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After converting a few of my favorite scans into epub ebooks for the Sony reader (see here), I'm at the point to give a brief - but hopefully complete - "how to" of the process for best results:
Requirements:
Sony Reader (PRS-505 is my model, but I think any e-ink reader with the ability to deal with jpg images should work)
Calibre (freeware for ebook management)
Irfanview (freeware for pictures)
7-zip (freeware packer; any other packing software should be fine as well)
How to turn scans into ebooks:
1. make sure your scans are grey-scale jpg pictures. If they aren't use the batch-conversion of Irfanview to change them (File > Batch Conversion - grey scale jpgs), it does a good job and is fast. The reader can't display color and would turn them into greys anyway, by using greyscale jpgs, the ebook is less clunky. Take care that the first image isn't a double-page, as it is used for the ebook cover later.
2. make sure the scans sort correctly in the folder. You can use subfolders, Calibre handles them properly. Calibre doesn't exactly sort like Windows (for example), so it's best you have the files sorted right in the folder and then tell Calibre later not to sort on its own.
3. zip the folder and change the file ending .zip to .cbz (comic book zip)
4. import the cbz into Calibre (Import eBook, first button of the main menu) and check Calibre's preferences (last button main menu) that it's set default output format is "epub" (under General).
5. edit the meta data (Title, author, tags, ...). The process is available through the second button of the main menu). The dialogue also holds a comment field, suitable for the summary or backtext.
6. Convert the ebook into epub, using Calibre's Convert e-Book feature (third button on the main menu). The dialogue already filled in the meta data and displays the first image in the imported comic book zip as cover image (you can also specify a different one from a location on your harddrive). Go to "Comic Input" on the side bar of the dialogue and tick the boxes before "Keep aspect ratio", "Disable trimming", optional "Right to Left" (double pages are split in to, if the reading is like in a manga, then this takes care that the right half of the pages is displayed before the left half) and "Don't sort". Klick ok and wait for Calibre to finish the job.
7. Done in about 5 to 10 minutes, if the files don't have to be sorted by hand first.
It also works well if you have to handle heavily formatted A4 pdfs (and access to an automated scanner-to-files). There are e-book devices for handling full sized A4 pdfs, but they are almost as heavy as a small laptop, thus their advantage as a lightweight reading device for everywhere is pretty muched nulled. :)
Requirements:
Sony Reader (PRS-505 is my model, but I think any e-ink reader with the ability to deal with jpg images should work)
Calibre (freeware for ebook management)
Irfanview (freeware for pictures)
7-zip (freeware packer; any other packing software should be fine as well)
How to turn scans into ebooks:
1. make sure your scans are grey-scale jpg pictures. If they aren't use the batch-conversion of Irfanview to change them (File > Batch Conversion - grey scale jpgs), it does a good job and is fast. The reader can't display color and would turn them into greys anyway, by using greyscale jpgs, the ebook is less clunky. Take care that the first image isn't a double-page, as it is used for the ebook cover later.
2. make sure the scans sort correctly in the folder. You can use subfolders, Calibre handles them properly. Calibre doesn't exactly sort like Windows (for example), so it's best you have the files sorted right in the folder and then tell Calibre later not to sort on its own.
3. zip the folder and change the file ending .zip to .cbz (comic book zip)
4. import the cbz into Calibre (Import eBook, first button of the main menu) and check Calibre's preferences (last button main menu) that it's set default output format is "epub" (under General).
5. edit the meta data (Title, author, tags, ...). The process is available through the second button of the main menu). The dialogue also holds a comment field, suitable for the summary or backtext.
6. Convert the ebook into epub, using Calibre's Convert e-Book feature (third button on the main menu). The dialogue already filled in the meta data and displays the first image in the imported comic book zip as cover image (you can also specify a different one from a location on your harddrive). Go to "Comic Input" on the side bar of the dialogue and tick the boxes before "Keep aspect ratio", "Disable trimming", optional "Right to Left" (double pages are split in to, if the reading is like in a manga, then this takes care that the right half of the pages is displayed before the left half) and "Don't sort". Klick ok and wait for Calibre to finish the job.
7. Done in about 5 to 10 minutes, if the files don't have to be sorted by hand first.
It also works well if you have to handle heavily formatted A4 pdfs (and access to an automated scanner-to-files). There are e-book devices for handling full sized A4 pdfs, but they are almost as heavy as a small laptop, thus their advantage as a lightweight reading device for everywhere is pretty muched nulled. :)
