Submitting Your Files

How to Send Your Print Files to PufferPrint

Congratulations! You’re book is finished and ready for print! Submitting your files to PufferPrint is easy, but before you press that send button double check that everything is formatted correctly:

You have included the appropriate bleed and margin in all print files (based on your PufferPrint-provided dielines)
All images are a minimum 300 DPI resolution
All files have been converted to CMYK Color Space (not RGB Color Space)
“Printed in China” or similar country of origin marking is somewhere in your print files

If you’re not sure about any of these, refer back to our print file formatting guide.

What Files to Submit

A PDF file of your Back Cover-Spine-Front Cover as a spread.
A multi-page PDF file of your interior pages as spreads.

Additional files to submit if you’ve requested special features for your book:

Dust Jacket: A PDF file of your dust jacket as a spread based on the PufferPrint-provided dieline. Example 1 (76 MB) | Sample 2 (1 MB)
Foil Stamp, Embossing or Debossing: A PDF file of your foil/emboss/deboss designs. Example 1 | Example 2
Spot UV: A PDF file of your spot UV designs. Example 1 | Example 2
Slip Case: A PDF file of your slip case based upon the PufferPrint-provided dieline. Example (112 MB)

Our preference is that you submit your files as spreads rather than individual pages. We also prefer that you send your files as print-quality PDFs.

How to Send Us Your Files

You can send us your files using one of the following free file sharing services:

Simply share your files with [email protected] or with your PufferPrint Print Specialist.

Should I Flatten my PDF When Exporting it?

No! Flattening a PDF merges all elements into a single layer, making the file non-editable.

If our pre-print team identifies any issues with your files, they may be able to make small adjustments and proceed with the creation of the digital proof for your approval. However, if your PDF is flattened, it can be much more difficult—or even impossible—for us to make necessary corrections. This could result in delays, requiring either additional time to send you a digital proof or a request for you to resubmit your files.

To speed through the pre-print process, we recommend exporting your PDFs with layers intact.

What Happens After I Submit My Files?

Our pre-print team will review your files and we will be in touch if we have any concerns or questions. If everything is formatted correctly, we’ll send you a digital proof in 1-2 business days for you to review. Once you have approved the digital proof, it’s time to order your physical proof!

File Submittal FAQs

Can I send you my files as individual pages rather than spreads?

Sure!

When it comes to laying out your artwork and formatting your book we always recommend working with spreads rather than individual pages. This makes it easier to see how your book will appear to the reader. It’s also helps ensure that everything lines up on any double-page spreads where your artwork crosses the gutter.

That being said, we’re always happy to work with files as individual pages as well.

Can I send you InDesign files?

While Adobe InDesign is the layout software that most of our authors use, we don’t recommend sending us InDesign files (with the extension .indd). This is because InDesign files reference images and fonts that are stored locally on your computer. When your InDesign file is opened on a different computer it will be unable to locate all of those images and fonts.

Instead you should export your files from InDesign as PDFs (ideally in spreads rather than individual pages) and send us those PDFs.

Can I send you Adobe Illustrator files?

We can work with Adobe Illustrator files, but they are unnecessarily large. It is better to export your pages as print-quality PDFs or as high resolution (minimum 300 DPI) images such as TIFFs or even JPGs.

Do I really need “Printed in China” in my files?

Yes. If your books don’t clearly identify the country of origin it can lead to delays clearing US customs, fines, or even having your shipment turned back.