Kindle Create gives you the option to create eBook files by importing individual pages as JPEGs.
Creating and importing individual pages
Page formatting guidelines:
- Dimensions: Pages should be at minimum 1800px on its smallest side. Guided View Native comics are an exception to this rule.
- Resolution: Pages should have a resolution of at least 300dpi but no more than 600dpi.
- Color mode: RGB (not CMYK).
- Format standard: Baseline or Standard (not Progressive)
- File size: Most full-color comic pages will be between 1MB and 2.5MB in size. If your pages are less than 1MB, they are likely over-compressed. Images larger than 2.5MB might be too large or not compressed enough.
- Format: Save as a high-quality JPEG if importing into Kindle Create directly
In most cases, the minimum standards should give your readers a like-print experience. Avoid making pages that are too large or with high file sizes that go beyond the guidelines.
Saving pages as high-quality JPEGs
To make high quality JPEGs from your comic page files, start from your highest-quality uncompressed page files. It’s common to build comic books using desktop publishing software or from high resolution images like TIFFs or PSDs.
Using graphics editing software
Go to File > Save As
Choose JPEG as your file format.
When saving as JPEG, an option box will pop up. This allows you to select the level of compression that determines the quality of your JPEG file. Make sure the quality is set to the default Maximum setting. If offered, also select the Optimized setting, and do not imbed the Color Profile in the image.
Some imaging programs allow you to preview what the file will look like before saving. We recommend zooming in 300% to check for any signs of over-compression; such as artifacting. You can find examples of artifacting and other file quality errors in our Comics File Quality Guide. If the settings you chose did not produce images that meet the page formatting guidelines, make sure that your original files don’t have file quality issues and try again with a different Quality setting.
Using desktop publishing software
When using desktop publishing software to layout your comic, you can convert your comic to JPEGs with the Export tool.
Go to File > Export
Choose JPEG as your file format.
Export All pages at the High quality setting. If offered, confirm that the Resolution and Color Space settings meet the page formatting guidelines, and that Anti-Aliasing is selected.
After exporting, make sure to compare the converted JPEGs to the page formatting guidelines, and confirm that your new JPEGs don’t have artifacting or other image quality issues. If the settings you chose did not produce the results you expected, make sure that your original files don’t have those issues and try again with a different Quality setting.
Before you import into Kindle Create
▢ Double-check your individual pages file quality using the Comics File Quality Guide
- At 300% zoom keep an eye out for
- Artifacting
- Pixelation
- Aliasing
- Excessive white space
- If you find any of these errors, please refer to the Comics File Quality Guide on how to fix them.
▢ Check that your double-page spreads have been combined into a single image, if you have any
▢ Check that your pages are numbered in sequential order and that they are in the correct reading order
▢ Proofread for typographical/grammatical errors
▢ Check your lettering!
- Non-industry standard fonts such as Comic Sans or Times New Roman can make your publication look unprofessional
- Both ComicCraft and Blambot offer a wide array of industry-standard lettering fonts as well as tutorials to help your lettering look as professional as possible
▢ Ensure your comic meets the Kindle Content Guidelines
Once you’re ready to import, go here to learn how to use Kindle Create to create your comic eBook!
See a term you don’t recognize? Check out our Comics Glossary!