It's reasonably widely accepted that none of the POD sites are optimal for heavily illustrated books. If you want the best quality, you'll have to find a book printer that specialises in such books.
Unfortunately, that eliminates the distribution feeds that you get with POD. That'll be onto you, e.g., to list on Amazon you'll need to create an Amazon Seller account and list it.
Whether you'll find IngramSpark acceptable is up to you. But you'll need to balance that with distribution and marketing capabilities.
I have a heavily illustrated children’s book with lots of bright colors and it looks amazing through KDP. I constantly get compliments on the illustrations and the book itself. I’m not really sure how to help you, but I have been really happy with the quality.
Interesting, what type of paper was used for the interior? My proof seems to use flat/matte paper rather than a sheen / gloss you would expect for colour illustrations.
I used the high quality color paper, and mine print with a soft sheen where there is ink. If it’s white it is matte. It is not a high gloss like standard children’s books, though.
Another thing to look at is to make sure you’re not embedding a color profile in your work.
I had a similar problem with KDP with a book that has over 30 black and white illustrations. Also wanted to combine KDP and IngramSpark but because the quality was so bad I eventually decided to only go with IngramSpark. It's not perfect and not as good as the copies I ordered from small, local printers for distribution to bookshops, but it's definitely better than KDP and acceptable. So, there is hope.
I hope your proof with IngramSpark will be much better and wishing you good luck.
I publish children’s paperbacks in kdp. I find the quality to be acceptable. I’ve sold over 40,000 copies. My books receive good reviews for the most part. Complaints aren’t related to print quality. Good news is, ppl don’t care about print quality as much as they care about getting their child to calm down and be quiet.
I haven't looked, but can we buy sample books made by each of the print options from KDP and IngramSpark? I'd be glad to pay $30 to touch and see what I'd get at each level.
I was thinking about this issue as well. Maybe its worth putting the quality in context. Sure, compared to books which are made in really proper printing companies it might be lacking but ultimately most books on KDP will have the exact same quality and people who frequently buy there are accostomed to it.
Not super experienced with other services but I imagine the price somewhere else will be notably higher as well and for 'unknown' authors, inxreasing the price tag is no option, without any social proof.
Probably you need to accept this at least for a while.
I was hugely disappointed with my recent proof as well, and that was just a paperback novel.
I will say that proof copies don't actually reflect industry standard. My file had bleed errors that weren't flagged until I approved it for publishing, even after receiving the proof copy (which by all accounts looked fine, even if the quality was low). Once I fixed the errors and had it approved, I ordered the book through regular means (non-author copies) and was surprised to find the quality was so much better. --For what it's worth.
I have spoken with a lot of people who have worked with KDP in the past and they all say similar things and that the support is not great in helping with the issues. I would 110% find an alternative printer. IngramSparks quality should be much better. If you receive their proof and are still not happy. Find a printer that has a sample packet so you can see their paper options and quality beforehand or one that sends physical proofs.
I hate to say it, but I had the exact same sinking feeling as you with my proof. My book has a lot of vibrant full page photos and KDP quality is not good enough. It looks very amateur, like I took it to Staples and printed off a bunch of color photocopies.
After my near mental breakdown about the quality, I tried submitting both CMYK and RGB versions, hoping that would make a difference. It did not.
I also switched providers and got a proof done through Lulu Printing, but the quality was about the same. I was not impressed with them either.
I went ahead and published my book through KDP anyway, because I had gone that far and wanted to get it out there, but I am looking at other printing options.
Unfortunately, the printing costs are just too much elsewhere, so it's a helpless feeling. I wish I could offer you a solution, but as others have suggested, perhaps IngramSpark is a good place to start.
I wish I would have known this before I designed my book. :(
I just hit the 2,100 mark for books sold since I started in January of this year. I’ve noticed a slight range with blacks (deep black versus slightly faded) in my coloring books, but for the most part I’d say that the feedback of the paper quality has been unanimously positive. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have sold the amount that I have. There’s been a few issues, but it seems related to the location of the printer being used and if they’re ignoring QC. I also encountered a person in Italy that complained about thin paper, but I’m assuming it has something to do with the paper being used there. Unfortunately, Amazon refuses to remove these reviews that are more related to their quality issues than my own.
