Adding a cover to a book in iBooks
How do I add or change a cover of a book I have in iBooks (Mac, pad, & phone)?
How do I add or change a cover of a book I have in iBooks (Mac, pad, & phone)?
Thanks, I found http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55681, and it’s link to the epub zip/unzip. I downloaded it, and had to change my security to run it (not from an identified developer).
I ran that utility to unzip the epub.
I opened the folder and saw a file named “cover.jpeg”, so I previewed my .jpg and exported it as cover.jpeg and replaced the one in the archive folder.
I zipped it up replacing the original book, then opened the book with the Mavericks ebook reader. Same old cover.
So I followed your directions more closely, previewing my .jpg and exporting it as a cover.png. I copied it into the folder, renamed it to iTunesArtwork, zipped it, and opened it with eReader again.
Still no luck. Then I discovered how to delete the book from my eReader. Eureka! Now it loaded with the new cover.
Thanks, I found http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55681, and it’s link to the epub zip/unzip. I downloaded it, and had to change my security to run it (not from an identified developer).
I ran that utility to unzip the epub.
I opened the folder and saw a file named “cover.jpeg”, so I previewed my .jpg and exported it as cover.jpeg and replaced the one in the archive folder.
I zipped it up replacing the original book, then opened the book with the Mavericks ebook reader. Same old cover.
So I followed your directions more closely, previewing my .jpg and exporting it as a cover.png. I copied it into the folder, renamed it to iTunesArtwork, zipped it, and opened it with eReader again.
Still no luck. Then I discovered how to delete the book from my eReader. Eureka! Now it loaded with the new cover.
I only use iBooks as a clumsy and cryptic way of getting books onto my iPad, and wish the books were still on iTunes.
After I changed the book on iBooks, it didn't change on my iPad. I went to my iPad and deleted the old book then synchronized the device. Still missing. I went to iTunes and found I no longer was synchronizing all books. I switched back to all books, and finally the book I changed was changed on my iPad.
There is a way, but it is not particularly user friendly and you have to be comfortable rolling up your sleeves and reaching into the guts of an epub file.
This is why an app like Google Drive or Dropbox is handy. Just put it in to one of those. Update. Go to your iPad. Open either app. Click on the file. Open in iBooks. Easiest way. I'm not connecting my iPad until I can edit them in iBooks for the Mac. I can't believe this app is so half-baked.
Tested and working:
How to edit iBooks meta data under Mac OS X Mavericks
First of all, I GOT THIS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE. I take no credit nor responsibility.
IT WORKS
Edit metadata with Calibre for Mac
Although edit metadata with iBooks is impossible, it doesn't mean this is the end of the story. With another software, Calibre for Mac, we can edit book's metadata then load the book into iBooks for Mac app.
First we import the book into Calibre and delete it from iBooks
Right click on the book title, choose "Edit metadata", then "Edit metadata individually".
In this window we can customize almost all the important metadata, including adding a cover to the book
After you finish the editing, click "OK" to confirm.
But job is not finished yet, in fact the editing is only done in Calibre's library. To display the edited book in iBooks for Mac, we need add the editing into the book file.
No matter if we are adding cover or modifying other metadata like title, author & publisher, genre, etc. , converting the book to EPUB again is necessary, only in this way, we can completely edit the metadata inside the book, not only in Calibre library.
So the last step is to convert the book to EPUB, even this file is already an EPUB file.
Find the converted file in Calibre's library and drag it into iBooks for Mac, now we can see the book displayed in iBooks for Mac with all the gorgeous editing present.
Using the same method we can also add or modify other metadata like title, author & publisher, genre, etc. on Mac OS X Mavericks even the iBooks for Mac won't permit us to do so.
I have tried this and it works!!!
The only problem with that is that many PDFs (which comprise much of our libraries) do not convert very well to epub.
you can also do this with pdfs. move the pdf into calibre. do your editing.
So the last step is to convert the book to pdf, even this file is already a pdf file.
Find the converted file in Calibre's library and drag it into iBooks for Mac, now we can see the book displayed in iBooks for Mac with all the gorgeous editing present.
Using the same method we can also add or modify other metadata like title, author & publisher, genre, etc. on Mac OS X Mavericks even if the iBooks for Mac won't permit us to do so.
I have tried this and it works!!!
This is just a bit clunky for Apple. They have the greatest music library application. I just figured it would have the same ability we already had in iTunes. Now if you need to change anything on a PDF, I find preview is quite powerful. You sometimes have to export it or save it out, to change them. But once done you can delete or add things into the PDF that way.
Here is an easier fix...
http://ebookconverter.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-add-cover-to-epub-pdf-mobi-boo k.html
Someone else published some instructions for doing this but this URL is a little more user-friendly! :-)
Thank you Steve! I already used Calibre and knew how to edit metadata. But it wasn't carrying over into iBooks. Converting it to epub again after making the changes did it.
another thanks to steve.
adding cover then reconverting to epub with calibre works a treat.
The solution you shared has solved my problem... thanks!
Thanks, Steve, wherever you got it. It works!
So if you use dropbox to load the book to your iPad, and then also load the book to your phone from Dropbox, will the bookmarks sync across the devices? Or will it think it's two different books, since it did not come through iTunes?
Easiest way without downloading or using external sources:
1. Download from Google Images the cover you wish your book to have onto your desktop
2. In your iBooks App: Go to "List" view.
3. Find your book, and drag the window to the side so you are able to see the image you just downloaded.
4. Drag and drop the downloaded image onto the book you wish to change.
5. It will ask "Are you sure you want to change this book's cover? The original cover will be permanently removed."
Adding a cover to a book in iBooks