Overview
ISO/IEC TS 30135-7:2014 - "EPUB3 Fixed-Layout Documents" - is a Technical Specification that defines how to describe and render fixed-layout content within EPUB 3 publications. Unlike reflowable EPUBs, fixed-layout (pre-paginated) EPUB content preserves exact page presentation so that layout and design remain intact. This TS standardizes metadata properties and mechanisms (for EPUB Package Documents, XHTML, SVG and bitmap images) so Reading Systems can consistently honor authors’ intended rendering behaviors.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Rendition metadata vocabulary: Properties are defined under the rendition vocabulary (mapped to http://www.idpf.org/vocab/rendition/#). Implementations must use the prefix mapping in the Package Document.
- layout control: rendition:layout - values reflowable | pre-paginated. When set to pre-paginated, Reading Systems must produce exactly one page for the spine item.
- orientation: rendition:orientation - values landscape | portrait | auto to express intended device orientation.
- synthetic spreads: rendition:spread - values none | landscape | portrait | both | auto to control two-page spread behavior.
- page placement: page-spread-left, page-spread-right and rendition:page-spread-center to force placement of content in synthetic spreads (center forces a single centered viewport).
- local overrides: Properties may be declared globally in metadata or locally on spine itemref elements. When on itemref, the syntax concatenates name and value with a hyphen (example: properties="rendition:layout-reflowable").
- content dimensions: Pre-paginated XHTML and SVG spine items must declare viewport/viewBox dimensions that define the CSS initial containing block (ICB) in CSS pixels. Example XHTML viewport: . Reading Systems must clip content to declared ICB dimensions.
- Implementation notes: The TS is informational and anticipates integration into future EPUB Publications and Content Documents specifications; Reading Systems should ignore conflicting proprietary metadata.
Applications and who uses this standard
- Publishers and ebook producers creating graphically rich, layout-sensitive works: children’s picture books, comics/graphic novels, art and photography books, textbooks, sheet music, and magazines.
- Reading system and device developers implementing EPUB 3 support to ensure correct rendering of fixed-layout titles, synthetic spreads, and orientation constraints.
- Digital designers and production specialists who need precise control of pagination, viewport dimensions, and presentation behavior across devices.
- Accessibility and QA teams verifying that pre-paginated content is clipped, paginated, and presented according to declared metadata.
Related standards
- EPUB 3.0 Publications and Content Documents specifications (Publications 3.0, ContentDocs30)
- ISO/IEC TS 30135 series (other EPUB 3 parts: Overview, Publications, Content Documents, Open Container Format, Media Overlay, Canonical Fragment Identifier)
Keywords: EPUB3 fixed-layout, rendition:layout, rendition:orientation, rendition:spread, viewport, viewBox, pre-paginated EPUB, ISO/IEC TS 30135-7, EPUB Package Document, spine itemref.