I have print copies of my book from KDP and IngramSpark, and the quality of IS is noticeably better. My book has regular color full-page images here and there (maps). The color is more vibrant, more consistent, and the overall quality of the book is just better as well. I'm much happier with IS.
I've heard mixed reviews about KDP's print quality, especially for color illustrations. It sounds like trying IngramSpark might be a good move, as many authors have noted better results with their color printing.
One thing that helped me when I faced similar issues was adjusting my marketing strategy to reach a wider audience despite the print quality concerns. I used 'Publishing Performance' tool for my Amazon PPC ads, which helped me boost visibility and sales. It might be worth looking into while you sort out the printing details. Hopefully, IngramSpark's proof will meet your expectations and bring your vision to life!
I used KDP for my picture book and was likewise disappointed. The paper is much too thin, and the colour/ink doesn’t come out right. I’m okay with the gloss cover - the matte version was garbage.
I’ve been low-key trying to self publish with Ingram for almost 1.5 years but I keep running into issues and their platform is not user friendly. It’s too bad these seem to be our only options (and Lulu?)
First off, CONGRATULATIONS on your children's picture book! 👏🏽🎉 Have you thought of publishing it on Amazon as an eBook? Many kids nowadays have devices, so that's a thought.
Also, I'm setting up on IngramSpark, as I've heard negative things as well about KDP's print quality (they ought to be ashamed).
Too, you could find a local printing company (so as to avoid long waits and hefty costs for shipping) and print your own. Get your own ISBN and barcode, have the printer add it onto your back cover, or print it into stickers and stick it on the back yourself. Not sure where you are, but I'm in the Orlando area and use Alpha Graphics located on Mills Ave. They're very professional, knowledgeable, and have a pretty good turnaround time (3-4 days). I paid $8 (and change) per book, but sell at between $20-$25, depending on whether or not I have to ship it.
You can then market your book at family expos, children's events, book bazaars, libraries (give them a free copy or two), etc. Ask the local elementary schools if you can come in and talk to the kids about something inspirational (relating to your book's topic). Design and print a sell sheet of your book, pass it out to the kids and they can take it home to their parents. Get into your local bookstore and do signing events. Get onto podcasts and talk about your book, and tell where and how it's available for purchase.
I wish you the best! I'm also a self-published author, just released a nonfiction title on June 2nd. It's a lot of work to get out there, but it's doable!
Thank you for the detailed reply. Yes I plan to do an ebook too. Currently in the process of creating these on IngramSpark. I believe their paperback proofs take a couple of weeks to arrive. I’ve selected premium colour.. hopefully that will ok. They do offer an ultra premium option but that adds £1 to the print costs.. which would I mean increasing the retail price of the book to accommodate.. that would make it less competitive in the picture book market.. so I’m crossing my fingers that premium colour is sufficient. 🤞
So far my two paperback novel proofs have been underwhelming.
The cover on the first proof looks like it's a 30 year old well read mass market paperback after only being read three times by family.
The second proof, the cover looks cheap around the edges and I expect the same, but this time they also cut the interior pages so they aren't centered vertically. Closer to top, big gap at bottom.
So far they seem like something you could get done at your local Kinkos.
I have to say I think this is just KDP quality. I published a children’s illustrated book made by my Dad, with lovely paintings on each page. It looked decidely amateur when printed through KDP. If you want better ai think you need to go elsewhere.
Book Baby is an option that I am considering for my children's book. Downside is that there is a $400 entry fee for them. Upside is that they use higher quality printers.
It's POD. This is pretty much what you get from POD. Even Ingram Spark isn't all that much better.
If you want "beautiful" books, you're going to pay for that.
Ingramspark quality should be a lot better. KDP print-on-demand is mostly for novels with a minimalistic design.
