Convert iStonsoft MOBI to PDF — Fast & Easy Guide

Best Settings for iStonsoft MOBI to PDF Converter ResultsConverting MOBI e-books to PDF can be quick and painless, but getting clean, readable output that preserves layout, images, and metadata requires the right settings and a careful workflow. This guide explains the best settings and practical steps to maximize output quality when using iStonsoft MOBI to PDF Converter — covering input preparation, converter options, layout choices, images and fonts, metadata, batch processing, and troubleshooting.

1) Prepare source files first

• Check MOBI integrity: open each MOBI in an e-reader (Calibre, Kindle app) to confirm it displays correctly. Convert only non-corrupted MOBI files.
• Remove DRM: iStonsoft will not convert DRM-protected MOBI files. If the MOBI is DRM-restricted, use legitimate methods to obtain a DRM-free copy (purchase a DRM-free file or use vendor tools where allowed). DRM must be removed before conversion.
• Standardize filenames: use simple filenames (no special characters) to avoid encoding issues during batch conversion.

2) Choose output page size and margins

• Page size:
  • For reading on tablets or PDF readers, use A4 (210 × 297 mm) or Letter (8.5 × 11 in) depending on your region.
  • For mobile reading or e-readers, consider smaller sizes (e.g., A5) to reduce excessive whitespace.
• Margins:
  • Use narrow to moderate margins: 10–18 mm (≈0.4–0.7 in) gives better utilization of space while keeping text readable.
  • If text appears cramped after conversion, increase margins slightly.

3) Font handling and embedding

• Default fonts: iStonsoft typically maps ebook fonts to standard system fonts. For consistent appearance, set the converter (or post-conversion PDF editor) to use serif fonts (Times/Times New Roman) for body text and sans-serif for headings if available.
• Embedding fonts: if the MOBI uses custom fonts or special characters (non-Latin scripts), enable font embedding if the converter offers it. Embedded fonts preserve original typography and prevent substitution.
• Font size:
  • Body: 10–12 pt is ideal for printed/PDF reading.
  • Headings: 14–18 pt depending on hierarchy.

4) Preserve layout vs. reflowed text

• Fixed layout preserves original page-like format (good for complex formatting, tables, or image-heavy pages). Use fixed layout if the MOBI contains precise page designs or scanned images.
• Reflowed text adapts text to the PDF page and is better when you want selectable text and responsive readability. For most novels and text-focused ebooks, use reflowed text.
• If available, enable “Keep original line breaks” only when the MOBI’s line breaks are meaningful; otherwise allow reflow to produce cleaner paragraphs.

5) Images and graphics

• Image quality:
  • Set image extraction/quality to high (maximum) when converting image-rich books or books with diagrams.
  • For smaller file sizes, choose medium quality (balance between clarity and PDF size).
• Image DPI:
  • For print-quality PDFs, use 300 DPI.
  • For screen-only PDFs, 150–200 DPI is usually sufficient.
• Image scaling:
  • Enable automatic scaling to fit page width, but disable upscaling to avoid pixelation.
• Remove unnecessary images: disable extraction of decorative images if they add noise or bloat file size.

6) Table of contents, bookmarks, and links

• Preserve TOC: enable options that keep or rebuild the Table of Contents into PDF bookmarks — this makes navigation much easier.
• Hyperlinks: turn on conversion of internal links (chapter links) and external links to preserve navigability.
• Page numbering: enable automatic page numbers if the PDF will be used for printing or citation.

7) Output quality vs. file size tradeoffs

• Choose “High Quality” when fidelity matters (images, fonts, layout). Expect larger file sizes.
• Choose “Standard” for everyday reading on devices where storage or bandwidth is limited.
• Use compression settings for images (JPEG quality slider) to reduce size; keep quality above 70% to avoid visible artifacts.

8) Batch conversion tips

• Group similar MOBI files together (same language, similar formatting) to use a single profile of settings for consistent results.
• Run a small test batch (2–3 files) to verify settings before full batch conversion.
• Name output files with a pattern that includes author/title to keep organized (e.g., Author – Title.pdf).

9) Metadata and filenames

• Preserve or edit metadata (title, author, publisher) before conversion if possible. Correct metadata helps PDF readers and library software sort and display files correctly.
• Use UTF-8 filenames to preserve non-Latin characters; if the converter misbehaves, fallback to ASCII-only filenames.

10) Post-conversion checks and fixes

• Check text flow and hyphenation: if words are broken awkwardly, adjust line-break or hyphenation settings and reconvert.
• Fix images or layout issues using a PDF editor (Adobe Acrobat, PDF-XChange) if only a few pages need correction.
• OCR: if output is image-only (non-selectable text), run OCR at 300 DPI for searchable text.

11) Troubleshooting common problems

• Blank pages or missing chapters: re-open the MOBI to confirm content; try converting with reflow vs fixed layout toggled the other way.
• Strange characters or gibberish: likely an encoding/font issue — enable font embedding, set correct character encoding (UTF-8), and use a different system font mapping.
• DRM errors: confirm file is DRM-free.

Example recommended settings (general-purpose, text-heavy ebooks)

• Page size: A4 or Letter
• Margins: 12 mm (0.47 in)
• Layout mode: Reflowed text
• Font embedding: Enabled (if available)
• Body font size: 11 pt
• Image DPI: 150–200 (screen) or 300 (print)
• Image quality: High (70–90% JPEG)
• Preserve TOC/bookmarks: Enabled
• Convert links: Enabled
• Output quality: High (for fidelity) / Standard (for smaller files)

Final notes

Small tests and iterative adjustments are the fastest way to dial in perfect results. Start with the example recommended settings above, convert 1–3 representative MOBI files, inspect the PDF on the target device, then tweak margins, DPI, and font options as needed.

If you want, tell me whether your MOBIs are image-heavy, contain non-Latin text, or will be printed — I can give a tailored settings profile.