Print vs. eBook Formatting: Why They're Different
Print and eBook formatting are not the same task with a different file extension. Print formatting has to account for fixed page dimensions, margins that allow for binding, and exact page counts, which also affect cover spine width. eBook formatting has to work across variable screen sizes and reader settings, which means a reflowable file structure rather than fixed page layout. A manuscript prepared only for print will typically need real rework, not just a file conversion, to display properly as an eBook, which is why we treat both as distinct deliverables built correctly for how each one is actually read.
A common mistake we see is authors formatting once in Word and assuming it will work everywhere. Word documents aren't upload-ready files for most platforms; proper formatting requires converting to the file types each platform actually expects, EPUB and MOBI for digital, a print-ready PDF for physical copies, each built to that platform's own rules.
We also test eBook files across multiple reading environments before delivery, since a file that displays correctly in one reader app can still misbehave in another. Catching that inconsistency before your book goes live is far less disruptive than a reader flagging it in a review after the fact.
