Kindle & PDF Rendering Tips?

baker2gs · 08-09-2010, 01:05 AM

Hello, I've been a member of this forum since I received my 2nd gen.

When I got it I was stoked because I have a bunch of e-books in PDF form, but as I learned quickly it renders them like crap. I have tried a number of conversion methods (PDFRead, PDFill, Mobipocket Creator) and still it seems they don't render well. Often times it looks the same or if I convert to html the breaks in pages are totally off.

I wanted to ask is there a simple way to deal with this? Is there any sure fire conversion methods that will make a PDF readable (in converted format) on this darn device?

Lately I've found rotating the device to landscape but that seems to require hitting "next page" a lot more.

With this constant frustration I'm considering ditching this device for one that is more PDF friendly, but I wanted to see if there was any insight before I took a drastic measure.

arcadata · 08-09-2010, 02:03 AM

For whatever it's worth, I use Briss to crop the margins of the PDF. That helps a little for me.

JSWolf · 08-09-2010, 03:19 AM

Just treat PDF like it doesn't exist. Saves all the hassle that way.

baker2gs · 08-09-2010, 11:16 AM

I've tried Briss, it just takes too long for some of the larger books. PDFill seems to work well with cropping off the margins, I think it's the same idea as Briss

Also I wish I could avoid PDF in general but most of the free ebooks come in that format.

I'll just go back to using a netbook I suppose.

runtmms · 08-09-2010, 11:52 AM

I don't have an answer if you're dealing with graphics, but for weird text breaks try Calibre and playing with the "Line Un-Wrapping Factor" under the PDF input option when converting. I'm using version 0.7.13. It says the default for this setting is .5, but when I manually enter .5 I get a very different result than when leaving it stock. I'm sure it's worth trying different settings based on the source.

I also use the option of pulling the html from the "Debug" option to clean up anything that was missed. I had a book that I was having a heck of a time with. After changing the "Line Un-Wrapping Factor" the only errors I had to go in and manually fix were the start of chapters. Sometimes the chapter number ran into the first line of text.

I'm very new, so there is probably less convoluted ways of getting this done.

-M

=X= · 08-09-2010, 01:15 PM

@baker2gs

No there is no easy way, and since each PDF is different there is no one is best.

I use soPDF, BRISS, and PaperCrop. Each one of these tools works best for a specific type of PDF.

soPDF, is the easiest to use, and can

BRISS offers the best margin crop feature, and since it is in Java it works everywhere. It also keeps bookmarks.

PaperCrop is the best for more complicated PDF, and has a good reflow. The problem is it turns all the PDF to images. If you have image based PDF this is the best one to use.

When you say most free books are PDF, do you mean out of copyright? If so there are a wealth of sites that have MOBI formatted books that you can download without any hassle.

=X=

baker2gs · 08-11-2010, 10:56 AM

Wow, thanks for the tips. I guess it's trial and error to figure out what program to use for what PDF?

Most of the ebooks I have in PDF form do not have graphics or graphics necessary for the content. I think I will take a look at the reflow option for Calibre.

@=X= they are out of copyright - free ones distributed by the authors.

loveangel · 08-11-2010, 10:58 AM

briss is a good idea

08-09-2010, 01:05 AM	#1
baker2gs Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 2	Kindle & PDF Rendering Tips? Hello, I've been a member of this forum since I received my 2nd gen. When I got it I was stoked because I have a bunch of e-books in PDF form, but as I learned quickly it renders them like crap. I have tried a number of conversion methods (PDFRead, PDFill, Mobipocket Creator) and still it seems they don't render well. Often times it looks the same or if I convert to html the breaks in pages are totally off. I wanted to ask is there a simple way to deal with this? Is there any sure fire conversion methods that will make a PDF readable (in converted format) on this darn device? Lately I've found rotating the device to landscape but that seems to require hitting "next page" a lot more. With this constant frustration I'm considering ditching this device for one that is more PDF friendly, but I wanted to see if there was any insight before I took a drastic measure.

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08-09-2010, 02:03 AM	#2
arcadata Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,230 Karma: 4651787 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPod Touch, Sony PRS-350	For whatever it's worth, I use Briss to crop the margins of the PDF. That helps a little for me.

08-09-2010, 03:19 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,387 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Just treat PDF like it doesn't exist. Saves all the hassle that way.

08-09-2010, 11:16 AM	#4
baker2gs Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 2	I've tried Briss, it just takes too long for some of the larger books. PDFill seems to work well with cropping off the margins, I think it's the same idea as Briss Also I wish I could avoid PDF in general but most of the free ebooks come in that format. I'll just go back to using a netbook I suppose.

08-09-2010, 11:52 AM	#5
runtmms Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 509194 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Google Nexus 4	I don't have an answer if you're dealing with graphics, but for weird text breaks try Calibre and playing with the "Line Un-Wrapping Factor" under the PDF input option when converting. I'm using version 0.7.13. It says the default for this setting is .5, but when I manually enter .5 I get a very different result than when leaving it stock. I'm sure it's worth trying different settings based on the source. I also use the option of pulling the html from the "Debug" option to clean up anything that was missed. I had a book that I was having a heck of a time with. After changing the "Line Un-Wrapping Factor" the only errors I had to go in and manually fix were the start of chapters. Sometimes the chapter number ran into the first line of text. I'm very new, so there is probably less convoluted ways of getting this done. -M

08-09-2010, 01:15 PM	#6
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	@baker2gs No there is no easy way, and since each PDF is different there is no one is best. I use soPDF, BRISS, and PaperCrop. Each one of these tools works best for a specific type of PDF. soPDF, is the easiest to use, and can BRISS offers the best margin crop feature, and since it is in Java it works everywhere. It also keeps bookmarks. PaperCrop is the best for more complicated PDF, and has a good reflow. The problem is it turns all the PDF to images. If you have image based PDF this is the best one to use. When you say most free books are PDF, do you mean out of copyright? If so there are a wealth of sites that have MOBI formatted books that you can download without any hassle. =X=

08-11-2010, 10:56 AM	#7
baker2gs Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 2	Wow, thanks for the tips. I guess it's trial and error to figure out what program to use for what PDF? Most of the ebooks I have in PDF form do not have graphics or graphics necessary for the content. I think I will take a look at the reflow option for Calibre. @=X= they are out of copyright - free ones distributed by the authors.

08-11-2010, 10:58 AM	#8
loveangel Banned Posts: 137 Karma: 30 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: kindle	briss is a good idea

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