Exporting with Kindle Plugin for Adobe InDesign
About 3 min read
Since many independent publishers format their hardcopy books in Adobe InDesign, there needs to be a way to directly convert those books into the Amazon Kindle ebook reader MOBI format. InDesign does offer Export for Digital Editions, which exports book files into the EPUB format, but that does not solve the problem of directly converting to the MOBI format.
Amazon has provided the Exporting with Kindle Plugin for Adobe InDesign that will allow InDesign content to be directly converted to the Kindle MOBI format. After downloading the plugin, an Export to Kindle item appears in the InDesign File menu.
You should make adjustments to your book files to accommodate the Kindle format. Before making your final export, it is wise to make some trial runs to see if any formatting changes need to be made. You then select Export Book for Kindle to compile to the Kindle format.
Questions you may have include:
- How do you download the plugin?
- What needs to be done before you convert to the MOBI format?
- How do you export to Kindle?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Download plugin
The Exporting with Kindle Plugin for Adobe InDesign is a plugin that can be used to convert documents or books created in InDesign CS4 and above to the Kindle format. As of August 2011, the plugin is a Beta version.
Before exporting
Before you convert your InDesign files to the Kindle MOBI format, you need to make some adjustments in to your files. It is advisable to put your InDesign book files in a separate Kindle version folder.
Front Section changed
The Front Section of the book typically includes a title page, Also by... page, detailed title page with publisher name, copyright page, and dedication page. Since, so many pages can be an annoyance in an ebook, the information should be condensed to a single page.
Front cover file
Typically, the hardcopy book version provides the printer a separate full-cover PDF file. However, in a Kindle ebook, the front cover is usually provided as a separate JPG file.
Blank paragraphs and pages deleted
The export-to-Kindle process automatically deletes all blank paragraphs and pages. If you have used blank paragraphs to separate items, you may need to adjust your Paragraph Style settings to provide that separation.
Typeface changed
The typeface used in the Kindle is a default Times Roman. Be aware that your typefaces will change to that default.
Styling quirks
For some reason, the conversion process has problems with the Bullet Style. Standard text comes out larger than normal, while boldfaced text is smaller.
Also, styles that designated text smaller than normal are compiled normal size. Likewise, only one intent setting is applied.
Exporting to Kindle
Once your book is formatted for the Kindle, you can export to Kindle. Before making your final export, it is wise to make some trial runs to see if any formatting changes need to be made.
From the Book Panel, select Export Book for Kindle….
You can also use File > Export for Kindle… to export open book files.
Then follow the Kindle Export Options to compile your MOBI file.
Summary
Amazon.com has provided the Exporting with Kindle Plugin for Adobe InDesign to allow InDesign content to be directly converted to the Kindle MOBI format. You can download the plugin, so that an Export to Kindle item appears in the InDesign File menu.
You need to make adjustments to your book files to accommodate the Kindle format, before selecting Export Book for Kindle to compile to the Kindle format.
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