About
Vellum is a powerful book formatting and publishing tool exclusively for macOS, designed to help independent authors and publishers produce beautiful, professional-quality books without needing design expertise. Import your manuscript and instantly generate ebooks in EPUB 3/EPUB 2 formats compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and other major platforms — each tailored to guide readers toward your next book in their preferred store. For print publishing, Vellum offers 24 trim sizes and automates complex tasks like margin setup, page numbering, widow-handling, and spread-balancing to deliver a polished, print-ready PDF/X-1a file every time. Whether producing a paperback or hardcover, Vellum handles the details so you can focus on writing. Vellum's style system lets you choose from professionally designed book styles and apply them across your entire manuscript in one click. Customize with drop caps, embedded fonts, ornamental flourishes, full-bleed pages, and custom backgrounds. A real-time preview shows exactly how your book will look on different devices and in print before you export. When your book is ready, generate all ebook and print editions simultaneously. Need to fix a typo or add backmatter? Return to Vellum and regenerate updated files in seconds. Vellum is ideal for self-publishing authors, small presses, and anyone producing high-quality books at scale — thousands of authors rely on it for publisher-quality results.
Key Features
- Multi-Platform Ebook Export: Generate EPUB 3/EPUB 2 ebook files optimized for Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and other platforms, with ACE-approved accessible output, image compression, and MOBI support for beta reader ARCs.
- Professional Print Formatting: Automatically configure margins, page numbers, headers, footers, widow-handling, and spread-balancing across 24 trim sizes, producing a professional-grade PDF/X-1a for paperback and hardcover editions.
- One-Click Book Styles: Choose from a library of professionally designed styles featuring drop caps, embedded fonts, and ornamental flourishes — applied instantly and consistently across every chapter of your book.
- Real-Time Preview: See exactly how your book will appear on various reading devices and in print with Vellum's instant preview that updates live with every edit you make.
- Simultaneous Multi-Format Generation: Export all ebook formats and your print-ready PDF at the same time, keeping every edition in sync and enabling fast re-generation whenever updates are needed.
Use Cases
- Self-publishing authors formatting novels or non-fiction books for simultaneous release on Kindle, Kobo, and Apple Books
- Independent publishers producing print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcovers with professional-grade PDF/X-1a files
- Authors compiling box sets by combining multiple books in a series into a single polished edition
- Writers creating advance review copies (ARCs) in EPUB and MOBI formats for beta readers and reviewers before launch
- Small presses streamlining their book production workflow with consistent, on-brand styles applied uniformly across multiple titles
Pros
- Easy for Non-Designers: Vellum automates complex formatting tasks like margin setup, widow-handling, and spread-balancing, making professional book design accessible to any author regardless of technical skill.
- Handles Both Ebook and Print: One tool manages ebook exports for all major platforms and professional print-ready PDFs, streamlining the entire publishing workflow without switching between applications.
- Fast Updates and Regeneration: Fix a typo, add backmatter, or refresh content and regenerate all editions in seconds — keeping every published file consistently up to date.
- Publisher-Quality Output: Thousands of professional authors rely on Vellum for polished results that rival traditionally formatted books, backed by real-world testimonials from bestselling indie authors.
Cons
- macOS Only: Vellum requires macOS 13 or newer and is not available for Windows or Linux users, significantly limiting accessibility for a large portion of authors.
- Publishing Requires a Paid License: While building, styling, and previewing are free, publishing final files requires purchasing a license: $199.99 for unlimited ebooks or $249.99 for ebooks plus print.
- Purpose-Built for Books Only: Vellum is specialized exclusively for book publishing and does not support other document types or general-purpose design tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vellum free to use?
You can download Vellum for free and use it to build, style, and preview your book at no cost. However, generating and publishing your final ebook or print files requires a one-time purchase: $199.99 for unlimited ebooks or $249.99 for unlimited ebooks and print books.
What platforms does Vellum support for ebook export?
Vellum generates ebook files optimized for Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and other major ebook platforms in EPUB 3 and EPUB 2 formats. It also supports MOBI output for distributing ARCs to beta readers.
Can I use Vellum on Windows or Linux?
No, Vellum is exclusively available for macOS (version 13 or newer). There is currently no Windows or Linux version of the software.
Does Vellum support print book formatting?
Yes. Vellum supports both paperback and hardcover formatting across 24 trim sizes. It automatically handles margins, page numbers, headers, footers, widow/spread balancing, and produces a professional-grade PDF/X-1a file ready for print-on-demand services.
Can I update my book after it has been published?
Yes. You can return to Vellum at any time to make edits — such as correcting typos or adding new backmatter — and regenerate all your files in seconds, ensuring every edition stays current.
