Ryuzine Reader

The “Help” information has been given a complete overhaul and is now replaced with our own “Bubble Guide” style help.  This helpful little guy slides around the screen describing, pointing to, and in some cases demonstrating the various elements of Ryuzine.  You can step through it at your own pace or click the “Play All” button and let him do all the work.

This change represents a 60% reduction in Help Documentation code and a 70% code reduction for the Localization Add-On (which is also now conveniently all in a single file).

Multiple In-App Bookmarking is here!  You can now bookmark multiple pages within a Ryuzine issue and manage them through the new Bookmark Management Panel.  These are stored locally in a browser cookie file and specific to the issue you are reading.  Of course you can still set and access bookmarks across issues with your web browser’s bookmarking utility or use a bookmark syncing service to access your Ryuzine bookmarks across browsers and platforms.

The Font panel now has a new button on the end.  Press it and you’ll see the sub-panel for Color Schemes letting you change the styling to Sepia or High-Contrast text and backgrounds for easier reading.  If you also have a keyboard you can Control+Click “Sepia” or “Black” and also over-ride any background images placed on the pages.

Default 2D Page Turn Animation

Optional 3D Page Turn Animation

Ryuzine now includes automatic detection for 3D effect support in your browser.  Because this is such a new thing (and still a bit dodgy even in browsers that support it) we didn’t enable it by default, but if you go into the Options Panel and see the “3D Page Turn” switch you can try it out for yourself.  When enabled you’ll see a subtle perspective to the pages as they turn and you should also see slightly better performance in the animation because enabling 3D also automatically enables hardware rendering.

Note: The 3D option is not available for Google Chrome version 19 or earlier.  There is a known rendering bug in the browser.  For details see the Forum Post on the topic.

Other changes include switching the animation methods for the control bar and lightbox to publisher-configurable CSS methods, updating the User Interface  to support the new iPads with “Retina” displays, and additions and changes to the keyboard controls:

• Left Arrow = Flip Back 1 page
• Right Arrow = Flip Forward 1 page
• Home key = Flip to Front Cover
• End key = Flip to Back Cover
• Insert = Add Bookmark for current page
• CTRL+Insert = Toggle Bookmark Manager Panel
• Delete = Delete Last Bookmark
• CTRL+[+] Plus Key = Increase font in pages
• CTRL+[-] Minus Key = Decrease font in pages
• F1 = Opens Bubble Help
• SHIFT+F1 = Auto Play Bubble Help
• F2 = Open/Close Table of Contents Panel
• F3 = Open/Close Views Panel
• F4 = Open/Close Share Panel
• SHIFT+Click on “Sepia” or “Black” buttons will over-ride background images as well.

Ryuzine Machine

Has been updated to read and write 0.9.5 format Ryuzine files.  Also now includes all the currently available Device Skins, and includes an Output Option for a custom configuration file name.

Ryuzine Press

Our bridge plugin for WordPress was also updated to take advantage of the changes in Ryuzine 0.9.5, and now offers support for Webcomic and Easel in addition to ComicPress, so make sure to update both the plugin and the web app on your blog!

The Publisher’s Manual for both Ryuzine Machine and Ryuzine Press have been updated, as has the Sample Magazine and the Sa-Bom Jim #8 sample and, last but not least, the Demo is also updated to version 0.9.5.

Ryuzine Product Page
Ryuzine Press Product Page

Join the forum discussion on this post

For our April Fools Day joke we created a product launch page for “Ryuzine64,” a digital magazine format for the Commodore 64 and 128 computers.  As part of the fun our “Sample Magazine” was also converted into a retro 8-bit look and we created a custom theme to complete the look.

