Vellum 4.1.7 — macOS

Vellum is a native Mac application for creating and formatting ebooks and print editions.

Core workflow unchanged in version 4.1.5

Version 4.1.5 keeps the core workflow intact: you write or import a manuscript, pick a style, and Vellum applies it consistently across every chapter, including any you add later. There are no headline new features in this release, which is typical for a mature tool that focuses on polish.

Auto-adjusts margins, page numbers, and headers for print

Once you select a trim size, Vellum automatically adjusts margins, page numbers, headers, and footers. That saves time when you are preparing a paperback edition alongside the ebook.

What output formats are supported?

It generates files for Kindle, Kobo, and Apple Books. You can also create boxed sets from multiple books and regenerate updated ebook files whenever you make changes.

Is there a preview while editing?

Yes, the app includes instant preview, so you see how your chapters look as you work. This is handy for catching spacing or style issues before exporting.

How Vellum fits with other apps and macOS features

Vellum works well alongside standard macOS tools. You keep your manuscript in a word processor, export it, and import it into Vellum. The app handles formatting that word processors struggle with — consistent headers, page numbers, and margins across an entire book.

Because Vellum is a native Mac application, it works with macOS file management as you expect. Save your project files anywhere, use Finder to organize them by series or genre, and use Time Machine or other backup tools to keep your work safe. The app respects standard keyboard shortcuts and macOS window management, so if you are used to working with multiple desktops or split-screen views, Vellum does not fight that.

For print output, you can send the finished PDF to any tool that works with standard print files — no proprietary formats lock you in. The same goes for ebook files: once Vellum generates them, they are ready for upload to retailers or for checking in Kindle Previewer or the Kobo app.

Claire’s series: hours saved after switching from page-layout app

Claire writes cozy mysteries and publishes them herself. She has four novels in a series, each about 75,000 words. Before she found Vellum, she spent hours in a page-layout app adjusting chapter headings and worrying about widows. The process was different for each book, so the series never looked consistent.

With Vellum, she imports each manuscript, applies the same style to all four, and generates the print editions together. Vellum handles spread balancing and widow control automatically. She also creates a boxed set of the series for ebook readers who want all four novels in one file. The whole project takes an afternoon instead of a week.

Write in any app, then import to build a table of contents

You start by writing your manuscript in whatever app you prefer — Scrivener, Word, Google Docs, plain text. When it is ready, you open Vellum and create a new project.

Import the manuscript. Vellum reads it, builds a table of contents, and generates a title page. You add copyright-page content directly in the app. Then you choose a trim size for the print edition. Vellum adjusts the margins, page numbers, headers, and footers to fit that size.

Pick a style from the built-in options. Every chapter gets that style, including any you add later. The preview pane updates instantly, so you see the result without exporting. You can check how the book looks on different devices and in print.

When everything looks right, you export. Vellum creates the ebook files for Kindle, Kobo, and Apple Books, plus the print PDF — all from the same project. Months later, when you notice a typo, you open the project, fix it, and regenerate the files. No reformatting needed.

Best for self-publishing authors and series writers needing consistency

Authors who publish their own work benefit most. If you are writing a single novel and want it to look professional without learning design software, Vellum saves a lot of time. The same goes for series writers who need consistent formatting across multiple books.

Small presses and publishing teams also find it useful. One person can set up a project, apply a house style, and generate files for both print and ebook. The boxed set feature is useful for any publisher who bundles several titles into one sale.

Writers who update their books regularly — fixing errors, adding new content, or adjusting for new retailers — appreciate that Vellum regenerates updated files from the same project. You do not rebuild the formatting each time.

Users who work on older or newer Macs are covered: Vellum runs on macOS 11 and later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel 64-bit machines. That matters for writers who keep a MacBook Air for travel and an iMac at home.

• macOS 11 or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon
• Interface language: English