[C L Salaski]

I am so sorry you have had this happen, but at least you didn't lose the entire document! (Been there, which has made me paranoid).

This doesn't help now, but at the end of each session I duplicate the work document (Vellum, Word, whatever). That way I'm always working on the prime document but there are generations saved (copy 1, copy 2, copy 3... copy 200). When disaster strikes I can step backward to the most recent duplicate and hopefully lose only a day's work at most.

One other thing, if I make changes in... let's say "untested software" (Vellum, Scrivener etc.) I always make the same changes in the master Word file. I know it's laborious but this way you always have a master Word file (Word being a default format pretty much everywhere).

Thanks for the advice, Flay! I appreciate your help.

 

[Flay Otters]

Thanks for the advice, Flay! I appreciate your help.

Thanks!
I felt really bad after posting because all I did was lecture you.
But believe me I feel your pain!

 

[kit_kat]

Hey there, quick question.

Can anyone tell me the payment methods Vellum accepts when you purchase? I'm not seeing this information on their website. I'm especially hoping they accept Paypal.

Thanks!

 

[C L Salaski]

Well, I got through my problem thanks to Brad at Vellum. I'm back to loving this great software!

I finished my revisions in Vellum, sent my PDF file to CreateSpace, and should receive my proofs by the end of next week.

I know that without Vellum, many people have lots of errors that show up in Amazon's book previews and on the Kindle App. I'm hoping that by using Vellum, there will be no problems with that.

 

[C L Salaski]

Hey there, quick question.

Can anyone tell me the payment methods Vellum accepts when you purchase? I'm not seeing this information on their website. I'm especially hoping they accept Paypal.

Thanks!

Yes. I'm pretty sure that PayPal is how I paid for Vellum.

 

[kit_kat]

Yes. I'm pretty sure that PayPal is how I paid for Vellum.

Thanks!

 

[GirlWriter]

Hello everyone. I have a question about the final output size.
I formatted a fairly large book, 160K words and added custom headings with images.
The final Vellum file size is 12.9 MB (which I understand is because of all the images for the headers.)

The final output size is a follow:
Generic ePub: 1.7 MB
Google Play: 3.7 MB
iBooks: 4.5 MB
Kindle: 9.1 MB
Kobo: 3 MB
Nook: 1.7 MB

1. Does the cover add to the final file size? I noticed that when the books are generated, the covers generated with them have different sizes from the original uploaded one.

1a. And if for Amazon and iBooks, the cover is uploaded separately, do I need to include it in the formatting? Why?

2. Why such a difference in sizes between formats?

3. If all the files are ePub (with exception of the mobi file) what makes the difference in size?

4. Can I upload the generic ePub to iBooks, Kobo, Nook and Google Play instead?

Side question: If anyone is using Photoshop to create custom headers, have you found a way to make those images a lot smaller? 

Thank you so much!

 

[Brad West]

Hello everyone. I have a question about the final output size.
I formatted a fairly large book, 160K words and added custom headings with images.
The final Vellum file size is 12.9 MB (which I understand is because of all the images for the headers.)

The final output size is a follow:
Generic ePub: 1.7 MB
Google Play: 3.7 MB
iBooks: 4.5 MB
Kindle: 9.1 MB
Kobo: 3 MB
Nook: 1.7 MB

...

2. Why such a difference in sizes between formats?

3. If all the files are ePub (with exception of the mobi file) what makes the difference in size?

Hi Erica,

Images in your book -- including the cover -- may be resized by Vellum according to file size limits of each store. iBooks has a very generous 2GB size limit, so Vellum typically doesn't do much resizing for these images. Nook, on the other hand, limits files to 20MB. For this version of your book, Vellum may be a bit more aggressive in resizing.

As for the mobi file, this is much larger because the file generated by KindleGen will include multiple versions of your book. That file size isn't what's used for KDP's delivery costs, however.

More details about mobi file size and about image sizing can be found on our File Size help page here:
https://help.vellum.pub/file-size/

I should note that KDP is the only platform that adds a charge based on file size (and again, that charge is not based on the file size you see above). For other stores, file size won't matter much so long as you are under each store's limit.

1. Does the cover add to the final file size? I noticed that when the books are generated, the covers generated with them have different sizes from the original uploaded one.

1a. And if for Amazon and iBooks, the cover is uploaded separately, do I need to include it in the formatting? Why?

Yes, if you add a cover image in Vellum, it will be included in the generated ebook files (and therefore influence the file size). Were you only publishing to Amazon, this step would be optional, as KDP will automatically include the cover you upload in your ebooks (replacing any cover that is already there). KDP is the only platform that does this, though. For all other stores, you must include a cover in the ebook file: the cover image you upload to the store is only used for your book's listing.

4. Can I upload the generic ePub to iBooks, Kobo, Nook and Google Play instead?

You could, but if you are uploading directly to stores, we recommend using the version tailored for each store. Each store has subtle differences, and by uploading a store-specific version, you can make use of Vellum's Store Links. All of the sizes you list above are below the limits of each store, so you should be able to do so.

Side question: If anyone is using Photoshop to create custom headers, have you found a way to make those images a lot smaller?

