Ebook Formatting - What Not To Do

 

Look at the above image. Notice the image on the page. I list simple ebook formatting as one of my services, but I specify simple because I don't include adding images to your files for the reason you see here. This reader is using Dark Mode, and as you can see, the image included at the top of the page, while looking nice in Light Mode, takes on a different look when viewed in Dark Mode. That's because ebooks do not accept transparency. They're formatted using simple html that does not include a style for transparency, so all images uploaded are flattened, meaning they have a white background.

I want your ebook to look good and be compatible with all devices, so I exclude images. Unless, of course, you want an image with a square white background on that dark page. I know we like pretty books, but consider most people who download ebooks are mainly interested in the words on the page.  They also want something that will download quickly, and images bloat your file size, thus slowing down the loading of your book.

So save your pretty formatting for the print books.