Reflowable eBooks are the most widely used types of eBooks. These are eBooks that can adapt to any device and display properly on any screen. They are also often referred to as "flowable" or "scalable" eBooks.
Fixed layout eBooks, on the other hand, are eBooks that are designed to retain their original layout and appearance regardless of the device used for viewing. Fixed layout eBooks are frequently used for graphic-intensive titles such as children's books, magazines, and image-heavy textbooks.
The key differences between the two types of eBooks come down to how flexible they are. Reflowable eBooks can change to fit a variety of devices, as well as change to fit any platform you’re using for reading and viewing. Fixed layout eBooks don’t do this—instead, they remain in their original state and look the same no matter what the device.
Below are some additional key distinctions between the two types of eBooks:
- Reflowable eBooks are great for multi-platform viewing and are the most cost-effective formats.
- Fixed layout eBooks look the same no matter what device you’re using, and are ideal for books with complex layouts and visuals.
- Reflowable eBooks can be adjusted easily to fit any screen size, and even supports features like features like pop-up menus and tables of contents.
- Fixed layout eBooks tend to take up more memory and are generally more expensive to produce than reflowable eBooks.
- Reflowable eBooks are great for readers looking for an easy-to-read format with search, font size adjustments and highlights.
- Fixed layout eBooks are better for books that require complex formatting and images. They are also more popular for titles intended for print publication.
Hopefully, this breakdown has helped you understand the differences between reflowable and fixed eBooks. If you want to learn more, you can read more about the two types of eBooks here: https://www.zoomax.com/news/knowledge/what-are-fixed-layout-and-reflowable-ebooks.html.
