Born Accessible Certification
CEL is the first Canadian conversion vendor to be awarded Benetech's Global Certified Accessible™ (GCA) Certification for ebook production.
This program certifies the accessibility of ebooks and assures client publishers that their, "born accessible" files meet international standards.
Getting Started
The toolkits for conversion ordering are built into the Publisher Dashboard, available to all publisher accounts.
The starting point is the submission of metadata and source files. All standard formats, including PDF, InDesign, Word and epub are acceptable.
Go to Order Conversion and choose the titles and formats required.. Per-page pricing options specific to each title will be provided immediately.
Price List
Prices are based on formats required and pages in the printed book.
Final prices will be auto-calculated from page counts when orders are placed through the platform.
Source files accepted: PDF, Reflowable ePUB. InDesign, Quark or Word.
Accessible Formats
| Source File / Input Formats | Output | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EPUB, PDF, Word, InDesign or Quark, plus alt-text supplied by publisher | Reflowable Accessible EPUB3 | $.80/page |
| 2 | EPUB, PDF, Word, InDesign or Quark, | Reflowable Enhanced EPUB3 plus ATAR Service* Entitlement for alt-text integration, producing Reflowable Accessible EPUB3 | $.90/page |
| 3 | Accessible PDF** | $5.00/page |
Other Formats and Services
| Output Format | Description | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Fixed Layout EPUB3 + KPF | For Google, iOS, and Kobo + Fixed layout KPF for Amazon/Kindle | $0.45/page |
| 5 | Reflowable EPUB3 | For Google, iOS, Kobo and Kindle | $0.70/page |
| 6 | Reflowable EPUB2 | For Google, iOS, Kobo and Kindle | $0.45/page |
| 7 | Web-Enhanced PDF*** | PDF with navigational aids like bookmarks, tiered Tables of Contents and linked Index entries | $0.25/page |
| 8 | POD (Print on Demand) | Formatted to Lightning Source/IngramSpark specs when PDF is supplied | $0.10/page |
| 9 | OCR | Addition of OCR Layer to image-based PDF | $0.60/page |
| 10 | Hardcopy source | Additional charge for source files submitted as hardcopy (for destructive scanning) | $.25/page |
Other Enhancements****
| 11 | Embed multi-media in fixed-layout EPUB3 files | $1.00/file |
| 12 | Read-aloud highlighting in fixed-layout EPUB3 files | $.10/word |
| 13 | Addition of interactive elements to fixed-layout EPUB3 file | $1.00/element |
| 14 | Addition of pull down menus, match the left and right columns etc. to fixed-layout EPUB3 files | $2.00/element |
- Prices are in Canadian dollars. Discounts may be offered on large-volume or multi-format orders.
- All prices are based on receipt of complete source files from publishers in PDF, Quark, Word or InDesign formats. EPUB source files are also acceptable for creation of EPUB products.
Additional composition or layout work required to prepare source files may be subject to extra charges, which will be communicated for approval before work is done.
All deliveries will comply with any requirements in Kindle Publishing Guidelines for reflowable books effective on the date of delivery.
Conversion from hardcopy originals is available at the price of $ .25/page,. Shipping to the conversion facility in Chennai is required at publisher expense. Books shipped will not be returned, since bindings will be cut before pages are scanned. - Where a title is licensed by the publisher for inclusion in the desLibris collection, Fixed Layout EPUB3 is provided without charge
- Where content includes multimedia, formulas, tables or multiple columns, surcharges may apply. Quotes will be provided after receipt and assessment of source files, and publisher approval will be obtained before work is done.
- All conversion work is subject to a full satisfaction guarantee. Any work deemed unacceptable will be eligible for a 100% refund.
Footnotes
As of 2021-01-25, the Kindle EPUB format has been removed from this list because the special format is no longer required by Amazon.
As of this date, the change has not been formally announced, but tests show that Accessible Reflowable EPUB3 renders perfectly on Kindle reader apps. Amazon still requires the KPF format for Fixed Layout ePUB3.
More information on Amazon Accessibility Standards: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GF9Z3HLUMTRJ6QPL
*The Enhanced file includes all features outlined on the Accessibility Standards and Best Practices page, including ONIX upgrades, with the exception of Alt-text.
To attain full accessibility based on these standards, Alt-text must be added. See more below.
**See this comparison of EPUB3 and PDF, which includes this statement: .
"PDF can only be made accessible to persons with disabilities after time-consuming, expensive remediation has been completed. [Publishers] may decide to keep the delivery of standard PDF in place and elect to provide a Born Accessible EPUB3 file alongside, which would meet their legal obligations for accessibility and give their customers a choice in how they read."
This table shows the differences between the Reflowable EPUB3 (Item 8) and the Enhanced EPUB3 provided in items 2, 4 and 5.
*The Alt-text (ATAR) Process
Descriptions of images are an essential part of the Accessible EPUB3, especially where images are vital to the content.
Best practice recommends that the alt-text be supplied by someone familiar with the content (editor, publisher or author.) Ideally these descriptions are created and supplied with the source files delivered for conversion.
If Alt-text image descriptions are not available or supplied with the source file when an order is placed, the conversion price will include the "ATAR Service." These are items 2, 4 and 5 on the price list.
These options include the delivery of an Alt-text Assessment Report (ATAR) which is generated as a by-product of the conversion process.
A placeholder or dummy alt-text marker is inserted in the EPUB file for all tables and images requiring Alt-text. These markers are included in the ATAR Template, which is an Excel file described below.
The resulting EPUB file, described as "Enhanced," meets all Accessible standards with the exception of the alt-text. content.
The next step (creation of alt-text) is the responsibility of the publisher. The alt-text content may be composed/created by the publisher or another party.
DAISY Knowledge Base for full detail on alt-text provision.
Testimonials
Overall, I’m very pleased with the service. Turnaround times are great, staff is always helpful and responsive, and the quality of the conversions is excellent.
- Heather O’Sullivan, New Society Publishers
Testimonials
“We’ve had the idea that ePUB conversion for poetry is expensive and error-prone. The work we’ve received from EBB has changed both these perceptions. We’re very pleased.”
- Heidi Waechtler, Coach House Books
Testimonials
“Great job at a great price. Just what we needed. ”
- MediumCoolLLC
Testimonials
“Great quality, very fast service, very professional, and quick responses to emails and questions.
A great working experience all around.”
- Debbie Reber