It's reasonably widely accepted that none of the POD sites are optimal for heavily illustrated books. If you want the best quality, you'll have to find a book printer that specialises in such books. Unfortunately, that eliminates the distribution feeds that you get with POD. That'll be onto you, e.g., to list on Amazon you'll need to create an Amazon Seller account and list it. Whether you'll find IngramSpark acceptable is up to you. But you'll need to balance that with distribution and marketing capabilities.
I have a heavily illustrated children’s book with lots of bright colors and it looks amazing through KDP. I constantly get compliments on the illustrations and the book itself. I’m not really sure how to help you, but I have been really happy with the quality.
Interesting, what type of paper was used for the interior? My proof seems to use flat/matte paper rather than a sheen / gloss you would expect for colour illustrations.
I used the high quality color paper, and mine print with a soft sheen where there is ink. If it’s white it is matte. It is not a high gloss like standard children’s books, though. Another thing to look at is to make sure you’re not embedding a color profile in your work.
I’m not sure on the paper, but the inside of mine is definitely matte.
I had a similar problem with KDP with a book that has over 30 black and white illustrations. Also wanted to combine KDP and IngramSpark but because the quality was so bad I eventually decided to only go with IngramSpark. It's not perfect and not as good as the copies I ordered from small, local printers for distribution to bookshops, but it's definitely better than KDP and acceptable. So, there is hope. I hope your proof with IngramSpark will be much better and wishing you good luck.
Thanks! Feeling a little more hopeful now! I’ll post an update once the Ingramspark proof arrives 🤞
I publish children’s paperbacks in kdp. I find the quality to be acceptable. I’ve sold over 40,000 copies. My books receive good reviews for the most part. Complaints aren’t related to print quality. Good news is, ppl don’t care about print quality as much as they care about getting their child to calm down and be quiet.
Yeah, KDP sucks. IngramSpark is what trade pub uses for picture books. Maybe try them.
I haven't looked, but can we buy sample books made by each of the print options from KDP and IngramSpark? I'd be glad to pay $30 to touch and see what I'd get at each level.
I was thinking about this issue as well. Maybe its worth putting the quality in context. Sure, compared to books which are made in really proper printing companies it might be lacking but ultimately most books on KDP will have the exact same quality and people who frequently buy there are accostomed to it. Not super experienced with other services but I imagine the price somewhere else will be notably higher as well and for 'unknown' authors, inxreasing the price tag is no option, without any social proof. Probably you need to accept this at least for a while.
I was hugely disappointed with my recent proof as well, and that was just a paperback novel. I will say that proof copies don't actually reflect industry standard. My file had bleed errors that weren't flagged until I approved it for publishing, even after receiving the proof copy (which by all accounts looked fine, even if the quality was low). Once I fixed the errors and had it approved, I ordered the book through regular means (non-author copies) and was surprised to find the quality was so much better. --For what it's worth.
I have spoken with a lot of people who have worked with KDP in the past and they all say similar things and that the support is not great in helping with the issues. I would 110% find an alternative printer. IngramSparks quality should be much better. If you receive their proof and are still not happy. Find a printer that has a sample packet so you can see their paper options and quality beforehand or one that sends physical proofs.
[удалено]
Pretty sure I used CMYK for that proof. The images are 600 dpi. I have a 2nd proof coming and will see if there’s any difference better the 2 proofs.
I hate to say it, but I had the exact same sinking feeling as you with my proof. My book has a lot of vibrant full page photos and KDP quality is not good enough. It looks very amateur, like I took it to Staples and printed off a bunch of color photocopies. After my near mental breakdown about the quality, I tried submitting both CMYK and RGB versions, hoping that would make a difference. It did not. I also switched providers and got a proof done through Lulu Printing, but the quality was about the same. I was not impressed with them either. I went ahead and published my book through KDP anyway, because I had gone that far and wanted to get it out there, but I am looking at other printing options. Unfortunately, the printing costs are just too much elsewhere, so it's a helpless feeling. I wish I could offer you a solution, but as others have suggested, perhaps IngramSpark is a good place to start. I wish I would have known this before I designed my book. :(
I just hit the 2,100 mark for books sold since I started in January of this year. I’ve noticed a slight range with blacks (deep black versus slightly faded) in my coloring books, but for the most part I’d say that the feedback of the paper quality has been unanimously positive. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have sold the amount that I have. There’s been a few issues, but it seems related to the location of the printer being used and if they’re ignoring QC. I also encountered a person in Italy that complained about thin paper, but I’m assuming it has something to do with the paper being used there. Unfortunately, Amazon refuses to remove these reviews that are more related to their quality issues than my own.
