In this tutorial we will cover how to create a
CBR or
CBZ file in 3 easy steps.
Step 0: The basics
If you don't know what is a
CBR or
CBZ file, or how to view them, please check the following posts first:
Step 1: Prepare and rename the imagesPut the images (preferably
JPEG) in the same folder. Comic book viewers display the images sequentially based on their alphabetical order, so you should rename them accordingly.
Naming criteriaA common criteria is to use the same prefix for all images, and a numeric suffix corresponding to the page number, using enough zeroes on the left to ensure correct ordering. Here is an example:
- na01.jpg
- na02.jpg
- na03.jpg
- na04.jpg
- na05.jpg
- na06.jpg
- na07.jpg
- na08.jpg
- na09.jpg
- na10.jpg
- na11.jpg
Zeroes are necessary the preserve the correct page order when ordering alphabetically. If we didn't use zeroes in the above example, the images would be shown like this:
- na1.jpg
- na10.jpg
- na11.jpg
- na2.jpg
- na3.jpg
- na4.jpg
- na5.jpg
- na6.jpg
- na7.jpg
- na8.jpg
- na9.jpg
Renaming toolsThere are many file renaming tools that can rename countless files in a flash. While you can rename the image files manually, we recommend using one of the following:
Optional step A: Using image filenames to give more informationMost comic book viewers don't display the image filename by default, so users tend to keep the prefix simple. You can give more information in the prefix (
newavengers_v1_no1 instead of
na in the above example), but try to use only alphanumeric characters and few special characters like underscore to avoid potential problems.
Why it isn't necessary, some like to give more information about the pages, such as specifying if it's a cover, an ad or a double page spread. Below is a way to do it without affecting the ordering:
- na00_cover.jpg
- na01.jpg
- na02-03.jpg
- na04_ad.jpg
- na05.jpg
Optional step B: Include a signature graphic or text fileSignature graphicA signature graphic is an image people tend to add to identify themselves as the authors of the
Comic Book Archive file. If you want to include a signature graphic, make sure it's the last image that will be shown by the comic book viewer by changing its filename. For example:
z_signature.jpg
Text fileSome comic book viewers show the content of the first text file they find in the archive. This is useful if you have an important message for the viewers, although some of them might find it intrusive.
To add a message, simply put it in an
ASCII text file in the same folder than the images and make sure you include it in the archive file.
Step 2: Archive the filesArchiversFor this step you will need an archiver such as
WinRAR (
official site) if you want to create a
CBR file, or
WinZip (
official site) or
7-Zip (
official site) if you want to create a
CBZ file.
If for some reason you want to use another archive format, you can create
CB7 files with
7-Zip,
CBT with
7-Zip as well, and
CBA with
WinAce (
official site). However, remember that
CBR and
CBZ are the most common
Comic Book Archive formats.
ArchivingPack all the images with the archiver in a single file, without deleting the original files.
If possible, avoid using heavy compression as images don't compress significantly and it will probably increase the loading time of the comic book viewer when opening your file.
Step 3: Rename the archived fileExtensionRename the resulting file according to the archive format that you used. If you created a RAR file, change the extension to CBR. If you created a ZIP file, rename it to CBZ. Other formats:
- 7-Zip: CB7
- TAR: CBT
- ACE: CBA
Refrain from deleting your original image files until you are sure that the resulting file works properly.
FilenameThere is no official standard for naming Comic Book Archive files. The following format is used, with some sligth variations, by most release groups:
@title #@number (@year) (@author).@extension
An example:
New Avengers #1 (2007) (Marvel Online).cbrIf you're creating a file that's not in English language, it doesn't hurt to add the language between brackets like this:
New Avengers #1 (2007) (Marvel Online) {Spanish}.cbrRecommend step C: Test your fileArchivers are far from perfect and sometimes the resulting file can become corrupted. Before releasing your Comic Book Archive to the world, test your file in your favorite comic book viewer, verifying that all pages are viewed correctly.
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