Short answer: A print-ready book needs two PDFs (cover and interior), each at the finished size plus 0.125 inch bleed, in CMYK, with fonts embedded or outlined and images at 300 dpi or more; check each item before you upload.
Most printing delays trace to files, not to the press. Run this checklist on the interior and the cover before you upload.
For both files
- Format: PDF.
- Color: CMYK, not RGB. Use PMS values only for a spot color you have ordered.
- Resolution: 300 dpi or more at final size for images the reader looks at closely.
- Fonts: embedded or outlined. Open the exported PDF and check that text still looks right, because some font licenses block embedding.
- Bleed: include 0.125 inch (3 mm) on every side in the exported PDF, not only in your working file. See bleed and trimming.
- Safe area: keep text and logos at least 0.125 inch inside the trim line, and 0.25 inch to be safe.
- Black text: 100% K only. Use a rich black for large solid areas.
Interior PDF
- Single pages, not reader spreads, in page order.
- Page size equals the trim size plus bleed. For an 8.5 x 11 inch book that is 8.75 x 11.25 inches.
- Page count matches the order, in the multiples the binding allows: even numbers for perfect binding and Wire-O, multiples of 4 for saddle stitching and hardcover.
Cover PDF
- One flat file: back cover, spine, and front cover side by side, with bleed.
- Width is two cover widths plus the spine plus bleed; the cover size calculator and spine calculator work it out from your page count and paper.
- Spine text only if the spine is wide enough, and keep it inside the spine with room to spare.
Two files, not one
Submit the cover and the interior as separate PDFs. Combining them into one file is one of the most common causes of delay. The print-ready PDF guide has export settings for InDesign.
Then check the proof
After you upload, review the free PDF E-Proof for page order, margins, and spine. Approval is the last step before production. See E-proof vs. physical proof.
Frequently asked questions
What size should my book PDF be?
The finished trim size plus 0.125 inch of bleed on every side. For an 8.5 x 11 inch book the interior pages should be 8.75 x 11.25 inches.
Should I send one PDF or two?
Two: one for the cover and one for the interior pages. Combining them is a common cause of delays.
Should my files be RGB or CMYK?
CMYK. RGB files are converted to CMYK for printing and colors can shift, so convert yourself and check the result.
Related reading
- Five Print File Specifications You Must Check Before Ordering
- How to Calculate Book Spine Width for a Perfect-Bound Cover
- E-Proof vs. Physical Proof: Which Do You Need?