Q: What are the EXACT dimensions, dpi, file format and max file size requirements for an eBook cover to publish in the iBookstore?

Is there a FAQ or specific guidelines Apple offers in regards to all of this?

Not as far as I know. All we have is the short message about the cover in Apple's email. Follow that for the cover for the store. For the book cover, the highest meaningful resolution is the new iPad resolution, 2048 x 1536. If your cover doesn't fill all of the page, reduce pixel dimensions in proportion to the amount of space it takes up on the page.

Michi.

The store icons are scaled from the full-sized cover image you supply

...which is currently different from apps, where the developer is required to submit specific icons, which are also scaled as needed depending on if the store is viewed on a computer or device.

This is not entirely true.

I created a 1400x1400 cover image as requested by Apple but it displays differently depending on the store you are viewing it in: iTunes bookstore on OS X shows the book thumbnail scaled correctly; iBook store on iPad shows a rectangular thumbnail so my square cover art (remember, as requested by Apple) is now cropped on the right.

Hopefully Apple fixes this discrepancy since they are making the 1400x1400 cover art mandatory soon.

The cover does not have to be square. From the iTunes Producer Guide 2.7.1:

Cover art (also known as a marketing image or jacket) should be at least 1400 pixels along the smaller axis and must be a JPEG or PNG file in RGB Color mode. For an average trade paperback, this could be 400 x 1400 minimum size, as the books are generally taller than they are wide. For best results, deliver the largest pixel dimensions possible. When possible, match cover art to the cover contained in the book file. The 2 million pixel maximum does not apply to the cover image.

The shorter side must be 1400 pixels or more, the longer side will therefore have more than 1400 pixels, unless it's a square cover.

For screenshots, the following applies:

Screenshots should be a clear picture, made on an iPad, and be a 1024 x 768, 1024 x 748, 768 x 1024, or 768 x 1004 pixel JPEG or PNG file (for an iPad 1 or 2, double for the new iPad) with the appropriate file extensions (.jpg, .jpeg, and .png) in RGB Color mode. Optionally, you can remove the 20-pixel status bar.

Note that, if you create the screen shots on a new iPad, the pixel dimenions will double what is stated, and that's OK too.

Michi.

Thanks Michi for clarifying that. I have updated my cover art to be more rectangular and 1400 pixels on the short side.

e

It does seem like the Cover Art will, in the future, need to be square.

Per Apple Warning today on upload attempt in iProducer:

"Minimum album cover art dimensions of 1400x1400, while not required at present time, will be required in near future."

So 1400x1400=1,960,000 which is close to 2milliom max allowed for Covert Art. A typicall book is rectangle but once you make short size 1400, you really can't get much of a rectangle without exceed 2 million limit for Cover Art. (1400x1428 equals aproximatley 2,000,000)

Just got the warning today. I hope they keep allowing us to upload rectangular images like MichiHenning mentioned. I don't mind making one side 1400, but a square? No way!

So 1400x1400=1,960,000 which is close to 2milliom max allowed for Covert Art. A typicall book is rectangle but once you make short size 1400, you really can't get much of a rectangle without exceed 2 million limit for Cover Art. (1400x1428 equals aproximatley 2,000,000)

Please re-read my post. The 2 million limit does not apply to cover images.

Michi.

Thanks. So are you saying that the Cover Art file and Cover Image file are one and the same and the terms are interchangable? In iTunes Producer-->Assets tab they refer to Cover Art and not Cover Image.

phreetil wrote:

 

Thanks. So are you saying that the Cover Art file and Cover Image file are one and the same and the terms are interchangable?

That appears to be the case. From Apple's documentation: "Cover art (also known as a marketing image or jacket)…"

In iTunes Producer-->Assets tab they refer to Cover Art and not Cover Image.

What you upload with iTP is the entire front cover, including any text, exactly as it appears in the store when browsing books. This is not the same image that is shown on the bookshelf in iBooks and for the cover animation when you open an IBA book. The image that is shown there is the one you create in IBA.

I imagine that, for pretty much all books, you want the two images to be the same. But ensuring that is up to you.

As an aside, the Apple documentation contradicts itself.

Cover art (also known as a marketing image or jacket) should be at least 1400 pixels along the smaller axis and must be a JPEG or PNG file in RGB Color mode.

This clearly says the shorter side must be at least 1400 pixels. The next sentence says this:

For an average trade paperback, this could be 400 x 1400 minimum size, as the books are generally taller than they are wide.

That doesn't make sense, seeing that the shorter side is supposed to be at least 1400 pixels, meaning it should say "1400 x 4900" for the same aspect ratio.

The doc also says:

Cover art must be at least 72 dots per inch (dpi)

That's of course meaningless because I cannot know what the dpi is if I'm not told at what size the image will be displayed. Go figure…

Michi.

Thanks again.

Apple seems to have made it more confusing than it should be.

 

As an aside, the Apple documentation contradicts itself.

Cover art (also known as a marketing image or jacket) should be at least 1400 pixels along the smaller axis and must be a JPEG or PNG file in RGB Color mode.

This clearly says the shorter side must be at least 1400 pixels. The next sentence says this:

For an average trade paperback, this could be 400 x 1400 minimum size, as the books are generally taller than they are wide.

That doesn't make sense, seeing that the shorter side is supposed to be at least 1400 pixels, meaning it should say "1400 x 4900" for the same aspect ratio.

     

...I did notice this too.

So, if as you say, that the Cover Art and Cover image terms are the same and the 2 million limit does not apply, then it is unclear to me why Apple sent this message to me about cover file being rejected

"Action Required: Your book could not be delivered to the iBookstore.

The following images are larger than two million pixels and must be resized:

Full ePub: Cover_xyz.jpg "

I'll probably need to have the cover file in epub and Cover Image for Asset in iTunes Producer be named differently (but be copies of the same file) so I can understand which one is the "problem" file.

And finally, why does Apple refer to Cover Art twice here and then end in last sentence with Cover Image if they are the same ( and if they are the same why not state "this cover image").

"Cover art (also known as a marketing image or jacket) should be at least 1400 pixels along the smaller axis and must be a JPEG or PNG file in RGB Color mode. For an average trade paperback, this could be 400 x 1400 minimum size, as the books are generally taller than they are wide. For best results, deliver the largest pixel dimensions possible. When possible, match cover art to the cover contained in the book file. The 2 million pixel maximum does not apply to the cover image".

So, if as you say, that the Cover Art and Cover image terms are the same and the 2 million limit does not apply, then it is unclear to me why Apple sent this message to me about cover file being rejected

 

"Action Required: Your book could not be delivered to the iBookstore.

The following images are larger than two million pixels and must be resized:

Full ePub: Cover_xyz.jpg "

You could contact the iBookstore support people and point them at the relevant passage of their own documentation.

And finally, why does Apple refer to Cover Art twice here and then end in last sentence with Cover Image if they are the same ( and if they are the same why not state "this cover image").

Sorry, you'll have to ask Apple.

For what it's worth, I updated the cover image for my book via iTP five days ago (20 July 2012). The image dimensions are 3009 x 4029, which is a little over 12 megapixels. The update was accepted and went live in the store within ten minutes.

Michi.

phreetil wrote:

 

 

"Action Required: Your book could not be delivered to the iBookstore.

The following images are larger than two million pixels and must be resized:

Full ePub: Cover_xyz.jpg "

Just a thought… Is it possible that this message refers to the cover image you used for the cover page inside IBA, not the cover image you upload for display in the store with iTP?

If so, that image must have fewer than 2 million pixels. Check whether that image (inside IBA) is too large. If so, you have likely found the problem.

Michi.