[Brad Andalman]

For the emojis under Edit, Emoji and Symbols, has anyone tried using them?

Do they work for Kindle and other platforms?
When I test it, it shows on iBooks but not with with sideloading into Kindle. I don't have other apps/devices to test it.

Can someone confirm that this is one of those things that works once uploaded to Amazon and other vendors?

Thanks!

While emojis will appear in iBooks, they aren't guaranteed to appear on other apps/devices. In particular, they aren't allowed in Kindle ebooks (if you do include them you may receive an inscrutable auto-response from Amazon about improper unicode values). As a result, we typically recommend avoiding emojis in your ebooks.

 

[juliatheswede]

I confess that I haven't gone through this entire thread. Maybe the answer is there for this question: Why can't I open a Vellum-generated mobi file in Vellum?? When I try, my Mac doesn't give me the option to open it with Vellum so I can create files for other platforms. Anyone know why?

Thanks in advance.

 

[lilywhite]

Brad(s), a request: Please let us include Chapters in ebook/print versions only.

I've got ornamental breaks wherever a scene break occurs within a chapter, and I think that's really important for an ebook, because we have no way of knowing where the scene will break, and if it breaks at the top of bottom of a page (screen, I guess), the only way a reader knows there was a break is with a visual like the ornament.

This is also the case if a scene breaks at the top or bottom of a print page.

I've been through a good dozen print versions of trad books to check this today, and I found not a single instance where there was an ornament if a scene break appeared in the middle of the page. The convention in this case is to leave a double space.

The way Vellum works now, I can either have ornaments at every break within a chapter, or at none. Being able to duplicate chapters and designate each version as either print or ebook would allow me to remove the unnecessary ornaments in the print version but retain them for the ebook.

Thanks for considering this!

 

[juliatheswede]

You make changes and/or generate formats through the Vellum file (the one with the "vellum" extension). The mobi file is just an end product.

A kind soul explained this to me in more detail, but thanks for chiming in

I SEE WE CAN MAKE REQUESTS ON THIS THREAD. BRAD: PLEASE ADD A WAY TO VERY SIMPLY DELETE VELLUM FILES YOU NO LONGER WANT INSIDE THE VELLUM APP.

 

[Brad Andalman]

I've got ornamental breaks wherever a scene break occurs within a chapter, and I think that's really important for an ebook, because we have no way of knowing where the scene will break, and if it breaks at the top of bottom of a page (screen, I guess), the only way a reader knows there was a break is with a visual like the ornament.

This is also the case if a scene breaks at the top or bottom of a print page.

I've been through a good dozen print versions of trad books to check this today, and I found not a single instance where there was an ornament if a scene break appeared in the middle of the page. The convention in this case is to leave a double space.

The way Vellum works now, I can either have ornaments at every break within a chapter, or at none. Being able to duplicate chapters and designate each version as either print or ebook would allow me to remove the unnecessary ornaments in the print version but retain them for the ebook.

Thanks for considering this!

Thanks for the suggestion! I've gone ahead and logged it in our database. Duplicating chapters does mean that certain things - like fixing typos, for instance - would then become twice as difficult. So, we'll definitely consider alternative solutions for your underlying issue.

That said, we have seen a great many traditionally-published books that use ornamental scene breaks throughout. If your personal preference, though, is to avoid using an ornament, then you might consider choosing a different Paragraph After Break style. Even though Vellum won't indent the first paragraph after a break, a more obvious Paragraph After Break style (e.g. using small caps for the first phrase) might be a good way to make it very clear that a new scene is beginning.

BRAD: PLEASE ADD A WAY TO VERY SIMPLY DELETE VELLUM FILES YOU NO LONGER WANT INSIDE THE VELLUM APP.

Vellum's startup window shows the most recent files you've worked with in Vellum. If you no longer need one of these files, you can simply delete it by locating your Vellum file in the Finder and dragging it into the Trash. After the file is deleted, it will disappear from this recent file list.

Hope that helps!

 

[Musicreb]

I am trying to format a music education book for Kindle using Vellum.  I want the images of sheet music to be readable on the various different device types.  I created a .mobi using the Vellum generate command.  When I view the file in the Kindle Previewer the music images are fuzzy and a little hard to read.  When I double click on sheet music image to zoom in on it the music becomes completely illegible - the lines on the music staff disappear.

Is this a problem with Kindle Previewer?  The lines on the staff were also fuzzy in the preview pane of Vellum.

How can I figure out the best image type to put into my ebook in Vellum to get a legible image in my ebook? I have used 2 different type images as source images:  .tiff at 1200 ppi, and a .gif created from the 1200 ppi .tiff.

 

[Musicreb]

P.S.  The images display in the finished eBook as too small to be legible even when I click 'separate page' on the image selection inline menu.

 

[RPatton]

I am trying to format a music education book for Kindle using Vellum. I want the images of sheet music to be readable on the various different device types. I created a .mobi using the Vellum generate command. When I view the file in the Kindle Previewer the music images are fuzzy and a little hard to read. When I double click on sheet music image to zoom in on it the music becomes completely illegible - the lines on the music staff disappear.

If Vellum has a fixed layout option, try that. Anything with images or special formatting almost always has to be in a fixed layout or it will go all wonky.

If you are already doing that, my only recommendation is to use a .png at 300 ppi. I have little to no luck using .tiffs

 

[Brad Andalman]

P.S. The images display in the finished eBook as too small to be legible even when I click 'separate page' on the image selection inline menu.

