Free author tool
Book Print Specifications Checklist for Independent Authors
Record the printer, binding, trim, paper, ink and bleed before preparing your book. Use a clear specification to keep the interior and cover files matched.
06 · Print specifications
Decisions to make early.
Confirm these with your printing platform before cover or interior work begins.
- Printer and distribution platform (KDP, IngramSpark, local printer)
- Paperback or hardcover, and the binding
- Trim size, paper colour and ink
- Whether any artwork runs to the page edge (bleed)
- Final page count, which sets the spine width
- An ISBN for each edition and format
How it works
Record the choices for each edition before production. A paperback and hardcover are separate specifications, even when they contain the same text. Confirm current options on the platform you will use.
A worked example
A useful brief might say: KDP paperback, 6 × 9 inches, black ink on cream paper, no interior bleed. Add the final PDF page count when layout is finished, then generate the matching cover template.
Before you use the result
Do not copy a spine measurement between printers. IngramSpark uses its own templates. If you change paper, binding or page count, recheck the interior and cover requirements before uploading.
Check the official printer guidance →
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