Most PDF rejections from self-publishing platforms have nothing to do with your writing or formatting. They're caused by invisible technical issues buried in your file's settings. This checklist covers everything the platforms check — and what causes each failure.
Critical — will cause immediate rejection
Even page count
Print books must have an even number of pages (302, 304, 306 — never 301, 303). If your manuscript ends on an odd page, add a blank page at the end.
IngramSparkKDPB&N Press
Critical
Total Ink Coverage under 240%
IngramSpark's TIC limit is 240%. If you use Affinity Publisher, your default black is C72 M68 Y67 K88 = 295% TIC. Change your black to pure K (0 0 0 100) before exporting.
IngramSparkB&N Press
Critical
All fonts embedded
Every font used in your document must be fully embedded in the PDF. Open your PDF in Acrobat Reader → File → Properties → Fonts tab. Every font should say "Embedded Subset" or "Embedded."
IngramSparkKDPB&N PressD2D
Critical
PDF/X-1a compliance (IngramSpark)
IngramSpark requires PDF/X-1a:2001 format. Word, Google Docs, and Atticus don't export this format. In Affinity Publisher: Export → PDF (for export) → select "PDF/X-1a" preset.
IngramSpark
Critical
No encrypted or password-protected PDF
Any PDF security settings will cause immediate rejection. Never add password protection or printing restrictions to your book file before uploading.
IngramSparkKDPB&N PressD2D
Critical
Important — commonly causes rejections
TrimBox defined on every page
Word, Google Docs, and Atticus don't add a TrimBox. Without it, IngramSpark can't verify your trim and bleed alignment. Professional tools like InDesign and Affinity Publisher add this automatically.
IngramSparkKDP
Important
No embedded ICC color profiles
PDF/X-1a doesn't allow embedded ICC profiles. Design software often embeds them by default. They must be stripped and replaced with device colorspaces for IngramSpark compliance.
IngramSpark
Important
Document metadata complete
Your PDF's Title and Author fields should be filled in. Most export tools leave these blank. Check in Acrobat Reader → File → Properties → Description tab.
IngramSparkKDPB&N PressD2D
Important
Correct bleed settings
IngramSpark requires 0.125" bleed on all edges. Your PDF document size should be trim size + 0.25" in both dimensions (e.g. 6x9 trim = 6.25x9.25 PDF). Content must stay within the safe zone.
IngramSparkKDPB&N Press
Important
No active hyperlinks in print files
Clickable hyperlinks in print PDFs can cause KDP rejections. Remove or deactivate all hyperlinks before exporting your interior PDF. Ebook files are different — links are fine there.
KDP
Important
Standard — good practice
Images at 300 DPI minimum
Any images embedded in your interior (author photo, section dividers, illustrations) should be 300 DPI or higher. Lower resolution images print blurry and may trigger warnings.
IngramSparkKDPB&N PressD2D
Standard
Consistent page size throughout
Every page in your PDF should be the same size. Mixed page sizes (common when combining chapters from different documents) cause preflight failures.
IngramSparkKDPB&N Press
Standard
No spot colors or Pantone swatches
Spot colors and Pantone swatches in a print book interior cause preflight failures. Convert all colors to CMYK or grayscale before exporting.
IngramSparkB&N Press
Standard
No interactive elements
Form fields, buttons, comments, or annotations embedded in your PDF can cause preflight failures. Flatten all interactive elements before uploading.
IngramSparkKDP
Standard
No crop marks in interior PDF
Crop marks are for commercial printers, not self-publishing platforms. If your export includes crop marks, IngramSpark may interpret them as content outside the bleed area.
IngramSparkKDP
Standard
Correct color mode for content type
Black and white interior text should be in Grayscale or CMYK with pure black only. Color interiors should be CMYK, not RGB. RGB colors print unpredictably on offset presses.
IngramSparkKDPB&N Press
Standard
Correct overprint settings
Overprint settings control how inks interact when printed on top of each other. Incorrect overprint settings on black text can cause it to knock out of other colors unexpectedly.
IngramSparkB&N Press
Standard
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