Buyer's Guide: The Nuts & Bolts of Apps & Ebooks
1. Conversion
Based on sheer volume the dominant approach for creating ebooks is sending PDF files to a conversion service and having EPUB files built from them. That path is attractive because labor costs are much lower, but there are often limits to what PDF conversion can yield. "Conversion works well enough," says Martin Hensel co-founder of TextCafe, "As long as you are talking about creating a single-column text like a mystery or science fiction book." For more complicated outputs, like ebooks with interdependent links or charts, publishers may need to purchase authoring software or partner with a provider.
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.