Format Images in Your Paperback

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Prepare, Publish, Promote Prepare Your Book Format Your Manuscript Submitting Your Paperback to KDP Format Images in Your Paperback

For the best results, all images should be sized at 100%, flattened to one layer and inserted into your manuscript file at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch). A color photo will only print in color if you selected the color ink printing option for your book. A black-and-white photo will print in black and white no matter whether you selected black or color ink.

Want to preview your paperback before making it available to customers? Order a proof copy.

A paperback manuscript formatting guide


Why high-resolution images?	How to Create High-Resolution Images

What is DPI (dots per inch)?

Images are made up of dots (pixels). The amount of dots per inch measures the quality or resolution of an image. Images that contain 300 DPI produce the best print quality. As the DPI increases, so does the resolution and print quality, showing more detail in the image.

What is pixelation?

Pixelation occurs when the dots that make up an image are visible to the naked eye. Pixelation can also refer to blurry, grainy, fuzzy, or out-of-focus images.

What is low resolution?

Any image containing less than 200 DPI.

How can I increase image resolution or DPI?

To increase the quality of an image, set your camera at a high resolution and retake the photograph. To increase the quality of stock photography, purchase a "print quality" or "commercial quality" image. Manually altering the DPI of an image on your computer may display a higher DPI reading but will not actually increase the quality of the image. Reducing the size at which we print your image can also increase the DPI for printing.

What if the image says 300 DPI, but it looks blurry or pixelated?

Either the DPI was manually altered, or the image is out of focus. If the image's DPI was altered, it will not accurately reflect the resolution because it is not possible to add dots or pixels to an image.

Top tips for formatting images in your paperback

Insert images at their original size. Insert images into your file; don't cut and paste. After you insert your images, don't enlarge them because this will decrease the resolution. To insert an image:
1. Go to the Insert tab.
2. In the Illustrations section, click Pictures.
3. Select the file from your computer and click Insert.
Check your device settings. Most cameras and scanners offer high-resolution settings. Make sure they're set to high resolution before using them.
Turn off image compression. To reduce file size, Word is set to compress images. To change the setting:
1. Go to the File tab and click Options.
2. Under "Advanced," find the "Image Size and Quality" section.
3. Check the Do not compress images in file box.
Check the image resolution. If you don't know if your images are high resolution, check the image details and calculate the DPI:
1. Right-click on the image file and select Properties.
2. In the window that opens, click the Details tab.
3. Look for the number of pixels under the "Image" header.
4. Divide the number of pixels by the image size. For example, the pixel count of your image is 1200 x 1800, and the image is 4" x 6". That means your image has 300 DPI.

For details on inserting and sizing images in paperbacks with and without bleed, see step 8 of the Build Your Book guide.

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Format Images in Your Paperback