4.1. Trim Size

When you are using IngramSpark or Amazon KDP (or most print-on-demand printers), you need to set your book up to a size they support. The type of binding and color-printing option will also affect what trim sizes are available to use.

Before you have your book formatted or cover designed, it is important to …

4.2. Interior Book Design

To ensure a professional and polished result, I highly recommend hiring a book formatter (sometimes called a book designer) for this crucial step.

However, if you decide to take on the task yourself, it’s important to do your research and learn the proper formatting guidelines. This includes understanding font usage, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbering, headers, footers, and more. Starting with a template for Microsoft Word or InDesign can be helpful.

But how do you find the right book designer for your project? Firstly …

4.3. Book Cover Design

One of the most important things you will need to have done before you can publish a book (other than writing it!) is to have a cover created. For a printed book, you will need the front cover, back cover, and spine, set up to meet the printer’s specification for the trim size, binding, paper type, color type, and page count.

In addition to meeting the printer’s requirements, your book cover needs to captivate your readers and convey the heart and soul of your story. To create a truly great book cover, consider these essential elements …

4.5. Print-Ready PDFs

Once your interior layout and cover design is 100 percent complete and approved by you, you will need the print-ready PDFs created and sent to you. These PDFs are what you will upload to the printer.

The PDFs should be created by …