-size scale, self-publishing authors commonly use what's called a print-on-demand (POD) service. Instead of ordering a print run and filling a warehouse with paperbacks, copies will only be printed as and when they've been purchased either past individual buyers or a bookstore.

The two nigh popular POD services are IngramSpark and KDP Print (formerly CreateSpace), the latter of which is — would you believe information technology? — an Amazon company.

*A print-on-demand book, sourced from a PDF file.*

For this, you volition demand a file that contains strict definitions of your book's layout and content – which is why we use PDF files. There are endless dissimilar types of PDF out at that place merely for our purposes, the format will demand to a 'print-ready PDF' to make it compatible with printers. Any hyperlinks volition be removed and your image colors will be expressed in CMYK, and not using the RGB color model.

Graphically Intensive eBooks

Both EPUBs and mobis are great at treatment text-intensive books like novels, memoirs and some non-fiction books. They are, however, less awesome at dealing with books that have a lot of images, graphs and photos — art books and travel guides, for example. If you need your ebook to look exactly the aforementioned as the print version, you may wish to sell it every bit a PDF, which will ensure fidelity beyond all devices.

The downside is that basic black-and-white Kindles (and e-readers like it) will struggle to display them well — as these PDF books volition tend to be fixed-width. Unlike an EPUB file, where the text is "reflowable" and will adapt to the shape and size of your device, reading a pocket-sized-print PDF book on a Kindle Paperwhite is nothing short of a chore.

Creating EPUBs and impress-ready PDFs

Reedsy offers a free online book editing tool that lets yous professionally format a book with no preparation required. In one case you're happy with how it looks, you can export your volume for complimentary equally both EPUB and print-gear up PDF files!