Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines

[Pages:114]Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines

How to make books available for Kindle devices and applications

version 2019.2

This document describes the primary ways publishers, authors, and conversion houses can make their content available for Amazon Kindle devices and applications. This document includes guidelines and suggestions to ensure a smooth conversion and publication process. Copyright ? 2019 , Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers

Revision History

Revision Revision Notes Number

2019.2 2019.1

Updated the following sections to add accessibility guidelines: o 2.1.1 Kindle Create o 3 Comparing Formats o 6.1 Constructing Well-Formed HTML Documents (XHTML) o 7.2 External Link Guidelines o 8 Accessibility Guidelines o 9 QA Standards o 9.1 Testing Kindle Books o 10.3.8 Using Embedded Fonts o 10.4.1 Use Supported Input Formats o 10.4.7 Image and Font Size Requirements for Line-Art and Text o 10.4.11 Use Supported SVG Tags and Elements o 10.5.1 Avoid Large Tables o 10.5.2 Create Simple HTML Tables o 10.5.4 Table Features with Enhanced Typesetting o 11.3.2 Including Specific Fonts

Added 2.4 Markdown Authoring Tools. Updated 4.1 Marketing Cover Image Is Mandatory and 4.2 Internal Content Cover Image Is

Mandatory to clarify that they don't apply to KDP. Updated 5.2 NCX Guidelines to specify that Kindle devices and applications support two levels of

nesting. Updated 7.2 External Link Guidelines to recommend archiving links. Added 11.3.1 Minimum Text Size. Updated 12.6 Text Guidelines to specify minimum text size in graphic novels. Updated 13.2 Text Guidelines to specify minimum text size in fixed-layout books without pop-ups. Updated 17.1 Supported Attributes to change background-size entry. Updated 5.1, HTML TOC Guidelines, to add lists of maps and illustrations. Updated 5.3, Guide Items, to clarify that the start reading location is defined by Amazon. Updated 9.3.2, Body Text Must Use Defaults, to update the color converter link. Updated 9.3.7, Use CSS for Page Breaks, to clarify requirements. Updated 9.4.2, Image Size and Quality Standards, to remove chart. Updated 13.7.2, Adding Video, to clarify need for poster tag. Updated 15.5, Supported Languages, to update language list.

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Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers

Table of Contents

PART I. GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................... 8

1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

2 Paths to Getting Your Content on Kindle................................................................................................... 8 Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Platform ................................................................................................8

2.1.1 Kindle Create .............................................................................................................................................8 Creating Kindle Books In-House Using Kindle Publisher Tools ................................................................9

2.2.1 KindleGen...................................................................................................................................................9 2.2.2 Kindle Previewer .......................................................................................................................................9 2.2.3 Kindle Comic Creator ...............................................................................................................................9 2.2.4 Kindle Kids' Book Creator ......................................................................................................................10

Third-Party Conversion Services .................................................................................................................10 Markdown Authoring Tools ...........................................................................................................................10

3 Comparing Formats ..................................................................................................................................... 11

PART II. GENERAL BEST PRACTICES............................................................................... 14

4 Cover Image Guidelines .............................................................................................................................. 14 Marketing Cover Image Is Mandatory .........................................................................................................14 Internal Content Cover Image Is Mandatory ..............................................................................................14

5 Navigation Guidelines ................................................................................................................................. 15 HTML TOC Guidelines ..................................................................................................................................15

5.1.1 Using a Nested HTML TOC...................................................................................................................16 NCX Guidelines ..............................................................................................................................................17

5.2.1 Creating a Logical TOC Using a toc nav Element..........................................................................17 5.2.2 Creating a Logical TOC Using NCX .....................................................................................................18

Guide Items .....................................................................................................................................................19 5.3.1 Defining Cover and TOC........................................................................................................................19

6 HTML and CSS Guidelines.......................................................................................................................... 20 Constructing Well-Formed HTML Documents (XHTML) ..........................................................................20 Avoid Using Negative Values .......................................................................................................................20 Avoid Using Scripting.....................................................................................................................................20 Avoid Nested Tags .................................................................................................................................20 File References Must Match Case and Spelling of Source......................................................................21 Other Encodings Are Supported ..................................................................................................................21 Use Supported Characters and Spaces .....................................................................................................21 Design for a Good eBook Experience .........................................................................................................21

