Formatting for Smashwords?

[vgv]

Would like to prevail on the expertise here if OK with all.

Have been involved in the net since about '84, have several websites on line, and have generated PDF publications for industrial training purposes. Have read the Smashwords style guide, but rather than wear out the meat grinder trying, perhaps I may get some guidance.

Application #1
Preschool Children's Books
My niece has been both author and illustrator of various children's books for the past 20 years. To some she has total rights, to some only illustrator rights, and to others at this point unknown.

Question 1a:
As I would be placing her material on line, guess that makes me her agent?

Question 1b:
Do I require any proof of agency agreement, or proof of her rights to the material to keep things OK with Smashwords?

Question 1c:
Her books are always in color, of various sizes but 10" tall x 8.5" wide is typical. Sometimes text is on image, sometimes below.
Am confused as to how to deal with images starting with a word document?

Question 1d:
Are there recommended maximum dimensions for images?


Application 2
An image heavy "How To" manual.
Manual presently generated in MS Word with images inserted. Total manual is 200 pages, 30,000 words, and in PDF format is 17meg.

Question 2a.
Again the image problem.

Question 2b.
In order to create this manual in word, it was necessary to split it into 20 chapters to prevent word from stalling out. Some of the images are 600 Pix wide x 700 pix high, and after about 10 pages, word became unmanageable. My solution was to PDF individual chapters, and combine chapters, cover, title page TOC, and reference sections in a PDF editor which allows PDF file merging and arrangement.

Does Smashwords file input provide for merging and arrangement of multiple files, or how should this be handled?

Will welcome any and all thoughts on the above.

ThanX

Vern

[Julie Harris]

Vern
If you're going to publish you must have the rights necessary to publish.
The source file upload limit is 5mb for Smashwords. Step 13 of the style guide is about images: I suggest you look through that. I once formatted (for a friend) 2 kids books with an abundance of images for upload to Amazon - the word files were too big for Smashwords and I was afraid of killing the meatgrinder.
When creating the mobi files I found I kept final file size down by keeping the images 400 px wide max. The images averaged 300px wide (proportional for height).
Before reducing the image sizes, make copies of them and work on the copies. Always keep your originals intact.
I wish you luck, I think you're going to need it.
Julie

[vgv]

Julie,

Thank you for the rapid response.

Your comments adjusted my focus on possible options.

Will be a lot smarter this time next week.

Thanks again

Vern

[Julie Harris]

Keep us posted on progress.

[vgv]

Julie,

One more question.

From the SW Style Guide:
"If you cannot separate the complex formatting and layout from the content of your book, then consider restricting your ebook output formats on Smashwords to only PDF and RTF,"

Is this an option, or does it restrict distribution channels? Kids books and my style of instruction manual are most effective in PDF. Know PDF works on iPad size readers, and target market is not likely to use anything smaller.

[Julie Harris]

As far as I'm aware, the epub version is the one that you assign the ISBN to, and is the file type that is sent to retailers i.e. Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, etc. once it gains Premium status. Best to check with Smashwords I think by contacting them directly. You could always sell it through Smashwords only as pdf and rtf.
J.

[vgv]

Thank you.

V.