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Creating an ebook - What software can I use?
nates450r
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31 Oct 08 5:22 pm

Creating an ebook - What software can I use?

Hello, everyone. This is a short and simple question. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to create an ebook? Is there a software program I can use?

Thanks,
Nathan
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Last edited by michellerana on 08 Nov 09 7:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: changed title to describe the post better
 
infopreneur
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02 Nov 08 9:20 am

 Nathan,
Ebooks have become the buzz word on online fora. There are many internet marketeers who have made serious money through ebooks.

1. Software for writing the document
You can check out at...
Open office at http://www.openoffice.org/
This is a free suite of office tools including a wordprocessor, spreadsheet etc.

2 Convert your document to pdf.
You have the option to convert your file to an .exe file of to a .pdf file.
Nowadays pdf files are much more preferred as they can be read on both Macs and PCs using the freely distributable Acrobat reader. Exe files can only be viewed on PCs.

So, i'll suggest that you use pdf file for its most obvious advantages mentioned above. Check cute pdf for converting your document to pdf. You can check it out at
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

The most important item in an ebook is good quality CONTENT that your targeted audience needs.

Regards,
Infopreneur
http://tinyurl.com/writing-ebooks
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markling
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03 Nov 08 1:33 am

 I use either microsoft word or adobe indesign for creating ebooks. (both) and save as a pdf using acrobat.

But those free options that were given by infopreneur look like they'd do the trick and might be easier for you.
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nates450r
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03 Nov 08 1:41 am

 Thank you guys for the advice
Nathan
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nates450r
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04 Nov 08 5:34 am

 thanks again guys i have downloaded the free programs it was vary simple and am now ready to start my 1st e book, i have one quick question how do you create the (book cover and image ) for promoting??

Nathan
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infopreneur
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04 Nov 08 8:05 am

 While preparing an ebook focus on the 2 important C's.

1. Cover
2. Content

While a cover alone won't make an ebook, content alone will.

However It's a well proven fact that having an eye catching cover for digital goods can increase sales dramatically. It sounds so simple, yet many self-publishers don't take the time to design a cover that sells.

It is like the cherry on the cake.
Presentation, Presentation, Presentation.
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nates450r
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04 Nov 08 2:09 pm

 yes thank you, so how do you create a cover? what program should i use?
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Last edited by michellerana on 08 Nov 09 7:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 

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aletta
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04 Nov 08 9:31 pm

 There are a bunch of box-making softwares out there...some uglier than others. You could try http://www.3d-box-shot.com/ -- it's not free, but it has a free trial so you can see if you like it. I think Mark has used that before... it looks familiar. If you just search for "3d box" in Google you should find some others.

You'll probably have to design a flat front cover yourself, and then you shove it into the software and it turns it into a 3-D image. I think that's how it works. If you need something to create your flat cover, there's a free Photoshop clone called The Gimp which should do the trick. You might need to spend a little time playing if you're no graphics wizard ;)

Otherwise you could also Google "ebook cover templates" and see what you find.

I also found this site: http://www.ebooktemplatesource.com/free-ebook-covers.html (first result in Google) which gives you the book shape and shows you how to stretch your flat cover image to fit it. It won't look quite as realistic as the 3-d software version, but it will do the trick.

Have fun!
Aletta
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nates450r
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04 Nov 08 10:35 pm

 thanks Aletta i will take a look
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infopreneur
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05 Nov 08 6:24 am

 Also take a look at DIY E Book Covers

http://tinyurl.com/diyebookcovers
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new user
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05 Nov 08 4:46 pm

 Hey, check out this ebook cover software aswell. You can download a free sample by clicking on the "free download" link at the top of the page. eCoverSuiteElite is basically a massive set of ebook cover actionscripts which work in photoshop. It's the type of software professional ebook designers use to design ecovers for their clients. Great support also :)
Here's the link: http://www.ecoversuiteelite.com
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Awesome ebook cover software? Check out - www.ecoversuiteelite.com
 
nates450r
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05 Nov 08 6:08 pm

 Man, Thank you guys for all the help it is very helpful, another question my pc does not have the photoshop program, how much does it cost to buy?
I do have (Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI). I dont mind buying PhotoShop if I need to because I am an affiliate and it is a very useful tool

Thanks, Nathan
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Last edited by michellerana on 10 Nov 09 10:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
 
new user
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05 Nov 08 6:22 pm

 Hey Nathan - Photoshop is pretty expensive to buy brand new, but if you're registered as a business owner, you should be able to put some of it towards tax ;) . To be honest, I'd download the trial version, and see how it works. If you think it'll help you in your business, then just think of it as an investment - if it's used regularily, it should pay for itself after a while.
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Awesome ebook cover software? Check out - www.ecoversuiteelite.com
 
nates450r
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05 Nov 08 6:49 pm

 ok thank you, i guess PhotoShop is required to make e book covers then?
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aletta
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05 Nov 08 8:49 pm

 If you want to use the Photoshop action scripts that New User was talking about, you'll need to get Photoshop. For just making a flat cover which you can fit onto one of those 3-d box making softwares, or even for following that tutorial that I showed you last time, you can download the free Photoshop clone "Gimp" which (as I mentioned before) is free and absolutely adequate for pretty much everything.

http://www.gimp.org/

Otherwise your copy of Paint Shop Pro will also be fine. I used that for years when I first started making websites.

