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Richard249348591hmn
Participant
September 16, 2025
Question

Can't make a fixed layout epub.

  • September 16, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 325 views

I'm using the latest version of InDesign, I'm trying to make a fixed layout EPUB of a book for a client.  It goes through the process like normal, but the first few pages are too big for the ebook window, and the fonts are all different weights. I made a fixed layout EPUB of the same book in May, and it was perfect. I have now tried the second book in the series, and again, the same result: the first few pages are too big, and the fonts are messed up. I have now tried a totally different book from a different publisher, and it's the same; the first page is too big, and the fonts (different from the other book) are also screwed. 

 

It's getting really frustrating, everything I change in the settings, and it produces the same epub. Can anyone help?

2 replies

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 24, 2025

What EPUB reader are you testing this on? Most of them, quite frankly, are garbage. I was pretty excited about fixed layout epub years ago but I've pretty much soured on it. 

R
Richard249348591hmnAuthor
Participant
September 24, 2025
Yes, I have the Books app, which is rubbish and also Adobe’s Kindle
preview3. Ebooks are not the biggest part of my work, my focus is the print
books, I have never had issues making epubs before. As I say when I
produced the book back in May the ebook was perfect, now I can’t even get a
acceptable epub copy out. No matter what I changed in the settings nothing
changed, in what it produced, it became very frustrating!
BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 24, 2025

Is InDesign fully updated? There were some serious issues a while back.

 

BTW, the only reader I recommend now is Thorium.

    Mike Witherell
    Community Expert
    Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 16, 2025

    What OS and version?

    What version of InDesign?

    What settings are you choosing when exporting to fixed layout EPUB?

    Mike Witherell
    R
    Richard249348591hmnAuthor
    Participant
    September 24, 2025

    Mike, hi. I'm on Mac OS15.4. I'm on the very latest InDesign, but I also tried older versions. Settings: Epub3; all pages; rasterise first page; no contents; disable spreads (again I tried all versions). I have now spent six hours converting the client a reflowable epub, but has has a sister book that I'm still trying to find time to work on. 

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