Seeking to hire help to export to KDP

[Row13]

Hello, I hope this is the right place to post this question. I have completed my Interior and Cover and am having a hard time finding the correct export settings for PDF. Would anybody know a resource I can pay to assist me in setting up my file for KDP upload? In tutorial videos I see conflicting settings and most are for V1 of Publisher not V2. For example one video says to export as a PDF (for print), another video says to export as PDF/X-1a:2003. I am looking for settings specific to what I created. Thank you.

[firstdefence]

PDF/X-1a is recommended by KDP, see this export setting information: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202145060#pdf

Quote

 

Settings

You can choose to print, export, or save as PDF depending on your editing software. Whichever method you choose, make sure you enable the following PDF-specific settings in addition to the file specifications above:

 

 

• PDF/X format is used. PDF/X-1a is preferred, but if you are submitting non-PDF/X files (for example, PDF/A), any comments, forms, or other non-printing objects could be removed during our review.
• Downsampling, or decreasing resolution, of images is disabled.
• Remove PDF creation logos or watermarks.
• Optimize PDFs. Optimisation is useful to reduce your file size, allowing for higher performance when transferring, uploading, viewing, and printing the files.

 

Third note is a given but obviously people have uploaded manuscripts with watermarks and logos so they are covering all bases.

With regard to V1 tutorials, other than UI differences export will be the same in V2

[Row13]

How does this look to export as a PDF for Upload to KDP? The preset is PDF/X-1a:2003 but for some reason goes away when I click on the "include bleed" box.

 

[Old Bruce]

9 minutes ago, Row13 said:

The preset is PDF/X-1a:2003 but for some reason goes away when I click on the "include bleed" box.

The preset by default does not include Bleed. So when you change that item the rest of the preset settings are the same with that one exception. Perhaps save a Preset called KDP preset version 1 and then you can recall that easily.

[Lee N]

As far as I remember, you don't want bleed enabled unless you have images in the book that stretch to the edges. PDF/X-1a is fine. Don't use PDF for print.

The cover is a bit more tricky and requires bleed. Make sure you use their template for the book cover size you are using and run a few test prints yourself. Upload a draft when ready and order an author copy to double check everything looks OK. Just try to create your cover image that takes into account the bleed cut off will vary by a fraction during print runs.