You should really use the free things when you can, guys. You don't need to spend money on this stuff. The other bonus with the Gimp is that it's only about 15mb to download, while Photoshop is about ONE MILLION MEGS OMG IT'S HUGE!

:)
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nates450r
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05 Nov 08 9:22 pm

 Thanks Aletta. i did see that on http://www.ebooktemplatesource.com/free ... overs.html
it notes that you can use a different program other than PhotoShop will also look at gimp.org
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aletta
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05 Nov 08 11:12 pm

 One more Photoshop alternative that I completely forgot about...

http://www.getpaint.net/

If Gimp looks too complicated (it is a Photoshop clone, after all) you could give this one a go. It's like a pimped-up MS Paint and it looks pretty spiffy.

It's also free.
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new user
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05 Nov 08 11:28 pm

 I completely agree, Gimp is absolutely awesome. I still use it from time to time. Maybe I'll try to create an ebook cover in it to see how well it works? Hmmm... If I ever get round to it, I'll post it somewhere here. Good luck with your project.
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Awesome ebook cover software? Check out - www.ecoversuiteelite.com
 
taomm58
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19 Jun 09 7:14 pm

 Hi guys,

The problem I've run into with CutePDF and Acrobat is that when you convert to PDF I lose the links. Is there some way of converting a Word document to PDF and retain the links?

Looking forward to a reply - thanks

Taomm58
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Last edited by michellerana on 08 Nov 09 7:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 
xenopus
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30 Jun 09 12:49 pm

 Hi,

I have been using http://www.freepdfconvert.com/ in the past. I only used it with MS Publisher files though. Never had any links in my source files, so I couldn't really say yes or no to your problem concerning those links.

It is free however so you could give it a try. Your file needs to be uploaded to their server. I don't know if you would have problem with that. In their privacy policy they state that they do not monitor anything. But that's for you to decide of course. :) It does work quite fast. You don't have to wait very long for your file to come back to you.

I hadn't used it in a while and now I also saw a web-pdf converter on their site. I tried that. It converted my homepage to a nice pdf file INCLUDING all the links. So I am sort of assuming that free pdf converter does it as well.
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For a sceptical view on things:
 
xenopus
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30 Jun 09 1:02 pm

 Update! :-)

I just noticed they now have a desktop version of the program. So you won't have to upload the files anymore. At least that's what I understand.

http://www.freepdfconvert.com/pdf_converter_desktop.asp
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For a sceptical view on things:
 
nates450r
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03 Nov 09 7:55 pm

 once i have the e book covers (free download from above) how do i edit them or ad images to them using paint shop pro- that's where i get confused
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jmpruitt
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08 Nov 09 2:19 am

 I have not made a full ebook, but for my reports I just use MicrosoftWord and save as a PDF file.
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michellerana
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10 Nov 09 10:56 am

 Here are some tutorials on how to make ebook covers using Paint Shop Pro and Gimp:

How to Create E-Book Covers with Paint Shop Pro

How to Create an eBook Cover Graphic (Boxshot) Tutorial Using Gimp
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Michelle
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nates450r
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10 Nov 09 3:55 pm

 Wow it looks easy
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wollowra
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10 Nov 09 11:02 pm

 Hi Nates,
Photoshop is great but it does have a learning curve depending on what you want to do.
Gimp and paint.net are great for people wanting to do their own editing and can not afford Photoshop or the time to learn it.
Openoffice.org should put all your links clickable in the PDF.

Regards
Troy
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Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize
they were the big things.

-- Robert Brault
 
nates450r
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11 Nov 09 1:30 am

 i just created my very first software box with paint shop pro (with text and images) my learning curve was about 4 hours- now i know how to do it
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michellerana
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11 Nov 09 9:48 am

 Excellent! I hope you'll be able to finish your ebook soon :)
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Michelle
Customer Support
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Limited time special - Pathway to Passive for $37: http://www.affilorama.com/pathwaytopassive
 
nates450r
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11 Nov 09 2:07 pm

 thats the hard part LOL
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jpastorizo
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11 Nov 09 8:16 pm

 Taomm58,

Links will be active if you have a full url in the form of www.site.com
But if you want an anchor text with the embedded url, you have to use a licensed pdf converter.


Renato



Taomm58 wrote:Hi guys,

The problem I've run into with CutePDF and Acrobat is that when you convert to PDF I lose the links. Is there some way of converting a Word document to PDF and retain the links?

Looking forward to a reply - thanks

Taomm58
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