Self-publishing print books would not be financially possible for many authors if it wasn’t for the accessibility of print-on-demand (POD) technology. POD, most often utilizing Amazon KDP or IngramSpark or both, solves two challenges for authors self-publishing.
- You don’t have to make an investment in book inventory. Each book is individually printed.
- Your book is automatically listed for sale in online stores (where most print books, and nearly all self-published print books, are sold).
The only major tradeoff is inconsistent POD printing quality
In this article we’ll cover what to expect in terms of quality and how to resolve issues, and we’ll share pointers for minimizing problems. We’ve also assembled a gallery of POD print-quality examples.
Examples of poor quality
In our experience, problems are more common and much more varied than what the companies lead you to believe. Here are seven examples that give you an idea of what you may experience.
There is a caption under each with more details.
Ink problems—note this one earned the author a 1-star review
Inside margins of POD printed book varied from original file
Garbled text pages
Front cover color showing on spine
Cover colors can vary from submitted cover, and from book to book in the same order
Random printing issues
Our favorite—another author’s book bound into ours(!)
POD printer variance policies
The major companies in this space—Amazon, Ingram, and Lulu—all have stated variances: how much each printed copy can vary from the file you submit.
By far, the most common complaint we hear is that elements on the cover don’t align as expected. For instance, as shown in one of the examples above, the spine isn’t centered.
The variance for each printer is as follows:
- IngramSpark allows for a 1/16″ (0.0625 in / 2 mm) variance
- Amazon allows for a 1/8” (0.125 in / 3.2mm) variance
- Lulu allows for a 1/8” (0.125 in / 3.2mm) variance
Other common complaints include:
- Colors not matching the submitted files.
- Covers that curl. (We notice this more often on glossy, not matte, covers.)
- Extra blank pages that appear in the back of the book.
It’s much more common to notice these problems when you order several copies at once, because you’re able to compare them. Unfortunately, you never know what your customer receives.
POD manufacturer resources that explain variances
- Amazon KDP: My proof or author copy has printing errors
- IngramSpark: File creation guide (links to PDF)
- Lulu: How does print-on-demand work?
How to report a problem
Before you contact the printer, take photos of the problem. They will also ask you for the information on the last page of the book. This is usually a barcode with a number under it. Amazon also shows where it was printed and the date it was printed.
How to minimize potential POD printing problems
Here are 5 simple things you can do to mitigate potential POD problems.
- Order a printed proof. And do this early in the process so you can review it and make corrections.
- Manufacturers provide minimum margins for the cover and interior files. Our advice is not to crowd these; instead, add more space. This way, a small variance in printing won’t move elements too close to an edge.
- Anticipate problems. Contrasting spine colors look great on some books, but be prepared for some copies to have part of the front or back cover showing on the spine.
- If you are planning an event or planning to sell copies direct to readers, order more copies than you need. You may need to return some, due to quality issues.
- My final piece of advice is this: manage your own expectations. Think of the money you’re saving and the hassles you are avoiding.
Will you use POD? If not, how will you distribute?
AuthorImprints specializes in self-publishing, and not all of our clients use POD. Some will traditionally print books (a print run) and when they do, we can manage their distribution requirements.
