A digital file must be “print ready”. To ensure that problems will not be encountered during the manufacturing process, files should be sent in accordance with the following digital file submission instructions.

Files are processed as received and are not pre-flighted prior to processing.

Publisher-requested special file editing or manipulation and image touch-up/manipulations will be charged to the publisher at the hourly custom services rate of $75.00 per hour.

Digital files may be uploaded via our web site or sent to KDP on a CD, DVD or external storage device. Files in excess of 250 megabytes require submission via CD, DVD or external storage device.

KDP recommends and supports submission of PDF files created with Adobe Acrobat® “Distiller” program. Other PDF creators are not guaranteed and any charges or resubmission's resulting from the use of other PDF-creator programs will be the responsibility of the publisher.

A few basic PDF Do's and Don'ts

• Embed all fonts and graphics
• Flatten Photoshop files
• Convert RGB to CMYK
• Print a postscript file and use Acrobat Distiller
• Do not use PDF writer
• Do not save as or export PDF from application
• Do not use attributes on fonts (e.g., don't add boldfacing. underlining, etc. to your base font).
• Do not use security
  
• Convert to PDF On-line
  Convert your manuscript by visiting the Adobe Website.

  

File formats accepted...

Black & White bookblocks (listed in order of preference)
1. Adobe PDF (.pdf) using the default setting of “PDF/X-1a:2001”
2. Adobe PDF (.pdf)
3. Adobe Postscript (.ps)
4. Quark files or InDesign

NOTE: Word or other generic word processing documents must be converted to PDF.

Color Covers...

1. Adobe PDF (.pdf) using the default setting of “PDF/X-1a:2001”
2. Adobe PDF (.pdf)
3. Adobe Postscript (.ps)
4. Quark files or InDesign

Bookblock Specifications...

• If bookblock is created as a Postscript (.ps) file, files should be created with a generic Adobe Postscript driver, and must be saved at a 600dpi resolution.
• If bookblock is created as a Postscript (.ps) file, files must be created using standard desktop publishing software to produce an Adobe PostScript Level 2 or Level 3 output file (using the setting “print to file”).
• If bookblock is created using InDesign and Quark files, all elements (i.e. live art, images and fonts) must be provided, and all fonts must include screen and printer versions even the most common fonts.
• Continuous tone photographs and artwork should be 8-bit grayscale, at 300dpi. Line art should be 1-bit black and white at 600dpi.
• All fonts should be embedded. PDF font subset should be set at 100%.
• For best results it is recommended that you provide a minimum .50” margin on all four sides of your textblock.
• Interior text should be submitted as grayscale only (e.g. do not submit as CMYK or RGB).
• Text files must be submitted as a single PDF file, pages in numerical order (no printer spreads, i.e. page spreads).
• Files in excess of 250 megabytes require submission via CD, DVD or external storage device.
• PDF files should be centered (left-to-right and top-to-bottom), output resolution should be set to 600dpi. KDP will not scale a text file.

Cover File Specifications...

1. All Images or artwork must be submitted in CMYK format at a 300dpi resolution.
2. All fonts should include screen and printer fonts, even the most common fonts.
3. When you lay out the cover of a book in a desktop application, make sure that the front and back covers, as well as the spine are designed as one contiguous page.
   

4. White Space:  This .25-inch white space allows us to place trim, registration and color identification marks, which will be used during printing.

   Bleed: Any background color or photograph that extends to the edge of the page after trimming is called a bleed. To ensure ink coverage to the bleed edge, the image or background color must extend .25 inch beyond the trim. This area will be trimmed away after printing. Neither trim nor registration marks should be placed inside the bleed area.

   Spine Width: To determine the book's spine size, divide the number of pages by the paper's thickness (measured in "pages per inch" or ppi). Our 50# paper is 526 ppi, our 60# paper is 435 ppi and our 70# is 384 ppi. (Example: 256 page book printed on 50# would be 256 ÷ 526 = 0.48" spine.) For “safety”, provide at least .0625” tolerance within the text on the spine.

5. Color Breaks on the Spine: This involves a spine whose color is different from the color used on the front or back cover. We call this a "color break." Because the bulking of paper can vary slightly, it is inadvisable to create a color break between the spine and both the front and back covers. It is better to have only one color break, either on the front or the back.
   Another solution is to extend the spine color over onto the front and/or back cover by about 1/4 inch.

6. For best results text should be at least 0.25” from trim edges of the book.
7. If scanning to create the digital file, scan all images at 300dpi CMYK.
8. Black elements should NOT be built in “Registration” black. These elements should be built out of “Rich” black. For best results, we recommend the CMYK values of 60% Cyan, 40% Magenta, 40% Yellow, and 100% Black. CMYK total value should not exceed 240%.
9. The barcode should be built in 100% Black only.