For simple black and white images that are typically used in headings, the most efficient format is often GIF. If you'd like advice more specific to the images you are using in your book, feel free to contact us and send along your Vellum file.

Hope that helps!

 

[Word Fan]

Hi Erica,

Images in your book...

As for the mobi file...

More details about mobi file size and about image sizing can be found...

I should note that KDP is the only platform...

Yes, if you add a cover image in Vellum...

...we recommend using the version tailored for each store...

...the most efficient format is often...

If you'd like advice more specific to the images you are using in your book, feel free to contact us and send along your Vellum file.

Hope that helps!

And responses like that---this goes to all of those who don't have Vellum, don't want Vellum (with the attitude of "$%#@ Vellem and the Mac it came in on!"), and can't understand those of us who do---is why we have paid our significant amount of cash to get this outstanding program and its outstanding service and support. (And we "put up with" having to use a Mac to get it.)

 

[WDR]

4. Can I upload the generic ePub to iBooks, Kobo, Nook and Google Play instead?

You could, but if you are uploading directly to stores, we recommend using the version tailored for each store. Each store has subtle differences, and by uploading a store-specific version, you can make use of Vellum's Store Links. All of the sizes you list above are below the limits of each store, so you should be able to do so.

For those of you wondering why each EPUB file is tailored to a specific ebook reading device, the answer is on the browser engine that each ebook reader (iOS, Nook, & Kobo) is using to render that ebook file as readable text. The "rendering engine" (the core program that contracts and presents the text for view) is exactly the same thing that a web browser program (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc.) uses to present a webpage. That's all an ebook file is: a web site. Each chapter in a book is a separate web page.

The iOS devices use a WebKit-based browser (Safari) to render ebooks. It is by far the most robust of the rendering engines and in my testing, has been able to render almost any EPUB file I've thrown at it.

I believe the B&N Nook is using a rendering engine based on Firefox, and I put it at a close second to Apple's as far as rendering EPUB files with minimal issues.

As much as I like my Kobo (it's the reader I take camping with me), it has the most picky rendering engine. If the EPUB file isn't just right, it messes up in rather annoying ways. I'm not sure what they are using as a rendering engine, but they really need to take another look at what they are using.

Basically, an ebook reader is a handheld device that is dedicated to presenting localized web pages (ebooks).

 

[scott.marmorstein]

Hey Brad(s),

In the next version of Vellum, is there going to be a way to choose more industry standard trim sizes for paperback/hardback books? I sure hope that's on the list. Feeling a bit limited here.

Thanks!

 

[Used To Be BH]

And responses like that---this goes to all of those who don't have Vellum, don't want Vellum (with the attitude of "$%#@ Vellem and the Mac it came in on!"), and can't understand those of us who do---is why we have paid our significant amount of cash to get this outstanding program and its outstanding service and support. (And we "put up with" having to use a Mac to get it.)

The customer service is definitely first-rate.

 

[Brad West]

In the next version of Vellum, is there going to be a way to choose more industry standard trim sizes for paperback/hardback books? I sure hope that's on the list. Feeling a bit limited here.

For 2.0, we started with the four most popular trim sizes according to CreateSpace and according to responses to our survey to beta testers. Those options can be found in Print Settings:
https://help.vellum.pub/print-settings/

We may add more trim sizes in the future if we receive enough requests for a particular size. If you'd like to cast a vote for a trim size we should consider, please get in touch!

 

[C L Salaski]

Vellum did a beautiful job formatting my novel and creating files for all the different devices. I'm getting ready to launch my book on KDP. Do I need to use Amazon's Kindle Previewer or am I good to go since I have Vellum's mobi file?

 

[GirlWriter]

@ C L Salaski

You can just upload the mobi. It is ready to go.

 

[ShayneRutherford]

Just out of curiosity, is it possible to open the print PDF in Adobe Acrobat (or other PDF program) and make tweaks to the content? Or do you have to make the tweaks in the Vellum file and regenerate the PDF?

 

[GirlWriter]

Just out of curiosity, is it possible to open the print PDF in Adobe Acrobat (or other PDF program) and make tweaks to the content? Or do you have to make the tweaks in the Vellum file and regenerate the PDF?

Yes, you can. I have done this extensively, changing chapter headers to match cover font, and lots more. But you have to be careful, because unlike Word, when you edit something in Adobe Acrobat Pro, the text goes into text boxes and when you shift things around, the text just overlaps. So as along as you are very careful, yes, you can change it with a PDF editor.

 

[C L Salaski]

@ C L Salaski

You can just upload the mobi. It is ready to go.

Thank you, Erica!

 

[Abalone]

Why do I have to import something before I can access Vellum? And why only Doc/x files? So annoying. '


Edit: Never mind. I'm such an idiot. Less coffee, more thinking!

 

[Used To Be BH]

Vellum did a beautiful job formatting my novel and creating files for all the different devices. I'm getting ready to launch my book on KDP. Do I need to use Amazon's Kindle Previewer or am I good to go since I have Vellum's mobi file?

I'd use the Previewer just to be on the safe side. I've never had a problem with a Vellum mobi file, but it's always possible something could have changed on Amazon's end that might make a difference. I've always thought it was better to spend the extra few minutes than have the book become available with some kind of glitch.