Actual GEOS screenshot running in a C64 emulator

A Little History:

The theme is based on the appearance of GEOS (Graphic Environment Operating System), which was a mouse – or joystick – driven, windowed GUI released by Berkeley Softworks in 1986 for both the Commodore 64 and later for the Apple II.  It was similar in appearance to contemporary Mac operating systems, but somehow packed a GUI, File Manager, and several productivity applications into a tiny package capable of running on the extremely limited hardware of the Commodore computers.  Later it was bundled for sale with new Commodore 64C computers and “enhanced” versions were released for the Commodore 128, Plus/4, and eventually Intel-architecture PCs.  In fact, you can still get a fresh copy of GEOS for your PC – now called “Breadbox Ensemble” – or you can download the original for the Commodore64 or Apple II from various file archive sites.

If, for some reason you want to deliver your Ryuzine publications with a retro 8-bit look download the “geos” theme and party like it’s 1989!

DOWNLOAD GEOS THEME
for Version 0.9.4 or Version 0.9.5

Note: the theme does not “8-bit” your images.  You’ll have to do that yourself. 

There is now a detailed Tutorial in the Forums demonstrating two methods for converting Ryuzine publications into native Android apps!

The first method, using the appMobi XDI (Google Chrome Extension) is suitable for stand-alone/downloadable Ryuzine publications and will allow readers on Android devices to read the publications offline.  This may be useful if you want to provide your publications exclusively as downloads and, more importantly, if you want to try an monetize those downloads through an app market.

The second method, using the Android SDK and Eclipse, is suitable for pushing current issues and for use with Ryuzine Press Editions.

Both methods will break you out of the default browser “chrome” and you can even set up your native app to display your publications in true fullscreen mode.

There is also a brief explanation for why there is not a similar tutorial for converting to native iOS apps.

So if your itching to get your Ryuzine magazines or webcomics in the Google Play store, follow this link to the Forums!

What is NOT ready for the Retina display on the iPad is any in-page images (including the images in the current version’s “Help” documentation).  If you are using the CSS image swapping method (and you should be) you’d need to be able to target the new display in your “thisissue.css” stylesheet to deliver the new iPad higher-resolution images.

This is all still in the works for version 0.9.5 and hasn’t yet been tested on a new iPad, but if you’re living on that bleeding edge you can download a 0.9.5 thisissue.css file (it should also work fine with any earlier version of the Ryuzine webapp) and add new conditional styling in the added “landscape” and “portrait” media queries for the “iPad Retina.”

Please let us know in the forums if this file is working for you or needs fixing.  Note that it also contains code to try and “catch” any non-iOS, non-webKit devices that may be released with high-resolution displays, not just for the iPad 3.

Update: We have now tested this stylesheet in the iPad “Retina” simulator and found it to work.

Ryuzine™ Press is a new FREE, open-source plugin for WordPress 3.0+ which “bridges” your blog posts to a Ryuzine webapp installation.

The plugin turns your blog back-end into the authoring program for instantly publishing unlimited Ryuzine Press “Editions.”  Each edition is made up of a curated selection of blog posts, which are ported into the pages of the Ryuzine webapp.  You’ll be able to deliver your content to both desktop and mobile users in a dynamic, touch-enabled, digital magazine format.

Ryuzine Press is not a WordPress theme.  Your Ryuzine Press Editions exist alongside your blog, not in place of it.  Your readers will enjoy the convenience of cloud-based content with the engaging experience of a mobile app.  You will enjoy instant publishing optimized for mobile users without having to deal with app stores.

(artwork by Jon Sloan)

The Ryuzine Press plugin also works with the popular ComicPress 2.9 theme currently used by an estimated 25% of all online comics.  Your existing archives can easily be assigned to Ryuzine Press Editions, offering your readers a realistic, page-turning comic book reading experience.  Plus, of course, Ryuzine supports right-binding for “manga” style titles too!

FIND OUT MORE ON THE PLUGIN’S PRODUCT PAGE

Disclosure: Ryuzine Press Plugin requires the closed-source Ryuzine webapp be installed on the same server.  It is free for non-commercial use, and for commercial use you only need to purchase an affordable, flat-rate license for each title (not edition) you publish.  Due to the differences in the licensing the plugin and the webapp are not bundled together for download.

