IngramSpark Print Requirements Guide
Technical requirements and workflow notes for preparing interior and cover files before global distribution submission.
Submission Workflow
1. Lock Final Inputs
Confirm final trim size, page count, paper type, and bleed before any cover math.
2. Calculate Cover Geometry
Compute spine width and full-wrap dimensions from final interior inputs.
3. Validate Interior Safety
Check margin and gutter safety to keep text outside binding risk zones.
4. Export Production PDFs
Export interior and cover from final sources with no hidden scaling.
5. Run Final Preflight
Use a checklist to catch mismatch risks before upload.
6. Upload and Verify
Upload once, check warnings carefully, re-export only if confirmed.
Common Failure Triggers
Cover Size Mismatch
Trim, bleed, spine, and full-wrap must be regenerated from the same final page count.
Spine Drift After Page Changes
A page-count change without recalculation misaligns title and barcode zones.
Bleed and Safe-Zone Violations
Backgrounds must extend through bleed while critical text stays inside safe areas.
Export Integrity Errors
Wrong page size or hidden scaling often triggers avoidable rejection loops.
Bleed & Trim
- Bleed: 0.125 in (3 mm) minimum
- Text must stay within safe area
- Interior must be single-page PDF (no spreads)
Cover Requirements
- Separate cover PDF required
- CMYK color mode
- 300 DPI minimum
- Barcode area must remain clear
Validation Tools
Common Rejection Causes
- Incorrect spine width after page count change
- Missing bleed on full-wrap cover
- Fonts not embedded
- Low resolution images
Compare Printing Platforms
Understanding the differences between KDP and IngramSpark can help avoid submission errors.
KDP vs IngramSpark Print Specifications