Kind­le Comic Con­verter (KCC): A Comprehensive Tool for E-Ink Readers Kindle Comic Con­verter (KCC) is a powerful, user-friendly tool designed to optimize comic books and manga for e-ink devices like the Kindle, Kobo, and ReMarkable. Founded in 2012 by Ciro Mattia Gonano and later maintained by Paweł Jastrzębski, KCC has evolved significantly, now being actively developed by Alex Xu starting in 2023. Unlike Amazon's Kindle Comic Creator, which is geared towards publishers and requires manual effort, KCC is tailored for casual and dedicated comic/manga readers who value ease of use and quality of output. Core Features and Benefits KCC's primary function is to enhance the visual experience of reading comics and manga on e-ink devices, which differ from traditional LCD screens in terms of resolution and color capabilities. The tool ensures that pages are displayed in fullscreen format, without unsightly margins, and supports proper fixed layout rendering. Key features include: Image Processing: KCC offers several optional image processing steps to improve the aesthetics on e-ink screens. These include gamma correction, color preservation, and image resizing to match the device’s resolution. Users can choose to enable or disable these features based on their preferences. FileSize Optimization: By downscaling images to the exact resolution of the target e-ink device, KCC significantly reduces the file size. This not only makes the files more manageable but also enhances the performance on underpowered e-readers. Supported Input and Output Formats: KCC accepts a wide range of input formats, including folders, CBZ, CBR, and PDF files containing JPG or PNG images. The supported output formats are equally diverse, covering MOBI, AZW3, EPUB, KEPUB, and CBZ. Virtual panel view modes are available for certain formats, making it easier to read multi-panel pages. Installation and Usage Installation: - Windows: Download the latest release from the GitHub repository. Some users may need to run the application in compatibility mode for older Windows versions. - Mac: Right-click to open the downloaded file to bypass security warnings. For more advanced installations, such as Flatpak or Docker versions, refer to the project's wiki. - Linux and Other Platforms: Detailed instructions are available in the installation guide on the wiki. Usage: - The graphical user interface (GUI) is intuitive, with detailed tooltips explaining each option. - For power users, command-line versions (kcc-c2e.py and kcc-c2p.py) are available, offering more control over the conversion process. - After converting a comic or manga file, the output will be placed in the same directory as the original input file. Profiles for Different Devices KCC supports a variety of e-ink devices, each with its own profile to ensure optimal display: - Kindle: Including older models like Kindle 1 and newer ones like the Kindle Scribe. - Kobo: Models like the Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo, and Kobo Sage. - ReMarkable: Both the first and second generations, as well as the Paper Pro. - Other E-Ink Devices: Custom profiles can be created to fit devices not explicitly listed. Each profile includes specific screen dimensions and color palettes to match the device’s capabilities. Users can fine-tune settings like cropping, gamma correction, and border color to suit their preferences. Command-Line Interfaces For advanced users, KCC offers two command-line interfaces (CLI): - kcc-c2e.py: Converts comics to e-book formats. - kcc-c2p.py: Converts comics to panel view formats. Mandatory Options: - input: The full path to the comic folder or file to be processed. Main Options: - --profile: Select the device profile. - --manga-style: Enable right-to-left reading and splitting for manga. - --hq: Improve magnification quality. - --two-panel, --webtoon: Control the number of panels displayed and enable webtoon processing mode. Processing Options: - --noprocessing: Skip image modification. - --upscale, --stretch: Resize or stretch images to fit the device. - --splitter: Choose how double pages are handled. - --gamma, --cropping: Adjust gamma correction and cropping modes. - --blackborders, --whiteborders: Force specific border colors. - --forcecolor, --forcepng, --mozjpeg: Customize image format and optimization. - --maximizestrips: Convert 1x4 strips to 2x2. - --delete: Remove the original files after conversion. Output Settings: - --output: Specify the output directory or file. - --title, --author: Set the comic title and author. - --format: Choose the output format. - --nokepub: Output files with specific extensions. - --batchsplit: Split the output into multiple files. - --spreadshift, --norotate, --reducerainbow: Align and optimize double pages and reduce color artifacts. Advanced User and Developer Notes For those who prefer to run the latest code or contribute to the project, KCC can be installed from source: - One-Time Setup: - Clone the repository using GitHub Desktop. - Activate a virtual environment and install dependencies. - Running the Application: - Reactivate the virtual environment in the terminal each time you run KCC. - Build executable files using specific commands for Windows and macOS. Credits and Contributions KCC was initially developed as a cross-platform alternative to KindleComicParser by Dc5e. Over the years, it has been refined and expanded with contributions from several key figures: - Ciro Mattia Gonano: Founder and developer (2012-2014). - Paweł Jastrzębski: Long-term maintainer and developer (2013-2019). - Alex Xu: Current lead developer (2023-present). The project leverages various scripts and tools, ensuring robust functionality and compatibility across different platforms and file types. Industry Insights and Company Profiles Industry experts and avid readers have widely praised KCC for its ability to bridge the gap between digital comics and the e-ink experience, making long-form content more accessible and enjoyable on these devices. Its user-friendly interface and powerful customization options set it apart from other conversion tools, making it a go-to solution for many. Conclusion Kindle Comic Con­verter (KCC) continues to evolve, driven by community feedback and the dedication of its developers. Whether you're a beginner looking for an easy way to enjoy your favorite comics on an e-ink reader or a power user who needs precise control over the conversion process, KCC offers a comprehensive and efficient solution. With ongoing support and regular updates, KCC remains a vital tool in the e-reading ecosystem. If you find it valuable, consider supporting the project through donations or contributing to its development.