Help with graphic novels and illustrated books

TheSmitty · 05-03-2024, 01:59 PM

I have several graphic novels and some books with illustrations that I used Calibre to move from my kindle onto my Kobo Libra. They move and open just fine but the in the case of the comics the panes are zoomed in and cannot see the entire page and can't really move around. The same happens with novels that have illustrations, the illustrations are there but they are smaller and not centered like they are on the kindle.

I converted them to epubs in calibre then put on kobo via dropbox. Is there a different format I should be using or some setting?

Thanks in advance to anyone who offers up ideas

DNSB · 05-03-2024, 04:12 PM

I would suspect that the image sizes are being specified in pixels or another absolute measurement which Amazon requires for mobi format likely using media queries. My personal workflow is to use KindleUnpack to convert to epub and then edit the ePub removing the Amazon media queries since the RMSDK renderer used for ePub on a Kobo is not happy with media queries. If you convert to kepub, the WebKit based renderer used for kepub is happier with media queries.

JSWolf · 05-03-2024, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

I would suspect that the image sizes are being specified in pixels or another absolute measurement which Amazon requires for mobi format likely using media queries. My personal workflow is to use KindleUnpack to convert to epub and then edit the ePub removing the Amazon media queries since the RMSDK renderer used for ePub on a Kobo is not happy with media queries. If you convert to kepub, the WebKit based renderer used for kepub is happier with media queries.

One slight correction. RMSDK ignores Amazon media queries.

TheSmitty · 05-03-2024, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

I would suspect that the image sizes are being specified in pixels or another absolute measurement which Amazon requires for mobi format likely using media queries. My personal workflow is to use KindleUnpack to convert to epub and then edit the ePub removing the Amazon media queries since the RMSDK renderer used for ePub on a Kobo is not happy with media queries. If you convert to kepub, the WebKit based renderer used for kepub is happier with media queries.

Thanks, I will look into this as well. I responded in another thread to someone who mentioned similar problem, I am posting below for others and any critique:

First step, you only need to do this once...Under Calibre 'Preferences->Interface->Toolbars and menus->main toolbar add Unpack book.

Then for each comic you need to do the following:
1. Import the Kindle AZW3 into Calibre.
2. With that comic highlighted choose Unpack book.
3. Select AZW3 in pop up dialog, hit Explode book.
4. After that runs, it opens file explorer to the exploded comic. Within Images subdirectory is the comic. There are other subs but I have no idea yet what they are or if you need them.
5. I would copy contents of images subdirectory to somewhere else as the directory you are brought to is a temporary directory which goes POOF when you exit Unpack book dialog.
6. Next, select all images in image sub, right click, select Compress to ZIP
7. rename zip to something meaningful and change file extension to .CBZ (Not sure if need to change extension or not, but I did)
8. close the Unpack book dialog.
9. within Calibre add the newly created CBZ file to library.
10. Connect the Kobo
11. Send that new file to the Kobo, eject and enjoy.

All that worked for me. The comic I tried it with was Dune The Graphic Novel Book 1. It is now on my Kobo Colour and looks great.

DNSB · 05-03-2024, 04:30 PM

For what it may be worth, KindleUnpack is my plugin of choice for unpacking azw3/KF8 and mobi ebooks.

bspline · 05-03-2024, 09:05 PM

I was the one who posted on the other thread asking for tips. Thank you for this process, it works really well.
Using the KindleUnpack plugin, it actually generates an EPUB that in my case worked as well as the CBZ. My only current issue now is that I've found out that on my test case (Elric - The Ruby Throne) Amazon/Comixology has kept the spreads as a single image.
I don't know the technical details for AZW/KF8/KFX, but the way comics work in panel view on the Kindle may have something to do with that.

Some editing is inevitable, and it is awesome to be able to have them all in the Kobo.

05-03-2024, 01:59 PM	#1
TheSmitty Addict Posts: 238 Karma: 1181422 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: DFW, TX area Device: Paperwhite SE, Libra 2, Oasis 3, Boox Note Air 3C, iPad Pro 11	Help with graphic novels and illustrated books I have several graphic novels and some books with illustrations that I used Calibre to move from my kindle onto my Kobo Libra. They move and open just fine but the in the case of the comics the panes are zoomed in and cannot see the entire page and can't really move around. The same happens with novels that have illustrations, the illustrations are there but they are smaller and not centered like they are on the kindle. I converted them to epubs in calibre then put on kobo via dropbox. Is there a different format I should be using or some setting? Thanks in advance to anyone who offers up ideas

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05-03-2024, 04:12 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 36,102 Karma: 145735366 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I would suspect that the image sizes are being specified in pixels or another absolute measurement which Amazon requires for mobi format likely using media queries. My personal workflow is to use KindleUnpack to convert to epub and then edit the ePub removing the Amazon media queries since the RMSDK renderer used for ePub on a Kobo is not happy with media queries. If you convert to kepub, the WebKit based renderer used for kepub is happier with media queries.

05-03-2024, 04:30 PM	#5
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 36,102 Karma: 145735366 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For what it may be worth, KindleUnpack is my plugin of choice for unpacking azw3/KF8 and mobi ebooks.

05-03-2024, 09:05 PM	#6
bspline Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Palo Alto, CA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPads and iPhones	I was the one who posted on the other thread asking for tips. Thank you for this process, it works really well. Using the KindleUnpack plugin, it actually generates an EPUB that in my case worked as well as the CBZ. My only current issue now is that I've found out that on my test case (Elric - The Ruby Throne) Amazon/Comixology has kept the spreads as a single image. I don't know the technical details for AZW/KF8/KFX, but the way comics work in panel view on the Kindle may have something to do with that. Some editing is inevitable, and it is awesome to be able to have them all in the Kobo.