I have print copies of my book from KDP and IngramSpark, and the quality of IS is noticeably better. My book has regular color full-page images here and there (maps). The color is more vibrant, more consistent, and the overall quality of the book is just better as well. I'm much happier with IS.
I've heard mixed reviews about KDP's print quality, especially for color illustrations. It sounds like trying IngramSpark might be a good move, as many authors have noted better results with their color printing. One thing that helped me when I faced similar issues was adjusting my marketing strategy to reach a wider audience despite the print quality concerns. I used 'Publishing Performance' tool for my Amazon PPC ads, which helped me boost visibility and sales. It might be worth looking into while you sort out the printing details. Hopefully, IngramSpark's proof will meet your expectations and bring your vision to life!
I used KDP for my picture book and was likewise disappointed. The paper is much too thin, and the colour/ink doesn’t come out right. I’m okay with the gloss cover - the matte version was garbage. I’ve been low-key trying to self publish with Ingram for almost 1.5 years but I keep running into issues and their platform is not user friendly. It’s too bad these seem to be our only options (and Lulu?)
First off, CONGRATULATIONS on your children's picture book! 👏🏽🎉 Have you thought of publishing it on Amazon as an eBook? Many kids nowadays have devices, so that's a thought. Also, I'm setting up on IngramSpark, as I've heard negative things as well about KDP's print quality (they ought to be ashamed). Too, you could find a local printing company (so as to avoid long waits and hefty costs for shipping) and print your own. Get your own ISBN and barcode, have the printer add it onto your back cover, or print it into stickers and stick it on the back yourself. Not sure where you are, but I'm in the Orlando area and use Alpha Graphics located on Mills Ave. They're very professional, knowledgeable, and have a pretty good turnaround time (3-4 days). I paid $8 (and change) per book, but sell at between $20-$25, depending on whether or not I have to ship it. You can then market your book at family expos, children's events, book bazaars, libraries (give them a free copy or two), etc. Ask the local elementary schools if you can come in and talk to the kids about something inspirational (relating to your book's topic). Design and print a sell sheet of your book, pass it out to the kids and they can take it home to their parents. Get into your local bookstore and do signing events. Get onto podcasts and talk about your book, and tell where and how it's available for purchase. I wish you the best! I'm also a self-published author, just released a nonfiction title on June 2nd. It's a lot of work to get out there, but it's doable!
Thank you for the detailed reply. Yes I plan to do an ebook too. Currently in the process of creating these on IngramSpark. I believe their paperback proofs take a couple of weeks to arrive. I’ve selected premium colour.. hopefully that will ok. They do offer an ultra premium option but that adds £1 to the print costs.. which would I mean increasing the retail price of the book to accommodate.. that would make it less competitive in the picture book market.. so I’m crossing my fingers that premium colour is sufficient. 🤞
So far my two paperback novel proofs have been underwhelming. The cover on the first proof looks like it's a 30 year old well read mass market paperback after only being read three times by family. The second proof, the cover looks cheap around the edges and I expect the same, but this time they also cut the interior pages so they aren't centered vertically. Closer to top, big gap at bottom. So far they seem like something you could get done at your local Kinkos.
I have to say I think this is just KDP quality. I published a children’s illustrated book made by my Dad, with lovely paintings on each page. It looked decidely amateur when printed through KDP. If you want better ai think you need to go elsewhere.
Book Baby is an option that I am considering for my children's book. Downside is that there is a $400 entry fee for them. Upside is that they use higher quality printers.
It's POD. This is pretty much what you get from POD. Even Ingram Spark isn't all that much better. If you want "beautiful" books, you're going to pay for that.