While there were quite a few minor changes behind the scenes the one you’ll probably notice the most is the redesign of the “default” theme (well, it’s not really a theme, it’s what you get in the absence of any themes).  It used to evoke “Windows 95″ but the new version is more “Windows 8 Metro” and should blend in nicely with Windows phones, Android devices, webOS, and BlackBerry.

Comparison of 0.9.3 (and earlier) default theme with 0.9.4 update

This change to the default theme also affects all the add-on themes, so make sure to update those too!

The Ryuzine Machine online demo has been updated and so has the Sample Magazine if you want to give the new version a whirl.

The other big change is the launch of Ryuzine Press, a plugin for WordPress 3.0+ that acts as a “bridge” between the blog software and the Ryuzine webapp.  It allows you to instantly publish Ryuzine Press Editions from curated selections of blog posts.  It is also fully compatible with ComicPress 2.9, making it an easy way to adapt an existing webcomic to Ryuzine webapp format.

Note: The Ryuzine Machine Publisher’s Manual was not updated because there were no functional changes in how the webapps work.

Sit in on panels moderated by Jon, swing by to say “Hi” and purchase a signed copy of his trade paperback “A Watcher In Our Midst.”

Prices at the door are $60 for adults, $25 for children ages 6-12 for all three days; $25 (adult), $10 (child) for Friday only, $35 (adult), $15 (child) for Saturday only; $25 (adult), $10 (child) for Sunday only.

Full details available at www.marscon.org.

* In order to sell through iBookstore you need to have an iBookstore Account, a copy of iTunes Producer, an active contract with iTunes Store, a bank account registered to recieve electronic payments from iTunes, an ISBN for each title, and a US Tax ID. Additionally, any .ibooks file you create with iBooks Author for sale cannot be sold anywhere but the iBookstore (terms apply to the file itself, not the content).

During development of Ryuzine a decision was made to not reproduce within the app those features which are already built into most web browsers.  For example, multiple bookmarks and bookmark management is done with the browser’s bookmarking tools.  Searching text is another example.  For other features such as bookmark syncing, highlighting, or annotation Ryuzine readers have the freedom to use any one of many plugins or online services to accomplish those tasks.  Even within the web app itself you have the option of using any widgets, scripts, or plugins you want to use.  No installations, no DRM, no App Stores.  This is what the web is supposed to be like.

What About Professional Layout Software?

Quark XPress 9 ($899) can create magazine apps for the iPad and iPad 2.  To publish and distribute through Apple’s App Store you also need a License Pack which varies in price from one issue ($349) to 24 issues ($6,799).  Templates cost extra for a single issue ($149), multiple issues of one title ($749), and multiple issues of multiple titles ($1,499).

Adobe InDesign CS 5.5 ($699) users can also purchase the extra Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. The “Single Edition” ($395) can also create magazine apps for the iPad and iPad 2.  ”Professional Monthly Edition” ($495) creates them for iPad, iPad2, Android Tablets, Amazone Kindle Fire, BlackBerry Playbook, and Desktop.  There is also a “Professional Edition Annual” ($5,940) and “Enterprise Edition” ($47,940).

Both these digital publishing options deliver content to the devices through the platform’s respective “app stores.”  For iPad publications there is also the possibility Apple will reject the publication, and if you can’t distribute it in through their App Store you can’t distribute it for the iPad at all.  Google, Amazon, and RIM’s apps stores are more forgiving, but you’re still asking your readers to purchase, download, and install a magazine on devices that often do not have a lot of storage space to spare.  In addition to the overhead just to start publishing, for each sale, the app stores will also take a percentage of whatever you charge for the publication.

If your point is to get a digital magazine in the hands of your mobile and desktop readers and not spend a small fortune doing it, Ryuzine is your cost-effective solution.  Distribution is via the web just like any other site, which also means Ryuzine targets a wide range of devices and platforms from desktops to tablets to phones.  No app stores, no app to download and install since the browser already installed on the device is the “reader app,” no requirement for an additional expensive Authoring application, plus Ryuzine is FREE to use if you aren’t making money off of it, and if you are making money the “Commercial Use License” is an incredibly reasonable one-time flat fee per title – no matter how many issues of that title you may publish or how much revenue it generates for you.

