CBZ Conversion Tools

I prefer my comics to be in a CBZ format for editing, compatability, and portability. These are my Python scripts for converting EPUB or PDF files to CBZ (Comic Book ZIP) format.

Once I have the files converted to CBZ and in my library, I use Kindle Comic Converter (KCC) to optimize and size the CBZ files before trasferring a copy to various e-readers, like BOOX, Kindle, or Kobo devices.

Demo Video https://youtu.be/9jAqXVjC2Xw?si=rqRQC9RvUU7sqjSA

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EPUB 2 CBZ Script

Features

• Converts EPUB files (single or batch) to CBZ (Comic Book ZIP) format
• Ports EPUB metadata to the CBZ's ComicInfo.xml
• Preserves reading order of images as in the original EPUB
• Automatically sets up and uses a Python virtual environment for dependencies

Requirements

• Python 3.7+
• The script automatically creates and manages a virtual environment and installs required Python packages (beautifulsoup4, lxml).
• No additional system-level dependencies required for basic EPUB to CBZ conversion.

Usage

Convert a single EPUB file:

python epub2cbz.py /path/to/book.epub

Convert all EPUB files in a folder:

python epub2cbz.py /path/to/folder_with_epubs

Specify an output directory (optional):

python epub2cbz.py /path/to/book.epub -o /path/to/output_folder

Options

• -o, --output [folder]: Set output folder for CBZ files (defaults to the EPUB's folder)
• --help: Show help message
• --ltr: Set reading direction to LeftToRight (Western style, default)
• --rtl: Set reading direction to RightToLeft (manga style)
• --vertical: Set reading direction to Vertical

Note: If the EPUB file specifies a reading direction, that direction will be used and any direction flags (--ltr, --rtl, --vertical) will be ignored. If the EPUB does not specify a reading direction, LeftToRight is used by default, unless you provide a direction flag.

ComicInfo.xml Metadata

• The script generates a ComicInfo.xml file inside each CBZ, containing metadata such as title, series, author, publisher, language, summary, date, and reading direction for compatibility with most comic readers.

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PDF 2 CBZ Scripts

1. pdf2cbz.py (MuPDF/PyMuPDF Version)

Uses MuPDF (PyMuPDF) for high-quality, fast PDF rendering and conversion. Features:

• Very fast, especially for large PDFs (multiprocessing)
• High-quality rendering (excellent text and image fidelity)
• No external system dependencies (auto-installs Python packages: pymupdf, Pillow, tqdm)
• Best choice for speed, quality, and ease of setup if you have Python 3.8+

2. pdf2cbz_pop.py (pdf2image Version)

Uses pdf2image (Poppler-based) for conversion. Features:

• Generally faster conversion than ImageMagick for most PDFs
• Lighter on system resources
• Requires Poppler installation

3. pdf2cbz_im.py (ImageMagick Version)

Uses ImageMagick for PDF to image conversion. Features:

• Advanced image manipulation capabilities
• Better suited for complex or problematic PDFs
• Requires ImageMagick (and Ghostscript) installation

Summary:

• Use MuPDF for the fastest, highest-quality conversion with minimal setup.
• Use pdf2image/Poppler if you already have Poppler and want a lightweight solution.
• Use ImageMagick if you need advanced image processing or have problematic/complex PDFs.

Features

All scripts offer:

• Converts PDF files (single or batch) to CBZ (Comic Book ZIP) format
• Configurable DPI (default: 300, max: 900)
• Adjustable JPEG quality (default: 85, max: 100)
• Automatic virtual environment setup
• Progress indicators with spinners
• Multi-core support for fast processing of files

Requirements

All scripts automatically set up their own virtual environments and install required Python packages. However, some need certain system-level dependencies to be installed first:

For MuPDF version (pdf2cbz.py)

No system-level dependencies required! All necessary Python packages (pymupdf, Pillow, tqdm) are automatically installed in a virtual environment when you run the script. Just make sure you have Python 3.8 or higher.

For ImageMagick version (pdf2cbz_im.py)

Requires both ImageMagick and Ghostscript to be installed on your system:

# macOS
brew install imagemagick ghostscript

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install imagemagick ghostscript

# Fedora
sudo dnf install ImageMagick ghostscript

# Windows
# Download and install both:
# - ImageMagick: https://imagemagick.org/script/download.php
# - Ghostscript: https://ghostscript.com/download/gsdnld.html

For pdf2image version (pdf2cbz_pop.py)

Requires Poppler:

# macOS
brew install poppler

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install poppler-utils

# Fedora
sudo dnf install poppler-utils

# Windows
# Download binary from http://blog.alivate.com.au/poppler-windows/
# Add the bin/ folder to your PATH

Usage

Both scripts use the same command-line interface:

# Convert a single PDF
python pdf2cbz.py mycomic.pdf
python pdf2cbz_pop.py mycomic.pdf
python pdf2cbz_im.py mycomic.pdf

# Convert all PDFs in current directory
python pdf2cbz.py .
python pdf2cbz_pop.py .
python pdf2cbz_im.py .

# Set custom DPI and quality
python pdf2cbz.py mycomic.pdf --dpi 600 --quality 90
python pdf2cbz_pop.py mycomic.pdf --dpi 600 --quality 90
python pdf2cbz_im.py mycomic.pdf --dpi 600 --quality 90

Options

• --dpi [number]: Set image resolution (default: 300, max: 900)
• --quality [1-100]: Set JPEG quality (default: 85)
• --help: Show help message

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CBR 2 CBZ Script

Features

• Converts CBR (Comic Book RAR) files to CBZ (Comic Book ZIP) format
• Supports batch conversion of all CBR files in a folder

Requirements

• Python 3.8 or newer
• No manual installation required: the script will automatically create and use a virtual environment and install the rarfile package
• UnRAR must be installed for extraction:
  • macOS: brew install unrar
  • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt-get install unrar
  • Windows: Download and install UnRAR from rarlab.com

Usage

Convert a single CBR file:

python cbr2cbz.py /path/to/comic.cbr

Convert all CBR files in a folder:

python cbr2cbz.py /path/to/folder_with_cbrs

Move created CBZ files to a subfolder (default: cbz_processed):

python cbr2cbz.py /path/to/folder_with_cbrs -m

Move CBZ files to a custom folder:

python cbr2cbz.py /path/to/folder_with_cbrs -m my_cbz_folder

Move original CBR files after conversion (default: cbr_processed):

python cbr2cbz.py /path/to/folder_with_cbrs -c

Move both CBZ and CBR files to custom folders:

python cbr2cbz.py /path/to/folder_with_cbrs -m my_cbz_folder -c my_cbr_folder

Options

• -m, --move-processed [FOLDER]: Move processed CBZ files into the specified folder (default: cbz_processed)
• -c, --move-cbr [FOLDER]: Move original CBR files into the specified folder (default: cbr_processed)
• --help: Show help message

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Disclaimer

These scripts are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Use at your own risk. The authors are not responsible for any damage or data loss that may occur through the use of this plugin.

This tool is intended for converting legally obtained files that you own. Please respect copyright laws and only convert materials you have the right to access.