Help:Books/PediaPress PDF rendering

Status last updated 23 August 2020.

This page explains how to create a print-on-demand (PoD) book via the PediaPress PDF rendering and print ordering service for Wikipedia books.

Why two different systems?

• PDFs rendered by Wikipedia's Book Creator are optimized for rendering speed and for at-home printing on A4 paper. They are only supplied in electronic PDF format as a free download.
• The PediaPress editions, on the other hand, are rendered to PDF on the PediaPress web site and are optimized for quality and for professional book printing in a smaller (approximately A5) format. This higher-quality rendering is resource intensive, so it is not suitable for the wiki itself or for home downloads.

Sending a book to be rendered by PediaPress

When you edit a book, a link to PediaPress appears in the main dialog.

Click the link and you will be taken to the PediaPress website upload page.

What happens next?

On the PediaPress web site the content is converted to a pdf file for printing as a book in 8.5 inches (22 cm) x 5.5 inches (14 cm) (approximately A5) format. This can take a short while.

You can specify the cover details (Editor name, background colour and image) and add a short introduction, preface or other note to the pdf. At this point you can preview key parts of the book to check layout, table of contents, etc. It is now ready for printing on demand.

You can order hardback or paperback copies, in either black-and-white or full colour. The country of delivery and the payment currency can also be selected. The book will then be printed via a print-on-demand supplier and sent to you.

You can also choose whether to keep the book private or to add it to the PediaPress publicly available catalogue.

Problems?

• Report problems with book design, such as chapters not headed or ordered properly, at Help:Books/Feedback.

• Report problems with the rendering and ordering service via the PediaPress web site.