As these two tables above demonstrate, the Ryuzine Machine and Ryuzine web apps offer publishing and reading experiences on par with (and we’d argue even better than) the other options presently available, but without the restrictions.  So if you want to start putting together your own Ryuzine publications DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDK right now!

updated after 0.9.5 release

Official Online Resources

Ryuzine Press Plugin: Download Version 0.9.5
Ryuzine WebApp: Download Version 0.9.5
User Forums: http://www.ryumaru.com/forum
Add-Ons: 
Theme Pack
Localization Add-On
Legacy IE Support Add-On
OVR Player Add-On
Page Curves Add-Ons

Media Query Test Page

http://www.kmhcreative.com/downloads/MQ.htm

CSS3 to SVG Gradient Background Utility:

http://www.kmhcreative.com/downloads/CSS2SVG.htm

Additional WordPress Resources

WordPress Download

ComicPress Version 2.9
ComicPress Manager Plugin
ComicPress Theme Companion Plugin

Easel Theme
Comic Easel Plugin

Webcomic Theme

Unlike ComicPress, however, Easel uses its own “storyline” system that are independent of the WordPress post categories.  This makes it impossible to assign Easel comic posts to a Ryuzine Press Edition, unless you hack a core Easel file.  Once you have the Easel theme folder go into the Easel > addons > comics.php file, and around line 42 find:

‘taxonomies’ => array( ‘post_tag’ ),

and change it to:

‘taxonomies’ => array( ‘category’,'post_tag’ ),

Now, when you go to Comics > Comics and click on a Easel comic post you should see the normal WordPress Category list with checkboxes on the right-hand side of the Edit page.

Assigning Comics to Editions

Once your comic posts are in place, and you’ve hacked the Easel file, assigning them to a Ryuzine Press Edition is as simple as categorizing any regular blog posts – in fact you can mix them in the same edition.  Create your Ryuzine Press Edition and assign it to a Category (or create a category specifically for this Edition).  Then simply go to Comics > Comics (it also may be Comics Easel > Comics) and find the comics you want to assign in the list.  Using the “Edit” link open the comic post and look for the normal “Categories” list on the right.  If it isn’t there you may need to go to “Screen Options” at the top and enable it or you’ll need to check the hack you did to the comics.php file.  Once you’ve got it, tick the box for the Category corresponding with the Ryuzine Press Edition.

Do the same for all the comics and/or blog posts you want to assign to the edition, remembering they will be displayed oldest to newest.  This is usually the preferable order since most people using Webcomic to post ongoing stories will have posts in that chronological order, and the WordPress archive pages usually show them newest to oldest, but in “comic reading order” they need to be oldest to newest.

Note that this all works much better if you are posting comic PAGES rather than comic STRIPS.  If your work is in strip format you may want to consider creating images with multiple strips and posting them as “pages” or there may be a lot of white space below a relatively small bit of artwork.

If you are switching from Webcomic to Easel you can actually have them both activated at the same time and Ryuzine Press Editions can simultaneously display mixed comic posts from both comic platforms.

Covers & Pages

If you want to use the oldest post assigned to an Edition as the cover you will need to configure “Cover Source” under Ryuzine Press > Options > Covers.  Realize that this is a global setting affecting ALL your Ryuzine Press Editions.

Under the “Pages” tab you can also decide whether or not to show or hide bylines and dates, meta data, and/or comments.  There is also an option specific to comic posts that will suppress any related post text.  Use this option if you want a cleaner appearance more like reading a real comic book.

You can also add Issue-Specific styling to the Ryuzine Press Edition (in the last custom box) to hide all the headers, leaving just an empty top margin, which makes it look even more like a real comic book.

If you are not using the oldest post for the cover you can use the auto-generated covers.  You may find these are more flexible in that you can have a single image to overlay on all covers as a masthead and use CSS and media queries to place “full-bleed” cover artwork, and you can tag back-up stories or non-comic content with your “featured” category as well and have them automatically turned into clickable links on the cover.