7 Hyperlink Guidelines ................................................................................................................................... 22 Internal Link Guidelines .................................................................................................................................22

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Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers

External Link Guidelines................................................................................................................................22

8 Accessibility Guidelines.............................................................................................................................. 23

9 QA Standards ................................................................................................................................................ 23 Testing Kindle Books .....................................................................................................................................24

PART III. GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF EBOOKS ........................................ 26

10 Creating Text-Heavy Fiction and Non-Fiction eBooks (Reflowable)................................................. 26 Metadata Guidelines....................................................................................................................................26 Layout Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................26 Text Guidelines.............................................................................................................................................26

10.3.1 Specify Heading Alignment and Justification....................................................................................26 10.3.2 Body Text Must Use Defaults .............................................................................................................26 10.3.3 Formatting Paragraphs ........................................................................................................................28 10.3.4 Avoid Using Fixed Values for Most Elements...................................................................................28 10.3.5 Margin and Padding Formatting .........................................................................................................28 10.3.6 Drop Caps ..............................................................................................................................................28 10.3.7 Use CSS for Page Breaks ...................................................................................................................29 10.3.8 Using Embedded Fonts .......................................................................................................................30 10.3.9 Customizing Font Selection.................................................................................................................30 10.3.10 Page Number Guidelines ..................................................................................................................32 10.3.11 Enabling Real Page Numbers ..........................................................................................................32 10.3.12 Footnote Guidelines ...........................................................................................................................33

Image Guidelines .........................................................................................................................................34 10.4.1 Use Supported Input Formats.............................................................................................................34 10.4.2 Image Size and Quality Standards.....................................................................................................35 10.4.3 Image Dimensions for Responsive Layouts .....................................................................................36 10.4.4 Use Color Images .................................................................................................................................36 10.4.5 Photographs Should Be Optimized for High-Resolution Devices..................................................36 10.4.6 Use GIF or PNG for Line-Art and Text ..............................................................................................37 10.4.7 Image and Font Size Requirements for Line-Art and Text .............................................................37 10.4.8 Prefer HTML to Images........................................................................................................................37 10.4.9 Positioning Image Captions.................................................................................................................38 10.4.10 Controlling Image Aspect Ratio ........................................................................................................38 10.4.11 Use Supported SVG Tags and Elements .......................................................................................38

Table Guidelines ..........................................................................................................................................39 10.5.1 Avoid Large Tables...............................................................................................................................39 10.5.2 Create Simple HTML Tables...............................................................................................................40 10.5.3 Split Tables as Needed ........................................................................................................................40 10.5.4 Table Features with Enhanced Typesetting .....................................................................................40

MathML Support...........................................................................................................................................42

11 Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups ................................................................................ 43 Metadata Guidelines....................................................................................................................................43 Cover Image Guidelines: Including Back Cover for Children's Content...............................................45 Text Guidelines.............................................................................................................................................45

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11.3.1 Minimum Text Size ...............................................................................................................................45 11.3.2 Including Specific Fonts .......................................................................................................................45

Content Requirements ................................................................................................................................45 11.4.1 Requirement #1: Using HTML File Structure....................................................................................45 11.4.2 Requirement #2: Using Region Magnification (Pop-Ups) ...............................................................46

HTML and CSS Guidelines.........................................................................................................................48 11.5.1 Applying CSS Reset .............................................................................................................................48 11.5.2 CSS Files For Fixed-Layout Books ....................................................................................................48 11.5.3 Optimizing Content for Full Screen ....................................................................................................48 11.5.4 Using Large Region Magnification Tap Targets in Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups .....48 11.5.5 Using position:absolute for Text on Image........................................................................................48 11.5.6 Future-Proofing Fixed-Layout Content with Text Pop-Ups.............................................................49

Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups with Multipage Background Images and Text ....49 11.6.1 Using Side-by-Side Images When Orientation-Lock Is Set to Landscape ...................................49 11.6.2 Positioning Text Blocks........................................................................................................................51 11.6.3 Aligning Text ..........................................................................................................................................51

