Standard Fiction Novel
Print Interior Formatting
One print-ready interior, built for whichever platform you sell through: KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, etc. Embedded fonts, proper trim and gutter, drop caps, alternate headers, tested against each platform’s live previewer before delivery.
What’s included
- Standard-length novel
- Print-ready PDF built to your platform’s exact spec, whether that’s KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, or another print service
- Correct color space and bleed for your platform (for example, PDF/X-1a:2001 and CMYK for IngramSpark, sRGB for Lulu)
- Additional platforms available if you sell in more than one place
- Embedded fonts for every print farm
- Proper gutter margins calculated against page count and binding
- Title page, copyright page, dedication, and TOC
- Drop caps and chapter ornaments (optional)
- Alternate headers for left/right pages, Roman front-matter numbering
- Hardcover-aware spine handling when applicable
- Unlimited revisions until you’re happy with the result
- Source Word/InDesign file delivered alongside the PDF
Frequently asked
Why does each platform need a separate file?
KDP, IngramSpark, and Lulu each use different PDF profiles, color spaces, and bleed rules. KDP is the most lenient; Ingram requires PDF/X-1a:2001 and CMYK; Lulu prefers sRGB and a single-page layout. A KDP file usually won’t pass Ingram preflight, and neither matches what Lulu expects. We build the right file for each platform.
Which platforms should I pick?
KDP for Amazon reach (the default for most indie authors). IngramSpark if you want bookstore and library distribution. Lulu if you sell direct-to-reader, want specialty bindings (spiral, hardcover with dust jacket), or are running an author storefront. Most clients pick KDP + one other.
What trim size should I choose?
If you’re unsure, 6x9 is the safe default: it’s the most popular size and what readers expect for a novel or non-fiction trade paperback. Other common standards are 5x8 and 5.5x8.5 for fiction, 7x10 or 8.5x11 for workbooks and large-format non-fiction, and 8.5x8.5 (square) for children’s books. Custom sizes are possible too, within each platform’s limits, so we’ll build to whatever you have in mind. Wider or taller trims cost a little more per page, so it’s best to settle the size before we lay out the interior.
How long does it take?
A standard novel is typically ready in 1-2 weeks from when you send the final manuscript. Adding other platforms can take a bit longer. Every book is different, so we’ll always try to work with your launch deadline.
Do you handle the cover?
No, we focus on the interior. Cover design is a separate craft, and we’re happy to recommend a trusted specialist if you need one.
Should I design my cover before or after the interior?
You can start the front cover art whenever you like. What has to wait is the full print cover (the wraparound with the spine), since spine width depends on your final page count, which isn’t set until the interior is laid out. We’ll give you the exact page count and trim size your cover designer needs.
What file format do you need from me?
A Word document (.docx) is ideal. We also accept InDesign and un-scanned PDFs (i.e. PDFs exported from Word or InDesign, not photographed pages or OCR scans of printed books). If all you have is a scanned print copy, we’ll let you know before quoting whether it’s workable.
What if the file gets rejected at upload?
Every file is tested against the live KDP previewer or Ingram preflight before delivery, so rejections are rare. If one does come back, we revise as many times as it takes to get it accepted, at no extra charge.
Can you help bring down my print cost?
Within reason, yes. For print, cost comes down mainly to page count and whether you print in color or black and white, and layout choices like trim, font, and spacing affect the page count. If a low print price matters to you, say so up front and we’ll build the layout around it. Ebooks are different: there’s no per-page cost, but since some retailers charge a delivery fee by file size, we keep images efficiently compressed.
Do I get to see a proof before it’s final?
Yes. You can review the book in your platform’s online previewer before publishing, and for print it’s always advisable to order a printed proof copy and see it in your hands. A screen never quite matches paper, and a proof copy is the surest way to catch anything you’d want to adjust.
What front and back matter should my book include?
It depends on the book, but a typical setup is a title page, copyright page, and dedication at the front, sometimes a foreword or preface, then the chapters, and at the back an acknowledgments page, an “about the author” page, and a short “leave a review” page. Non-fiction often adds a table of contents, an introduction, and sometimes an index or notes. We set up the standard pages for your book type as part of the layout and flag anything that looks missing, so you don’t have to memorize the list.
What about hardcover?
Hardcover changes spine width and case/jacket considerations, but the interior stays the same as the paperback. KDP now supports hardcover, and Ingram and Lulu both support it too.
Read more on the craft
All guides →Tools & hiring
Atticus, Vellum, or a Professional Formatter: What Your Book Needs
An honest comparison of DIY book formatting tools like Atticus, Vellum, and Reedsy Studio against hiring a professional formatter: costs, limits, and how to decide.
Read guide
Print platforms
KDP vs IngramSpark Formatting: Why One Interior PDF May Not Pass Both
KDP and IngramSpark can print the same book, but they do not always want the same interior file. Here is what authors should know before uploading.
Read guide
KDP paperback
How to Format a Paperback for KDP: Trim Size, Bleed, Margins, and PDF Checks
A practical KDP paperback formatting checklist for authors preparing print-ready interiors: trim size, bleed, margins, embedded fonts, images, and previewer checks.
Read guide
Sample work
View full portfolio → Other services
eBook Conversion
Reflowable EPUB 3 files with a clickable table of contents, working hyperlinks, and proper paragraph spacing. Ready for Kindle Direct, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble Press, Draft2Digital, or any other eBook platform.
Learn more
Children’s Book Formatting
Full-color, full-bleed children’s book and graphic-heavy interiors. Image-text alignment, page-pair spreads, and a fixed layout that displays the same on any device or e-reader.
Learn more
Custom Book Interior Design
For non-fiction with sidebars, photo books, cookbooks, anthologies, or anything that doesn’t fit a standard novel layout. Custom typography, custom layout grid, custom everything.
Learn more
Ready to start your print interior project?
Send us your manuscript, target platform, and rough timeline, and we’ll get a quote back to you shortly. Or book a free 15-minute intro call and talk it through first.