Preparing a Print-Ready PDF Book
You can have total control over the appearance of your book by designing the book yourself and sending us PDF book and cover files. We recommend that you tackle creating a Print-Ready PDF book only if you have experience in graphic design and desktop publishing. This is not a good time to experiment. If you are not confident about how to create a PDF document, or if you’re unclear as to the specs provided below, we strongly suggest you simply send us your manuscript in a single digital file and let us format it. Any PDF file that has to be resubmitted will be subject to an additional fee. If you’re sure you know what you’re doing, here’s how.
How to lay out your book block
| Book Size | Design book on | Recommended text block size | Final page trim size |
| Size A | 5.5" x 8.5" page | no larger than 4" x 7" | 5.25" x 8" |
| Size B | 8.5" x 11" page | no larger than 5" x 8" | 6" x 9" |
| Size C | 8.5" x 11" page | no larger than 6" x 9" | 7" x 10" |
Layout and PDF
- Your text block (all visible text, including headers, page numbers, etc.) should be centered vertically on the page.
- You may put headers, footers, page numbers, etc. wherever you want. We strongly suggest that no copy be placed within .25 inch of the trim lines.
- Live areas of graphics must also be .25 inch within the trim margins. Graphics will not be enhanced and should therefore be embedded in black and white at print quality. Graphics should be 300 dpi or higher.
- Body text must be under 16 point.
- Be aware that odd pages are right-hand pages, and even pages are left-hand pages. If you want to provide more (or less) space in your gutters and outer margins, you should take this into consideration.
- All images and fonts must be embedded in your PDF file.
- The PDF should be created one-up, that is, one page at a time.
Creating your book cover
Please see How to prepare graphics and How to create your book cover on this site, and in our Author Guide.
Files to download
Author Guide
Complete submission guidelines
Look at the Books
Sample pages and cover designs
