Setting up your eBook document in Pagemaker

The following list provides a number of important tips to utilize that will ensure high-quality output when you convert your eBook to tagged PDF. Some of the items deal with conversion settings that you specify in Acrobat Distiller prior to exporting your eBook document to PDF.

• When creating eBook content in PageMaker or any other layout program, make sure to set up a smaller page size so that your text won’t be distorted when rendered in the smaller screen area provided by your eBook reader of choice. A 6-x-9-inch page dimension with 1⁄2- or 3⁄4-inch margins all around translates well to desktop and laptop screen resolutions.
• Target output resolution should be 300 dpi or better to ensure clear, crisp text when the file is down-sampled and compressed during the PDF conversion process.
• Try to use your system’s Base 14 fonts in your eBook document. Otherwise, choose fonts that have strong serifs and strokes. If these font properties are too delicate, they’ll distort and cause reading difficulty when displayed in the Adobe Reader or Acrobat. In addition, be sure to embed those fonts you decide to use in the converted PDF. You can experiment with the readability of a chosen font by converting a test document to PDF and viewing it in Acrobat or Adobe Reader using a variety of magnifications and CoolType settings. You might also check for differences when viewing the eBook on a CRT or LCD computer screen.
• The minimum font size for body text should be 12 points. Use at least 2 points of leading. If you want to spread out your text, select a wider tracking value for your chosen font rather than using character kerning. Tracking can be applied globally and produces more significant visual enhancement than kerning, which also bulks up the size of your file.
• When creating paragraph heading styles in PageMaker, make sure you specify their inclusion in your table of contents by clicking the Include in Table of Contents check box in the Paragraph Specifications dialog box. You can open this dialog box by selecting the heading text in your document and choosing Type➪Paragraph or pressing Ctrl+M (Ô+M on the Mac). You can also access this dialog box while editing styles. Choose Type➪Define Styles, select a heading style in the Style list box, click the Edit button to open the Style Options dialog box, and finally, click the Para button.