How to fix an IngramSpark PDF rejection
without Adobe Acrobat.
IngramSpark rejected your file with a cryptic error. Here's exactly what each rejection means, what causes it, and how to fix it — with or without BookReady.
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BookReady → How to fix an IngramSpark PDF rejection
IngramSpark processes over a million file submissions per year and rejects a significant portion on the first attempt. The error messages are deliberately vague. This page explains every common rejection cause in plain English.
What BookReady checks
18 checks. Platform-specific. Auto-fix where possible.
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"File does not meet specifications"
The catch-all error. Usually means ICC profiles, PDF/X compliance, or font embedding. BookReady identifies which one in 30 seconds.
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ICC profile rejection
IngramSpark requires device colorspaces (CMYK), not embedded ICC profiles. Fix: strip ICC profiles. BookReady does this automatically.
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PDF/X-1a required
IngramSpark requires PDF/X-1a:2001. Most tools (Word, Atticus, Google Docs) cannot export this natively. BookReady converts using Ghostscript.
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Total Ink Coverage exceeded
IngramSpark limits CMYK ink to 240% total. Affinity Publisher default black = 295%. Fix: change to C0 M0 Y0 K100.
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Fonts not embedded
IngramSpark rejects files with unembedded fonts. This happens with certain Word exports and Apple Pages. BookReady detects every affected page.
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Image resolution too low
IngramSpark requires 300 DPI minimum for images. BookReady finds exactly which pages and what resolution they are.
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