It sounds like you've chosen the largest Inline Image size in Vellum. If you see a green check at the top of the Inline Image popover, then you should be all set and your image should be legible in your generated ebooks. You can see an example of this on our Inline Images help page.

If that doesn't help, feel free to send us your Vellum file directly, and we'll take a look. The best way to send us a Vellum file is by using the Attach a File link at the bottom of our contact page.

 

[Roman_writer]

Good morning,
A simple question... I have a four-word title to a chapter and would like to split it into two words per line for the print version, i.e. work round the automatic wrapping which makes it three words on the first line and one word on the second.

I think I've tried the obvious things, but a. is it possible and b. if so, how do you do it?
Many thanks,
Alison

 

[Brad Andalman]

Good morning,
A simple question... I have a four-word title to a chapter and would like to split it into two words per line for the print version, i.e. work round the automatic wrapping which makes it three words on the first line and one word on the second.

I think I've tried the obvious things, but a. is it possible and b. if so, how do you do it?
Many thanks,
Alison

If you have two words that should not be split across two lines, we recommend making use of a non-breaking space in your title. A non-breaking space will keep adjacent words together on the same line.

To use one, delete the space between the last two words in your title. Then replace it with a non-breaking space, which you can enter by holding down the Option key as you press Space.

You should then see the two words together on the same line in the Preview.

 

[hlsbs]

Hi
I really want to be able to include two fonts in both ebooks and print so that the reader can distinguish between characters or see that a section of text is a letter. Using italic isn't working. Is there a way of doing this?
I'd also like to be able to place an image on the title page between the title and author name.

 

[TexasGirl]

I just downloaded Vellum yesterday and I have two types of quotes -- straight and slanted. I've already made substantive changes inside Vellum and really don't want to have to re-import or I will lose it all. Any updates on the feature to standardize the quote marks?

 

[98475]

Hi, Vellum. I have a question. Is there a way to add more fonts to the printed editions on the module? I'd love to see more fonts added if this isn't already an option. It feels limited with 7-8 fonts only to use for print versions.

 

[Brad Andalman]

Hi
I really want to be able to include two fonts in both ebooks and print so that the reader can distinguish between characters or see that a section of text is a letter. Using italic isn't working. Is there a way of doing this?
I'd also like to be able to place an image on the title page between the title and author name.

To format a section of text as a letter, you might consider using a Block Quotation or Alignment Block. Both of these Text Features will inset your text from its surroundings. If you'd like to change the font, you could consider using Sans Serif or Monospace Character Formatting.

If you are having problems using italics, please contact us directly so we can help you solve this problem.

Lastly, if you'd like to use a custom title page, you can replace the Title Page element that Vellum creates for you with a Full Page Image element.

I just downloaded Vellum yesterday and I have two types of quotes -- straight and slanted. I've already made substantive changes inside Vellum and really don't want to have to re-import or I will lose it all. Any updates on the feature to standardize the quote marks?

If you'd like to clean up your quotes in Vellum, select some text in the Text Editor and then right-click (or Control-click) on the selection to bring up the context menu. Then, choose Apply Smart Quotes.

Hi, Vellum. I have a question. Is there a way to add more fonts to the printed editions on the module? I'd love to see more fonts added if this isn't already an option. It feels limited with 7-8 fonts only to use for print versions.

Currently, there is no way to add more fonts for your print edition. Vellum does, however, support Adobe Garamond Pro. So, if you don't have this font installed on your Mac already, it will appear in Vellum's font popup menu if/when you install it.

 

[Brad West]

Since it's been asked about a few times in this thread, we thought we'd share that Vellum 2.3 is now available and adds endnotes.

In print, endnotes appear at the back of the book, in a Notes section. In ebooks, these notes appear in a popup, so a reader access each note without losing their place. Endnotes and footnotes in a Word file automatically converted when you import. You can also add endnotes to your text right in Vellum.

More details can be found in our announcement of Vellum 2.3.

 

[GirlWriter]

Has anyone used Vellum to create a cookbook?
If so, can you please reply to me with links to your cookbook?
I'd love to see what you came up with.

Thank you!

 

[GirlWriter]

Hi Brad and Brad.

Thanks for the new update. I would love to be able to print 8.5 x 11 paperbacks.
I know this is one of the sizes that has been asked about before.
Any plans on adding that option?
If so, do you have an ETA?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Brad Andalman]

Hi Brad and Brad.

Thanks for the new update. I would love to be able to print 8.5 x 11 paperbacks.
I know this is one of the sizes that has been asked about before.
Any plans on adding that option?
If so, do you have an ETA?

Adding more trim sizes is something we are currently investigating, and we don't have an ETA for when that feature will land. We are currently polling for additional size options, though, so if you haven't voted in our survey yet, please do:
https://vellum.typeform.com/to/XmfO4Y

 

[Humble Quill]

I installed Vellum a couple of days ago and am very impressed. Wonderful application.

I have one formatting problem. My novel has a foreword and an epilogue, which Vellum handles well. But I also have a midword. I'd like that to act very much like a foreword, but in the middle of the book.

The problem I'm hitting is that my novel has parts. I can't find a way to insert something between two parts, without making it a part, too. I won't want the midword to say "Part XXIX: Midword".

Any suggestions?