Creating Fixed-Layout Ebooks for the Kindle

Course details

Fixed-layout ebooks for the Kindle aren't difficult to make. Once you know how the Kindle format works and have a familiarity with InDesign, HTML, and CSS, and a little bit of Photoshop, you're on your way to creating a beautiful ebook. The process is similar whether you're adapting a print design or creating an ebook from scratch. This course walks members through what "fixed layout" means, and what makes a good fixed-layout ebook for the Kindle. Author Kevin Callahan shows how to prepare an InDesign file for ebook output, export the text and image assets, add them to the Kindle template, and build in special features such as region magnification, pop-ups, and media queries that adjust your book's display to the reader's device. Plus, learn how to test and future-proof your files and upload your ebook to the Kindle Store with the Kindle Previewer.

Learning objectives

What is a fixed-layout ebook?
Good candidates for fixed layout
Comparing the Kindle format to EPUB3
Managing fonts
Inserting images
Using the Kindle Previewer
Exporting InDesign documents for Kindle formatting
Working with the Kindle fixed-layout template
Using media queries

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - Using the exercise files

1. Overview of the Fixed-Layout Format

03 - What is a fixed-layout ebook
04 - EPUB3 vs. the Kindle format
05 - Good candidates for fixed-layout ebooks
06 - Graphic novels and comics

2. Comparing the Kindle Fixed-Layout File Structure to EPUB3

07 - Exporting EPUB3 from InDesign CC 2015
08 - Comparing the EPUB3 format vs. Kindle format
09 - The Kindle fixed-layout template
10 - The content.opf
11 - XHTML file
12 - CSS - The style sheet
13 - Manage fonts for a fixed-layout project
14 - Insert images into a fixed-layout book

3. Preparing an InDesign Document for Export

15 - Letting InDesign do the work for you
16 - Layers
17 - Style sheets
18 - Exporting images as background spreads
19 - Exporting text as XHTML
20 - Fixed-layout ebooks without InDesign
21 - Using Kindle Kids' Book Creator

4. Working with the Kindle Fixed-Layout Template

22 - Filling in the content.opf
23 - Populating the XHTML pages
24 - Adding images
25 - Adjusting the CSS for design
26 - Structure and absolute positioning in CSS
27 - Working with the navigation documents

5. Designing Region Magnification (Pop-Ups)

28 - Text in region magnification CSS
29 - Region magnification pop-up boxes
30 - Magnification amount and pop-up location

6. Using Kindle Previewer to Create Your Fixed-Layout Ebook

31 - Using Kindle Previewer
32 - Sideloading a file to Kindle devices
33 - Sideloading Kindle files to iOS devices
34 - Uploading to Kindle Direct Publishing

7. Bonus Kindle Features

35 - Popping up images
36 - How to deal with text on a path
37 - Using media queries

Conclusion

38 - Next steps