Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
3.10.6 HTML Guideline #6: Avoid Using Negative Values
Avoid using negative values for positioning text and margins. Positioning with negative values without adding padding for compensation can cause content to display with the edge cut off. For example, if you want to use text-indent: -2em you also need to apply padding-left: 2em.
3.10.7 HTML Guideline #7: Avoid Using Scripting
Scripting is not supported. All scripts are stripped from the source during conversion. SVG with animation is not supported.
3.10.8 HTML Guideline #8: Avoid Using Negative Values for Line Height
Do not use negative values for the line-height attribute. They are not supported.
3.11 Embedded Font Guidelines
Kindle Format 8 supports embedded fonts within the eBook. These fonts can be either Open Type (OTF) or True Type (TTF). Kindle does not recommend the use of Type 1 (Postscript) fonts. To provide Kindle customers with the best possible reading experience, reflowable books that use Type 1 fonts are rendered using Kindle fonts by default. On KF8-enabled devices and apps, customers have the option to turn publisher-provided fonts on or off.
The font files within the book are intentionally obfuscated to reduce the probability of reuse, but it is the responsibility of the publisher to secure the appropriate license rights for fonts. Unless embedded fonts are necessary to convey intent, Amazon recommends using the default set of fonts installed on Kindle devices and apps because they have been tuned for high quality rendering.
Only embed fonts that are not currently available on devices and apps. Publishers do not need to include the Charis font with their Kindle books because it is an Open Font Licensed typeface. When selecting a font, consider usability for visually impaired readers and select a simple, clear font which will contrast well against all tablet and e Ink backgrounds.
4 Creating Fixed-Layout Children’s Books
Certain books have elements with fixed dimensions and orientation that do not allow fonts to be resized or text to be reflowed. For example, children’s books and graphic novels have full-page images with text set precisely in relation to the background art. To accommodate these media types, KF8 introduces new metadata fields and corresponding guidelines.
Fixed-layout books do not support reflowable text and should only be used when the entire book is a fixed-layout format; books cannot be partially reflowable or partially fixed-layout.
To demonstrate best practices in creating fixed-layout books, Amazon provides a children’s book example at www.amazon.com/kindleformat (under the KindleGen Examples heading). This example is a demonstration of how to create content to take advantage of fixed-layout with Region Magnification. It is not intended to be an HTML tutorial.
4.1 Metadata Fields Supporting Fixed-Layout Books
The OPF file specifies metadata necessary for fixed-layout books. For a demonstration, see the children’s book example at www.amazon.com/kindleformat (under the KindleGen Examples heading).
Metadata
Layout can be specified using one of the following metadata fields:
1) <meta property="rendition:layout">prepaginated</meta>
2) <meta name="fixed-layout" content="true"/>
Description
Required. Identifies the book as having a fixed layout.
Valid values for rendition:layout metadata are reflowable or prepaginated
. The default value is reflowable
.
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Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
Metadata
<meta name="original-resolution" content="1024x600"/>
Description
Valid values for fixed-layout metadata are true or false. The default value is false
.
Required. Identifies the original design resolution of the content (“1024x600” is only an example). The pixel dimensions can have any positive integer value. These values must equal the overall aspect ratio of the original content.
Orientation can be specified using one of the following metadata fields:
1) <meta property="rendition:orientation">landscape</meta>
2) <meta name="orientation-lock" content="landscape"/>
Optional.
Valid values for rendition:layout metadata are portrait, landscape, or auto
. Locks the orientation of the book to either portrait or landscape. If the value is auto
, both portrait and landscape modes are supported. The default value is auto.
Valid values for orientation-lock metadata are portrait, landscape or none
. Locks the orientation of the content to either portrait or landscape. If the value is none, both portrait and landscape modes are supported. The default value is none
.
<meta name="RegionMagnification" content="true"/>
Optional. Enables Kindle Panel View and
Kindle Text Pop-Up. Valid values are true or false. The default value is false.
Enabling this feature requires additional
CSS instructions as specified in section
4.2.2.
<meta name="primary-writing-mode" content="horizontal-rl"/>
Optional. Defines page rendering order, reading mode, and reader navigation
(including Kindle Text Pop-Up, Kindle
Panel View, and Kindle Virtual Panels).
Valid values are horizontal-lr, horizontal-rl
, vertical-lr, and vertical-rl
. The default value is horizontal-lr
.
<meta name="book-type" content="children"/>
Optional for children’s books. Removes reader functionality (e.g., share) which may not be relevant for certain books such as children’s. Valid values are children or comic
.
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