Formatter here. Great video. Incase you weren't aware, eBooks differ from print in their formatting. Looks like 'Phantases' was cut blanch one in the same across both. Depending on where it was sold, Amazon has their margins set to maximum space for print - which is NOT code to use it all. White space is crucial for better reader experience. Justified is standard in both, rule 101 in fiction, amazing some don't know this. Though non-fiction can get away with it, annoying as that is. Widows and orphans; FINALLY - I barely see them discussed. Though they're only relevant in print. Ebooks are reflowable. As such lines vary depending on font and size chosen by the reader. In print, single words or lines are acceptable as end of page. Two/three lines are not to be broken up, they are to be started on a new page. I'm waiting for the day MS Words stops doing this. Same with 'front facing' chapter starts (aka right side page). Only applicable in print. But I've seen a shift away from this to 'save' pages. Gutters are only required in print, too, if you think you're good - add another quarter inch minimum. You'll find eBooks have them when converted from a print layout. Reason that happens; most ebook formatting tools struggle with images as part of chapter titles unless you know what your doing. Makes creating a ToC problematic. Cracking eBooks open in programmes like Dreamweaver helps you clean unnecessary code, reducing file size. If you have alternative fonts that aren't standard in ereaders, you can, with commerical licensing add them (with the license) to the file and Kindle/and ereaders alike can more often than not read them in that file. It helps with artist endeavours to separate narration wordage from say a text or email conversation between characters. You can pad them out, colour or grey. Borders with varying corners as well. This allows authors to have their ePubs like their print versions. It's sad this knowledge and skills is being lost. Good to see some are keeping the embers alive. Again, great video.
There are tons of books and centuries of history for book design. People who self-publish cannot depend on their publisher to conform to good and aesthetic design practices, and need to do the research themselves (e.g., Bringhurst's "Elements of Typographic Style") or give it to a friend who knows this stuff. That text block placement in Phantastes is ridiculous, and they are obviously just trying to keep the page count low. I wrote a pastiche of early 20th-century boys' novels, and went through a lot of trouble to closely imitate the original publisher's book design, for the PDF version anyway.
