C Format is a digital book format developed by Cambridge University Press. It is designed for reflowable content, meaning that the text can adapt to different screen sizes and devices. These books can be read on a variety of devices, including e-readers, tablets, and smartphones. These books can also be printed, although this requires a special printer.
It is an imprecise term for any paperback format other than a and b, most often used to describe a paperback edition published simultaneously with, and in the same format as, the hardback original.
These books are typically published as PDFs, although some publishers offer them as EPUBs or MOBI files. These kinds of books can be DRM-protected or DRM-free. DRM-protected C Format books can only be read on devices that support Adobe DRM. DRM-free C Format books can be read on any device that supports the C Type of format.
These types of books can be created using a variety of software programs, including Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, and Microsoft Word. C Format books can also be created using online tools such as Bookwright and Pressbooks.
Academic and professional publishers typically publish in this format. They are also often used for textbooks, reference books, and scholarly monographs. C Format books are also increasingly being used for trade books, such as novels, cookbooks, and travel guides.
The use of the C Format is not mandatory, but many publishers are beginning to adopt it as a way to improve the readability of their books and to make them more accessible to a global audience. In the future, it may become the standard format for books, just as PDF has become the standard format for electronic documents.