Select your book size to see recommended PDF measurements

This page is for book-makers creating PDFs in applications other than Adobe InDesign. If you are an InDesign user, please use our plug-in for Adobe InDesign.

Select your book size

Photo Books (including Layflat books)

 
 
 
 
 
 

Trade Books

 
 
 

Magazines

 
Getting Started Specifications

Some helpful hints for creating print-ready PDF files

Do
  • Use our specification calculator to design files to the correct dimensions
  • Submit an even number of pages
  • Make black text only 100% Black ink
  • Rasterize overly complex vectors (e.g. Illustrator or CAD graphics)
  • Create your cover last when you know your final page count
  • Place images and artwork to the edge of the bleed of the document to allow for trim. This will prevent white lines appearing at the edges of trimmed pages
  • Ensure that all text and images are placed within the safe text boundary to prevent content loss when the pages are trimmed
  • Use perceptual rendering intent on all objects when possible
  • Review your PDF file prior to upload. In Acrobat/Adobe Reader make sure the following preferences are set up before proofing:
    • View > Page Display select Two Page View and Show Cover Page in Two Page View
    • Preferences > Page Display > de-select Use Local Fonts
    • Preferences > Page Display > set Use Overprint Preview to Always
Do not
  • Use spot or registration colors as they may not print as expected
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Adobe® Photoshop®

Photoshop is an image-editing application and not designed for creating multi-page documents. This makes it difficult to create a multi-page compliant PDF file. Combining single PDF files can be accomplished with Adobe Acrobat Professional or Extended (not the free Adobe Reader). Contact Customer Support for more info.
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Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word sometimes has issues creating a compliant PDF file. Create a PDF/X-1a file when exporting. Some users have had success by printing to a postscript file and using Adobe Distiller to create a compliant PDF.
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