Functional Themes

The default designs in Pressbooks are based on preset themes that offer a professional and cohesive look from the start, shaping your book’s visual and structural presentation. Importantly, each theme is coded in CSS to style the content on your pages, which are structured in HTML.

File format

The theme you choose applies to every supported file format, including EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and webbook, ensuring your design looks as consistent across desktop and e-reader platforms. This consistency maintains a professional appearance and helps provide a cohesive look, whether viewed online, on a mobile device, or printed as a PDF.

Customization

While each default theme in Pressbooks is versatile and adaptable to a wide range of projects, it also provides a solid foundation for further customization. While the default themes offer a solid foundation, they are not set in stone. Pressbooks provide the flexibility to customize these themes to better align with your content and vision. This is possible through two methods: either through the additional theme options or by making edits to the default theme’s stylesheet. We will explore both of these methods in the next sections.

Accessibility

Finally, Pressbooks default themes are designed with accessibility in mind. All default themes are built to comply with accessibility standards, ensuring that your content is accessible to readers with disabilities. This includes features like high-contrast text for readers with visual impairments and structured layouts that are easy to navigate with screen readers. By starting with an accessible theme, you can ensure that your book is inclusive and can be enjoyed by a diverse audience. Accessible design doesn’t just benefit readers with disabilities—it improves the experience for everyone, providing clearer navigation and a more user-friendly layout for all.