Publish a digital book with images

A DIGITAL BOOK is a book that lives on a screen — a phone, a tablet, a laptop — instead of on paper. You build it on a computer, you save it as one file (usually a PDF or an EPUB), and you share it by sending the file or posting a link. A digital book has the same parts as a paper book — a COVER, CHAPTERS, IMAGES, PAGE NUMBERS — but it adds one big advantage: anyone in the world can open it the moment you press PUBLISH.

The parts of a digital book

Before you write, picture the finished book in your head. A reader who opens it should see the same things they would see in a paper book — just on a screen. Build every part on purpose; do not skip the cover or the page numbers because they are "just digital".

• COVER — title, your name as author, and ONE strong cover image that hints at the topic.
• TITLE PAGE — the title repeated, your name, and the date (no big image here).
• TABLE OF CONTENTS — every chapter title and its starting page, in order.
• CHAPTERS — three to six chapters; each has a heading, body text, and at least one image.
• IMAGES — drawings, photos, or AI-generated pictures that match the chapter text.
• PAGE NUMBERS — at the bottom of every page so readers can find their place.
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR — a short final page with one paragraph about you.

Where the images come from

A digital book without images feels flat. Every chapter should have at least one picture that MATCHES the text on that page. There are three honest ways to get those images, and one rule that applies to all of them: you must be allowed to use the picture.

• DRAW IT YOURSELF — on paper and scan, or directly on a tablet. These are always yours to use.
• TAKE A PHOTO — your own photos of the backyard garden, your pet, a science experiment.
• FREE STOCK IMAGES — sites like Unsplash or Pixabay let you reuse photos for free; always credit if asked.
• AVOID — pictures pulled from a Google search. Most of them belong to someone and you may not use them.

The six steps of publishing a digital book

1. PLAN — pick a topic (a story, a guide, a how-to) and list THREE to SIX chapters in order.
2. WRITE — draft each chapter on a fresh page; one main idea per chapter.
3. ADD IMAGES — place ONE image at the top or middle of each chapter that matches the text.
4. FORMAT — pick one TITLE FONT and one BODY FONT; add page numbers; keep margins the same on every page.
5. PREVIEW — read the whole book from start to finish on the screen; check the order, spelling, and that no image is missing.
6. PUBLISH — export the book as a PDF (or EPUB) and SHARE the file or a link with your audience.

Formatting that makes the book feel real

A digital book that uses fifteen fonts, mixed image sizes, and no page numbers feels like a rushed project. A digital book that uses two fonts, the same image style on every chapter, and clear page numbers feels like a real book. The difference is FORMAT.

• TWO FONTS MAX — one for chapter headings, one for body paragraphs. No more.
• CONSISTENT IMAGE SIZE — each chapter image takes about half the page, in the same place.
• CHAPTER STARTS ON A NEW PAGE — never let two chapters share a page.
• PAGE NUMBERS — bottom center or bottom outer corner, on every page after the cover.
• MARGINS — the same on every page; do not let text run to the edge of the screen.