12 Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Image Pop-Ups or Virtual Panels .............................................. 51 Metadata Guidelines....................................................................................................................................52 Image Guidelines .........................................................................................................................................53 Panel View (Region Magnification)............................................................................................................54 Virtual Panels in Comics and Manga ........................................................................................................56

12.4.1 Requirement #1: Using a Synthetic Spread When Orientation-Lock Equals None ....................57 Optimizing Content for the Graphic Novel Experience ...........................................................................60

12.5.1 Optimizing Tap Targets........................................................................................................................60 12.5.2 Optimizing View Panels .......................................................................................................................60

Text Guidelines.............................................................................................................................................61 Guided View..................................................................................................................................................63 12.7.1 About Guided View ...............................................................................................................................63

13 Creating Fixed-Layout Books Without Pop-Ups................................................................................... 63 Metadata Guidelines....................................................................................................................................63 Text Guidelines.............................................................................................................................................65

14 Creating Kindle Edition with Audio/Video Content .............................................................................. 67 Audio Requirements ....................................................................................................................................67 Video Requirements ....................................................................................................................................68 File Requirements ........................................................................................................................................69

14.3.1 Multimedia Directory.............................................................................................................................69 14.3.2 Confirm Correct Mime-Type ................................................................................................................69 14.3.3 File Size..................................................................................................................................................69

Navigation Guidelines..................................................................................................................................69 14.4.1 Including an Audio and Video TOC....................................................................................................69 14.4.2 Including Audio and Video Assets in NCX File.................................................................................70

Text Guidelines.............................................................................................................................................70 Image Guidelines .........................................................................................................................................70 Audio and Video Guidelines .......................................................................................................................70 14.7.1 Adding Audio .........................................................................................................................................70

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14.7.2 Adding Video .........................................................................................................................................71 14.7.3 Audio and Video Metadata Required .................................................................................................72 14.7.4 Providing Descriptive Media Captions ...............................................................................................72 14.7.5 Adding Images with Play Controls......................................................................................................72

Custom Sample File Required ...................................................................................................................73

15 Creating Dictionaries ................................................................................................................................. 73 Metadata Guidelines....................................................................................................................................73 Text Guidelines ? Dictionary Entry Template...........................................................................................74 Basic Dictionary HTML................................................................................................................................75

15.3.1 Format ....................................................................................................................................................75 15.3.2 Frameset Element ................................................................................................................................75 15.3.3 Headword Index ....................................................................................................................................76

Inflections for Dictionaries...........................................................................................................................77 15.4.1 Inflection Index ......................................................................................................................................78 15.4.2 Exact-match Parameter .......................................................................................................................79

Building a Dictionary with KindleGen ........................................................................................................79 QA Standards--Testing Kindle Dictionaries ............................................................................................80 15.6.1 Format Testing ......................................................................................................................................80 15.6.2 Lookup Testing......................................................................................................................................80

PART IV. APPENDICES........................................................................................................... 81

16 Appendix A: Enhanced Typesetting and Page Flip.............................................................................. 81 About Enhanced Typesetting .....................................................................................................................81 Why Is Enhanced Typesetting Important to Customers?.......................................................................81 Identifying Enhanced Typesetting Titles on Amazon Detail Page ........................................................82 Using Previewer to Identify Titles that Support Enhanced Typesetting ...............................................82 Supported Languages .................................................................................................................................82 Supported Devices.......................................................................................................................................83 About Page Flip ............................................................................................................................................83 Support for Page Flip...................................................................................................................................84

17 Appendix B: Attributes and Tags Supported by Enhanced Typesetting ......................................... 85 Supported Attributes ....................................................................................................................................85 Supported Tags ............................................................................................................................................88 Ignored Tags.................................................................................................................................................90

17.3.1 Ignored HTML Tags..............................................................................................................................90 17.3.2 Ignored Attributes..................................................................................................................................91 17.3.3 Attributes Ignored for Specific HTML Tags .......................................................................................91

