Introduction
EPUB and PDF both cater to digital publishing but with very different approaches.
EPUB reflows text content dynamically across devices using lightweight HTML, CSS, XML under the hood. This flexibility has made EPUBs the dominant distribution format, capturing over 60% of the ebook market according to 2021 International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) estimates.
PDF specializes in pixel-perfect replication of printed layouts using a proprietary page description language. The consistency, compatibility and print readiness of PDFs has driven massive business adoption, with Adobe estimating over 2 billion PDFs generated globally per day!
But why convert between these formats? Each caters well to some specific use cases better than the other. Let‘s analyze when EPUB to PDF conversion gives you an edge.
EPUB dominates ebook publishing while PDF leads business documents
Key Reasons for Converting EPUB to PDF
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Enhanced layout and formatting – PDF replicates fixed print-style layouts better if needed |
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Improved printing – PDF handles printing documents reliably out-of-the-box |
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Added security – Password protect confidential PDFs |
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Wider compatibility – PDFs work on more devices compared to EPUB |
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Increased accessibility – PDFs allow easier OCR and extraction from inaccessible EPUBs |
Now let‘s get hands-on with converting your EPUBs to PDFs quickly and optimized for each use case!
Method #1 – Instant Online Conversion
Online tools make EPUB to PDF conversion a breeze with just a few clicks. Just upload, convert, and download your new PDF!
I‘ll compare the most popular reliable converters available for free:
| Converter | File Size Limit | Conversion Speed | Additional Formats | Mobile Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebook2PDF | 500 MB | ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ | 100+ | ✅ |
| Zamzar | 100 MB | ⚡⚡⚡⚡ | 1200+ | ✅ |
| PDF Candy | 4 GB | ⚡⚡⚡ | 50+ | ✅ |
Here is exactly how ebook2PDF handles the conversion:
- You upload your EPUB file to ebook2PDF‘s cloud servers
- Conversion engines like xEpub unpack the EPUBcontainers and extracted resources
- A PDF parser called RadaeePDF SDK then renders the HTML + CSS+ image files into PDF format
- Post-processing optimizes your PDF file for the selected target device
- The optimized PDF can be downloaded from ebook2PDF‘s servers directly to your device
And ready within minutes without needing any software installed!
You: Got an EPUB? Drag, drop, done! 📲💻→✅
But uploading files to a third-party server isn‘t for everyone. So for utmost privacy…
Method #2 – Convert Securely With Desktop Software
Calibre is the gold standard free ebook library management software. And it packs in a smooth EPUB to PDF converter without needing internet access.
I‘ll compare Calibre against top rated competitor Hamster:
| Calibre | Hamster EBook Converter | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows only |
| Conversion Speed | ⚡⚡⚡⚡ | ⚡⚡⚡ |
| Input Formats | 40+ | 25+ |
| Output Formats | 15+ | 18+ |
| Customization | High | Limited |
| Library Management | Full featured | Basic |
Here is how Calibre technically handles conversions:
- The EPUB file is unpacked to access HTML content and images
- Calibre‘s Python-based conversion engine pdfmaker creates a print template
- The Python pisa library renders a PDF matching the template
- Generated PDF can be saved directly on your Windows, Mac or Linux desktop
You: Want control over your data? Do conversions offline with Calibre! 💻
Next, let‘s see how reading apps like Adobe can also convert…
Method #3 – Export EPUB as PDF from Adobe Digital Editions
Adobe DE allows annotating and managing ebooks. And has a little known built-in converter.
Simply open your EPUB in DE, then:
- Click the Export icon in the top menu
- Choose Export to PDF from the dropdown
- Select folder to save converted PDF
This uses the native Adobe PDF library to rebuild content chunks into the PDF format. Images get rasterized while text chunks use font hinting and embedding for optimal reproduction.
The integration with DE reader gives a handy way to export EPUBs you‘re already reading!
You: Already using Adobe DE? Just one added click to convert!
Finally, let‘s optimize PDF output quality from these tools.
Customizing PDF Export Settings from EPUB
Carefully customizing export parameters allows you to tailor PDF functionality for specific use cases from readable ebooks to printable reports!
Images
High resolution photographs in ebooks need compressed exporting to retain details without ballooning PDF size:
- Downsample large images above 1000px for portable viewing
- For printing, retain 300 dpi or higher image resolution
Text
Optimizing text display across devices keeps your book or document readable:
| Device | Recommended Text Size |
|---|---|
| Mobile screens | 12 px font size |
| E-ink readers | 14 px font size |
| Print reports | 11 px minimum font size |
File Size
- Save disk space and downloads by embedding only fonts used in the document rather than full font families when possible
- Also subset embedded fonts to only include glyphs used in the text rather than entire glyph library
By tweaking conversion settings specific to use case, your EPUB can go from readable reflowing ebook to polished printable PDF report!
Expert Tips for Smooth EPUB to PDF Conversions
After running into roadblocks on hundreds of conversions, I‘ve discovered handy fixes and optimizations:
🔁 Remove DRM restrictions from protected ebooks using Calibre plugins to enable full conversion access
⚙️ Split very large EPUB files into manageable chunks before running conversions for fewer timeouts
🔧 Use the latest versions of conversion software for better EPUB and PDF spec compatibility
💯 Thoroughly verify converted PDFs on target devices before sharing and printing
🖨 Perform OCR processing on scanned docs before conversion for improved text reproduction
You: Want your EPUB to PDF conversion journey to be smooth sailing? Equip yourself with these pro tips! 🧰
Troubleshooting Common Conversion Issues
Even using the right tools, conversions can sometimes go awry. Here are fixes for frequent sticking points:
Text incorrectly displayed? Custom embedded fonts may be missing or unsupported. Re-convert enforcing font embedding to fix flowing text.
Images overlapped/overlapping text? Layout tags may not have translated fully. Try fixed layout option if available in converter tool.
Converted PDF missing sections? DRM encryption can selectively block access to content during conversion process. Remove EPUB DRM first before converting again.
Large file size? Downsample images to 200 dpi, subset embedded fonts, use lossless JPEG compression.
You: Arm yourself with targeted solutions for any conversion hiccups! 🛠
Key Takeaways
The EPUB and PDF formats both excel in digital text publication in their own ways. Converting between them gives you the best of both worlds!
⛓️ Break free of EPUB format limitations for enhanced layouts and wider device support
⚡️ Save on printing and processing costs by converting heavyweight PDFs to leaner EPUBs
🔓 Remove restrictive DRM and dig deeper into your ebook‘s DNA with easy-to-use EPUB to PDF conversion tools
Whether you need to ebook as printable PDF or report as reflowing ebook, you now have all the techniques needed to convert between the formats with ease.
Happy converting!
