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I want to use InDesign to make a PDF and sell it on Leanpub. Can I upload a PDF but use Leanpub to generate EPUB files?
I want to use InDesign to make a PDF and sell it on Leanpub. Can I upload a PDF but use Leanpub to generate EPUB files?

I want to make a beautiful PDF when my book is done. Can I keep Leanpub's EPUB and sell all 3 on Leanpub?

Leanpub Support avatar
Written by Leanpub Support
Updated over a week ago

Leanpub books can be generated on Leanpub, and can also be uploaded using our Upload writing mode.

In terms of the layout of Leanpub-generated books: it's pretty minimalist.  Over time the custom generation settings have improved, and will continue to do so.

You can export InDesign and do great layouts.  Here's why and how.

In terms of uploading a PDF generated from InDesign:

We can also sell books that have been directly uploaded via our Upload writing mode

So, you could do this once your book is done:

  1. Generate the book on Leanpub, and export InDesign.

  2. Do the layout and make a beautiful PDF.

  3. Switch writing modes to our Upload writing mode on your book's Writing Mode page.

  4. Upload the PDF you made using InDesign, and the EPUB that Leanpub generated for you.

However, this would be a huge hassle, since when you wanted to generate another version of your book on Leanpub you'd need to switch writing modes again.

At some point we will probably offer a selective "upload only the PDF" option for use in conjunction with our existing writing modes.  But we'd have to make that not confusing to new authors...


If you have any feedback or questions about this article, please email the Leanpub team about it at hello@leanpub.com!

If you have any questions or thoughts on writing and self-publishing with Leanpub, please join our global community of authors in our Authors Forum here!

Are you interested in self-publishing, and creating your first Leanpub book? Here are some quick tutorials for our most popular writing modes: http://help.leanpub.com/en/articles/3088382-quick-walkthroughs-for-getting-started-on-a-leanpub-book

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