PDF Export Settings That Break Print
KDP formatting PDF issues usually come from scaling, missing fonts, low-resolution images, or export presets that break print validation.
Not a Full Formatting Guide
This page focuses only on PDF export settings.
For complete KDP formatting (templates, margins, bleed, and upload issues): KDP Book Formatting
KDP PDF Formatting Errors
If your KDP PDF upload fails, it is usually caused by:
- incorrect trim size
- missing bleed
- margin violations
- font or export issues
Fix the exact error below.
What It Means
Print failures are often caused by export settings rather than by the layout itself. A PDF can look visually correct while still containing scaled pages, missing fonts, low-resolution images, or incompatible transparency behavior.
Why It Matters
If export settings are wrong, the final file can fail platform validation even when the source document is correct. This makes export configuration a critical part of print QA.
Incorrect Page Scaling
Scaling during export changes page dimensions.
Common symptoms:
- trim size mismatch
- margin errors
Related problem:
Missing Font Embedding
Fonts must be embedded.
Check fonts in Acrobat:
File → Properties → Fonts
Related problem:
Low Image Resolution
Images below 300 DPI may trigger print warnings.
Example
Assume a manuscript is laid out correctly, but the final PDF is exported through a print driver that scales pages slightly. The upload then fails for trim-size mismatch, even though the source file dimensions were correct. This is a classic export-setting failure.
Common Mistakes
- Using print-to-PDF instead of export-to-PDF.
- Forgetting to embed fonts.
- Exporting images below print-safe resolution.
- Letting scaling or fit-to-page options stay enabled.
Tools
Related Errors
FAQ
Why can the layout be correct but the PDF still fail?
Because export settings can change the file after layout is finished.
Is print-to-PDF safe for book production?
Usually no. Controlled export is safer than print-driver workflows.
What should I verify first?
Check page size, font embedding, image resolution, and scaling behavior.