18 Appendix C: HTML and CSS Tags Supported in Kindle Format 8 .................................................... 93 HTML Support Table ...................................................................................................................................93 CSS Support Table ......................................................................................................................................96

19 Appendix D: Media Queries.................................................................................................................... 100 Media Query Guidelines............................................................................................................................100

19.1.1 Use Correct CSS Syntax ...................................................................................................................100

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19.1.2 Add a CSS Comment Before Each Media Query ..........................................................................101 19.1.3 Always Use Non-Media Query Code To Target E-Reader Devices............................................101 19.1.4 Media Queries Should Appear After Non-Media Query Code .....................................................101 19.1.5 Avoid Duplicating Code......................................................................................................................102

Using Media Queries .................................................................................................................................103 Using Media Queries for Backward Compatibility with Mobi ...............................................................105 19.3.1 Submitting a Media Query .................................................................................................................106 19.3.2 Using the display:none Property with Media Queries....................................................................108

20 Appendix E: Guidelines for Converting XMDF to KF8....................................................................... 109 KindleGen Command ................................................................................................................................109 Source Issues .............................................................................................................................................109

20.2.1 Poor Image Quality .............................................................................................................................109 20.2.2 Blurred Gaiji Characters.....................................................................................................................109 20.2.3 TOC Entries Not Linked .....................................................................................................................109 20.2.4 Incorrect Number Orientation in TOC ..............................................................................................109 20.2.5 Bold Kanji Characters ........................................................................................................................110 20.2.6 Faded Text...........................................................................................................................................110 20.2.7 No Space Between Images...............................................................................................................110 20.2.8 Images Not Shown In Separate Pages ...........................................................................................110 20.2.9 TOC Not Shown ..................................................................................................................................110 20.2.10 Large Amount of Text Is Not Centered..........................................................................................111 20.2.11 Duplicate IDs .....................................................................................................................................111 20.2.12 File Path and File Name Requirements ........................................................................................111

Unsupported Features...............................................................................................................................111 20.3.1 Ignored Features.................................................................................................................................112

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Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers

Part I. Getting Started

1 Introduction

There are several options for making your books available for the Amazon Kindle platform. Which option is best for you depends upon the nature of your publications (such as your source file format), your available resources and technical expertise, and your eBook sales model. To help you choose, here are examples of common publishing scenarios and recommendations:

For self-publishers or authors who would like to take advantage of Amazon's self-service tools to create Kindle books and sell them on Amazon, see section 2.1, Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Platform.

For publishers with many titles to convert and the expertise to create Kindle books in-house using Kindle Publisher Tools software, see section 2.2, Creating Kindle Books In-House Using Kindle Publisher Tools.

For publishers who do not wish to convert titles in-house or do not have the technical expertise to do so, outsourcing to a conversion house is described in section 2.3, Third-Party Conversion Services.

2 Paths to Getting Your Content on Kindle

Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Platform

Self-publishers can convert books into electronic format using Amazon's self-publishing tools and sell them on Amazon Kindle with Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Platform (KDP). KDP is a fast, easy selfpublishing system for Amazon Kindle. Upload your content, enter sales copy and pricing information, and publish in minutes. To learn more or sign up, visit .

2.1.1 Kindle Create Use Kindle Create (PC or Mac) to transform your completed manuscript into a beautiful Kindle eBook. You can make three types of eBooks with Kindle Create:

If you have a text-heavy book, your .doc(x) file is converted into a "reflowable" eBook. Reflowable eBooks allow the reader to resize text and are available on all Kindle devices and free Kindle reading applications. Reflowable books can be consumed using a screen reader or refreshable braille display when supported by the device or reading application.

If you have a comic book or graphic novel, your PDF is converted into a comic eBook. Comic eBooks include Guided View, which animates panel-to-panel movement with each swipe to give a clear indication of how the story progresses across each page. Comic eBooks do not currently provide support for reading with a screen reader.

If you have a book with lots of images and complex formatting, your PDF is converted into a Print Replica eBook. Print Replica eBooks maintain the look of their print editions and offer many of the advantages of standard Kindle eBooks, but they do not allow the reader to resize text and are only available on certain devices. They are also not accessible to readers using screen readers or refreshable braille displays.

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