[Old Thread] Can I add my own cover graphics?

[SonDan1]

Hello,

I could not find this in the FAQ: if I overlooked it I am sorry and please link me to it ...

I am loving my new Nook and using Calibre to load my books on since it was so highly recommended in the Nook forum.

It is pretty intuitive, but I can't seem to find a way to add a graphic for the books that the Metadata search can't find a cover for.

Thanks for reading.

[toddos]

Open the metadata edit dialog for the book you want to add the cover to, and then a the bottom right where it says "Change cover image" there's a button that will let you browse your filesystem to choose a cover image. The icon is supposed to be an open blue folder, though at that size it kinda looks like a printer with a piece of paper sticking out the top. Anyway, hovering over the buttons will tell you what they are.

[jackie_w]

... or another option.

If the image you want is not actually on your PC but is displayed on a webpage. In your browser right-click on the image and select Copy Image. Go back to Calibre and Edit Metadata. Right-click on the existing cover image and select Paste Image.

[korinian]

jackie_w,
I saw your reply and I didn't know you could do that. I tried it and it replaces the image of the existing book cover under the Edit Metadata screen, but when I actually Convert the book, the image changes to a greyish looking box. Have I done something wrong? Thanks.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

... or another option.

If the image you want is not actually on your PC but is displayed on a webpage. In your browser right-click on the image and select Copy Image. Go back to Calibre and Edit Metadata. Right-click on the existing cover image and select Paste Image.

I found you could even "Drag and Drop" (non-flash) Images from Firefox (should work in M$ IE, but have not bothered to test) to the "book" cover in the editor.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by korinian

jackie_w,
I saw your reply and I didn't know you could do that. I tried it and it replaces the image of the existing book cover under the Edit Metadata screen, but when I actually Convert the book, the image changes to a greyish looking box. Have I done something wrong? Thanks.

korinian, I use this method all the time and have never had a problem when converting to epub. What format were you converting to? Are you using the latest Calibre?

Also, if you highlight the book and look in the Book Details box at the bottom of the screen you will see "Click to Open" which will take you straight to this book's files in the Calibre Library (don't delete anything). The cover is stored as cover.jpg - does it load OK in your standard image viewer (I use IrfanView)?

If you can't spot anything amiss perhaps you could post the url where you found the image. I'll be happy to try it myself.

[SonDan1]

Thank you all very much for the alternate instructions. I knew I came to the right place.

I am so looking forward to trying to add graphics to about a dozen books this weekend. I will post back with my results.

Again thanks for taking time out to help me.

[korinian]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

korinian, I use this method all the time and have never had a problem when converting to epub. What format were you converting to? Are you using the latest Calibre?

Also, if you highlight the book and look in the Book Details box at the bottom of the screen you will see "Click to Open" which will take you straight to this book's files in the Calibre Library (don't delete anything). The cover is stored as cover.jpg - does it load OK in your standard image viewer (I use IrfanView)?

If you can't spot anything amiss perhaps you could post the url where you found the image. I'll be happy to try it myself.

jackie-w,
I have a Kindle 2 and am using the latest version of Calibre (0.7.12). The book is the feedbooks MOBI version of The Count of Monte Cristo. The image I was trying to Copy/Paste was from www.fantasticfiction.co.uk.

I pulled up the book at the website and copied the image and then Edited the book in Calibre. I Right Clicked and chose the Paste option and the image appears to have worked, but when I click OK the image changes to a "corrupted looking" black box with multi-colored lines through it. The image gets "jacked up" even before I try and do MOBI to MOBI conversion. It happens as soon as I hit the OK button from Editing.

I tried viewing the cover.jpg using the "click to open" option you mentioned and the viewer shows the same "corrupted" image.

Normally, I have to actually copy the image file down to my machine before browsing to it to put it into Calibre. After not being able to do it your way, I tried it the way I had always done it and it worked fine... so the image is OK. I'm hoping there's an easy fix/explanation because the method you mentioned would save me a ton of time.

Thanks for all the help.

[jackie_w]

@korinian... I'm afraid I'm stumped.

FantasticFiction is the website I use all the time. I've assumed you used the image at this address:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/alexandre-dumas/count-of-monte-cristo.htm

I've just tried the copy/paste process on a test book of mine and it worked fine. I can't get it to NOT work. My browser is Firefox and I'm using Windows XP. I wonder if this is relevant?

I would think the mobi/specific book you're using is not an issue. If the cover.jpg is not saving correctly into your library directory then it won't work in a conversion either.

Have you tried a different Calibre book and a different webpage image? Does that work?

I've just tried drag-n-drop from FantasticFiction to Edit Metadata. This also works for me.

I've also repeated the same actions after bringing up Fantastic Fiction in Internet Explorer 8 rather than Firefox. Both methods worked correctly again.

Let's hope someone more technical can chip in with an explanation.

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Let's hope someone more technical can chip in with an explanation.

I was curious and tested it. It worked for me

[korinian]

jackie_w,
I tried everything on a different machine. Same OS etc... and it worked. There's just something tweaky with my main machine I guess. I don't have any problems with anything else... just this little copy/paste issue. Really wierd... but, it does work on the other machine. Thanks very much for your help.

Update: After trying to figure out the differences between the two computers, the only thing I could find was that the color depth on the one that didn't work was set to 16 bit and the other was 32 bit. After making the change on the original machine... it is now working also. Thanks again.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by korinian

jackie_w,
... the only thing I could find was that the color depth on the one that didn't work was set to 16 bit and the other was 32 bit. After making the change on the original machine... it is now working also.

Excellent. I'm glad you figured it out.

[Androscan]

Hi, this follows the subject topic, though not the "thread".

What I want to do is to add a graphic to the cover page. I want the metadata from the book to show (author and title), and just have a jpg picture underneath that I can recognize, since the name of the author and title are shown too small on the screen of my Kobo Glo.

So, how do I do this? When in the "Convert Books" options I "Change cover image", the imported jpg takes up the entire space, and the metadata do not show. That means that I should be pre-editing the jpg to add in the title and author, and I would like to not to have to do that....

thanks....

A

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Androscan

Hi, this follows the subject topic, though not the "thread".

What I want to do is to add a graphic to the cover page. I want the metadata from the book to show (author and title), and just have a jpg picture underneath that I can recognize, since the name of the author and title are shown too small on the screen of my Kobo Glo.

So, how do I do this? When in the "Convert Books" options I "Change cover image", the imported jpg takes up the entire space, and the metadata do not show. That means that I should be pre-editing the jpg to add in the title and author, and I would like to not to have to do that....

thanks....

A

Use the Generate Cover PLUGIN (not the button in the metadata editor)
to create the cover (uses the Calibre Metadata values)

Now Convert. The conversion will include the current cover in the 'Jacket'