{"id":1145,"date":"2018-09-13T10:15:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T17:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gorhamprinting.wordpress.com\/?p=1145"},"modified":"2023-04-25T20:51:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T20:51:06","slug":"understanding-ebooks-vs-pdfs-for-self-publishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gorhamprinting.com\/buy-the-book\/2018\/09\/13\/understanding-ebooks-vs-pdfs-for-self-publishing\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Difference Between eBooks vs. PDFs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever since their rise to popularity in the early 2010s, eBooks have dramatically changed the way we read, share and enjoy our favorite books. In 2018, e-book sales accounted for roughly a quarter of global book sales, further cementing their place in the growing market of readers.<\/p>\n

While printed book sales continue to rise in 2018 and beyond<\/a>, eBooks still play an important role in the marketing strategies of many self-published and indie authors. eBooks represent a nearly unlimited resource for authors, requiring no investment beyond the initial conversion cost. In other words, your eBook sales will always perfectly match your demand.<\/p>\n

\"ebook<\/p>\n

But what is an eBook, and what makes it different than a PDF?<\/h2>\n

A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a common file type that can be easily downloaded, shared and read across a wide range of computers and monitors. Most documents can be converted into PDFs using standard text editing programs, such as Word or InDesign.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, PDFs lack many of the quality-of-life features of your standard eBook file. The two most common file types for eBooks are Mobi and ePub. Mobi files are required by Kindle and Amazon devices. ePub files are accepted by most other online booksellers, including Google Play and Barnes & Noble.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Both Mobi and ePub files are specifically designed to be read on an e-reader or tablet. As such, they’re equipped with some convenient features, including:<\/p>\n

1. Linking<\/h3>\n

eBook files are an HTML-based format, meaning they may contain links within the text. This allows readers to quickly navigate between sections of the book, from the index to relevant pages, or out to separate websites. This is especially handy for textbooks and guides, which may contain reference notes.<\/p>\n

2. Reflowable Text<\/h3>\n

eBooks text will “reflow” depending on the viewing window. This allows eBooks to be conveniently read on multiple devices and sizes, including tablets, phones and computers.<\/p>\n

3. Pagination<\/h3>\n

With reflowable text, the total page count of your book will increase or decrease depending on the window size of your device. Publishers handle this differently; some embed pages to match the print or PDF version, and some leave them out entirely. As such, some eBooks will not display a page number and will instead allow users to jump directly to chapters using the Table of Contents.<\/p>\n

In some instances, however, you will not want your page count to change, as in the case of some academic books with chapter or section citations. In these cases, PDFs are often the preferred format as they will lock in your total page count.<\/p>\n

\"online<\/p>\n

4. Accessibility<\/h3>\n

For impaired readers, eBooks give users the ability to modify the appearance of the content on their device, making them much more accessible than a PDF. Features, such as font style and font size, can be easily modified on the fly to meet the reader’s needs.<\/p>\n

5. Zoom In\/Out<\/h3>\n

Unlike PDFs, eBook files do not have a zoom in\/out tool. Instead, users can customize the font size of their books using their device, and the text will automatically reflow to fill their screen.<\/p>\n

6. Advanced Features<\/h3>\n

In addition to the above features, eBooks can incorporate many advance features, including:<\/p>\n