Apple has officially released Sonoma, the newest version of macOS.
We aren’t aware of any compatibility issues with Vellum (though we have encountered some minor cosmetic issues as we’ve tested beta versions of this release).
It’s often a good idea to wait a bit before adopting a new version of macOS, but if you decide to upgrade and you experience any issues with Vellum, please let us know.
Vellum 3.5.2 is a minor release with the following improvements:
This release is a free update, available now.
The Startup Window. It’s the easiest way to begin working on a project, and it received an overhaul with Vellum 3.5.
Here are 3 tips to get the most out what’s new:
The new Startup Window lists up to 100 files you’ve recently opened. Don’t see your file on the first page? Keep going! The Startup Window now shows bigger covers and titles so it’s easier to spot the one you’re looking for.
Need to access your file in the Finder? Use the button shown when the file is selected. In the Finder, you can move your file, rename it, or send it to a colleague. You can even delete your file by moving it to the Trash (but only if you mean it!).
Have a file that you keep coming back to, like one with your common front- and back-matter? Keep it pinned to the top by marking it as a Favorite. Your favorite files are always listed first in the Startup Window and in the Open Recent menu.
The new Startup Window is part of Vellum 3.5, released in May. Don’t have it yet? Make sure you’re up-to-date.
Vellum 3.5.1 is a minor release with the following improvements:
This release is a free update, available now.
Vellum 3.5 is now available! Here’s what you’ll find in this latest release:
Vellum’s all-new Find Bar is easier to use and smarter about finding words with apostrophes, quotes, or ellipses. Ever wanted to search for Text Features like Images or Ornamental Breaks — or just where you’ve used italics? Now you can with Find Special.
Vellum’s revamped Startup Window now lists up to 100 of your most recent files. Have a file that you always return to? Pin it to the top by making it a Favorite. Accidentally move files to the Trash? The Startup Window will warn you.
Vellum 3.5 is a free update and requires macOS Catalina or newer.
To get Vellum 3.5, use Check for Updates, or download Vellum from vellum.pub.
As you may know, when you choose the 70% royalty option at KDP, Amazon will charge a “delivery cost” for each book sold, computed at $0.15 per MB.
We’ve been getting new questions about this fee from authors, many who have recently read misleading information about how these costs are calculated.
To clear up this confusion, here are four facts (and, later, three pieces of fiction) about Kindle Delivery Costs:
Don’t waste time doing math for the file you generate: Kindle Delivery Cost is computed using a (smaller) converted file created by Amazon. You’ll learn the size and resulting cost after you upload to KDP:
Detailed images can take up a lot of space, even compressed. In a book with many images, the fastest way to decrease costs is to simply reduce the number. To exclude an image from your ebook (but keep it in print), you can use Vellum’s Include In option:
Images that remain in your ebook will be resized by Vellum based on Kindle’s guidelines and how each image is used. Still have a lot of images? You can adjust Vellum’s Image Sizing for Kindle in Generation Preferences:
Adding the same illustration to every chapter? Vellum will make sure that image is reused, and only counted once in your book. Vellum also optimizes small, common images like ornamental breaks so that they barely take up any space.
And now, here are some pieces of fiction that you may have read:
Though embedded fonts increase the size of the ebook you upload, these are excluded from the converted file Amazon creates. That means they don’t affect delivery costs. At all.
While Vellum’s output is concise and clean, the truth is this doesn’t have any effect on delivery costs. Those are computed on a file converted by Amazon (that doesn’t use this XML).
Most online EPUB compression tools are designed for readers who want to fit more ebooks on their devices. For authors, they can produce invalid EPUB files that could prevent your book from being published. We don’t recommend them.
Want more facts (and less fiction)? You‘ll find them in our updated guide to Kindle Delivery Costs.
Still have questions? Let us know!
Vellum 3.4.5 is a minor release with the following improvements:
This release is a free update, available now.
Vellum 3.4.4 fixes an issue with clarified breaks that was introduced in the previous update and caused problems in some books.
This release is a free update, available now.
Vellum 3.4.3 includes the following improvements:
This release is a free update, available now.
Happy 2023! A new year is always a chance for reflection, so we thought we’d look back at the updates we made in 2022. In case you missed them, here are some of the new features we added to Vellum last year:
Inspired by the popularity of Heading Backgrounds in Vellum 3.0, we added the option for multiple heading backgrounds in Vellum 3.1. With this change, you can include backgrounds in elements like a Title Page, or create alternating backgrounds for Chapters.
In Vellum 3.1, we also introduced the New Box Set command, which makes it even easier to create these collections. Add files, reorder, then create a box set or a multiple-author bundle with just one click.
With Vellum 3.2, the files you create are saved in an all-new format. Vellum documents are now just a single file, making them better suited for cloud services like iCloud and Dropbox, and easier to share with colleagues.
Want to add an extra touch to your print edition? With Vellum 3.3, we added a new option for Custom Headers and Footers. Control content, alignment, and position, and even use your own themed ornament!
With Vellum 3.4, we introduced our most talked-about features of 2022: Text Conversations and Written Notes provide new, fun ways to format messages between characters. They’re designed to work in both ebooks and in print, and include multiple options for how they appear in your book.
In Vellum 3.4, we also added the new Export Content command, found in the File menu. If you’ve written your book in Vellum (or just made changes), you can now create a Word file ready to send to your editor.
In addition to these major features, we also introduced:
All of these features were released in 2022 as free updates. You can make sure you have access to them using Check for Updates. (Current versions of Vellum require macOS Catalina or newer.)
We have more to come in 2023. As always, the features we add are inspired by your feedback, so if you have an idea for something that will make it even easier to create beautiful books, let us know!