Interior Formatting
To publish and print your book, you will need an interior file in PDF format. This file must contain ALL the contents for your book (excluding the cover) and must be formatted, styled, and designed by you prior to uploading. Before creating the PDF file, make sure you have used the Styles options in Word or InDesign (or your chosen tool) to define how your text will look. Using Styles ensures consistent text throughout your file. Likewise, use formatting options (like Page Breaks in Word) to control where your content is on the page. Avoid using inline formatting (like hard returns or paragraph breaks) as these may cause a shift in content when exporting your PDF.
Ink Options
- The ink options available are:
- Standard Black & White
- Premium Black & White
- Standard Color
- Premium Color
Paper Options
- 60# Uncoated White
- 60# Uncoated Cream
- 80# Coated White
Carefully review the options to determine the best for your project.
- 60# Uncoated Paper with Black & White ink is ideal for projects with few or no graphics.
Interior File Specifications
When creating your book, you must provide a single page PDF containing all interior elements. This includes the title and copyright pages, as well as any blank pages you wish to include. The interior design should have
Specifications:
- Single page layout
- Embedded images are 300 PPI resolution minimum, not exceeding 600 PPI resolution
- All fonts are embedded
- Transparent layer are flattened
- A bleed margin of 0.125 in/3.175 mm is required for all files. See the different bleed for different trim size in the table below.
Trim Name | Interior File Dimensions (Trim Size) | Interior File Dimensions (With Bleed) |
---|---|---|
A5 | 5.83 in x 8.27 in
148 mm x 210 mm |
6.08 in x 8.52 in
154 mm x 216 mm |
US Trade
(common book size) |
6 in x 9 in
152 mm x 229 mm |
6.25 in x 9.25 in
159 mm x 235 mm |
A4 | 8.27 in x 11.69 in
210 mm x 297 mm |
8.52 in x 11.94 in
216 mm x 303 mm |
US Letter | 8.5 in x 11 in
216 mm x 279 mm |
8.75 in x 11.25 in
222 mm x 286 mm |
- A minimum 0.5 in/12.7 mm Safety Margin
- A minimum 0.2 in/2.08 mm Gutter Margin. The Gutter is the point where your pages meet. Note that as the size of the book increases, you need lager gutter margin. See Gutter table below.
Page Count | Add to Inside margin (add gutter to the page margin of side facing spine) | Recommended Total Inside Margin |
---|---|---|
Less than 60 | 0 in or 0 mm | 0.5 in or 13 mm |
61 to 150 | 0.125 in or 3 mm | 0.625 in or 16 mm |
151 to 400 | 0.5 in or 13 mm | 1 in or 25 mm |
400 to 600 | 0.625 in or 16 mm | 1.125 in or 29 mm |
Over 600 | 0.75 in or 19 mm | 1.25 in or 32 mm |
- Do NOT include trim, bleed, or margin lines
- Do NOT use any security/password file protection

- Do NOT include trim, bleed, or margin lines
- Do NOT use any security/password file protection
Cover File Specifications
Your cover must be a single page integrated spread PDF (back cover, spine, and front cover) that includes all cover content. We strongly recommend your book to have Barcode and ISBN number.
Specifications:
- Embedded images are 300 PPI resolution minimum, not exceeding 600 PPI resolution
- All fonts are embedded
- Transparent layers are flattened
- Spine sized to match intended book size – use the formula below to calculate Spine size for Paperback Covers
Spine Width in Inches = (# of Interior Pages / 444) + 0.06 in
Spine Width in Millimeters = (# of Interior Pages / 17.48) + 1.524 mm
- Include 0.125 in/3.175 mm Bleed Margin
- A minimum 0.5 in/12.7 mm Safety Margin
- Do NOT include trim, bleed, or margin lines
- Do NOT use any security/password file protection

Proofing
Once you’ve completed the publishing process, we strongly recommend purchasing a single copy to review before making the book available for sale. Proofing your printed material is critical in troubleshooting and identifying mistakes. Some issues you may discover while proofing include:
Human Error
Formatting inconsistencies and typos can slip through the editing and design process. Your proof copy is an opportunity to look for those kinds of errors and correct them. The best solution is to edit the interior file, re-upload, and order a new proof copy.
File Error
Low image resolution, transparencies, and unembedded fonts are common issues that may not be obvious when viewing your manuscript on a screen. The printing process will detect and repair many of these issues, but some may slip through. If you discover an error in your printed book that does not appear in your electronic file, please contact us for help.