Green Hill Publishing - Merry Christmas!
1300 810 131
Contact us
Green Hill Publishing - Merry Christmas!
How to make an Amazon KDP account

How to make an Amazon KDP account

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

To sell your book through Amazon’s online retailing platform, you have to make an Amazon KDP account. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s book distribution platform for self-publishing authors.

Contents

1. Getting started
2. Filling out your author/publisher information
3. Setting up your payment details
4. Filling out your tax information
5. Compare Amazon KDP and IngramSpark

1. Getting started

To set-up your own KDP account follow these steps:

  1. Go to the KDPwebsite and click on the “Sign up” button.
  2. Click on the “Create your KDP account” button.
  3. Enter your name, your main email address, and a secure password to establish your account.

Simple as that! Now that you’ve created your account, the next steps are to enter author/publisher information, payment details, and your tax information.

Back to Contents

2. Filling out your author/publisher information

The next step is to set up your account profile. You’ll be prompted to do this once you’ve completed the sign up process:

  1. Add your full first and last name, or the name of your publishing company. This field requires your legal name for the purposes of payments and taxes, so don’t enter your pen name (if you have one). There will be an opportunity to give your pen name later.
  2. State your business type (individual or corporation).
  3. Give your date of birth if you use your first and last name. Alternatively, you can give the date of incorporation if you’d like to use the name of your publishing company instead.
  4. State your residential country or region.
  5. Enter the mailing address that you want to be used for tax reporting purposes your royalty payments.
  6. Once you’re done, click the “Save” button.

Back to Contents

3. Setting up your payment details

Now it’s time to input your payment details so that you can receive your royalty payments. KDP offers a few different methods of receiving payments. This process includes direct deposits, wire transfer, or receiving a physical check. To add your bank account to your KDP account, complete the following steps:

  1. Open up your browser and sign in to your KDP account. This will likely include completing a two-step verification process.
  2. Under the heading “Getting Paid”, click on the “Add a bank account” button.
  3. Input your bank account information in accordance with your country or region requirements.

If you don’t see your country or region, Amazon likely doesn’t support direct deposits or wire transfers to that location, so you will have to go to KDP Payment Options to find out what payment options are available to you.

Also note that the name you give for account holder’s name under “Tell us about your bank” must match the name associated with the bank account. You may not receive payments if the name doesn’t exactly match your bank records.

  1. Click on the “Add” button to save your bank account information. A green tick will appear to notify you that you’ve successfully added your bank account information. If anything goes wrong, double check your information and try again.
  2. Once you’re done, click the “Save” button.

Back to Contents

4. Filling out your tax information

Whether you are publisher, individual, or non-for-profit/tax-exempt organisation, you are required to provide a valid taxpayer ID to use Amazon KDP. To input your tax information, complete the following steps:

  1. Open up your browser and sign in to your KDP account. This will likely include completing a two-step verification process.
  1. Select “Tax Information”.
  2. Click on the “Complete Tax Information” button. As a publisher outside of the US, if you’re interested in claiming tax treaty benefits to reduce your withholding, you will need to provide a tax identification number (TIN).
  3. Enter your “Tax Interview” information.
  4. Once you’re done, click on the “Exit Tax Interview” button to save.

To learn more about taxes in regards to your KDP account, go to their Tax Information page.

Back to Contents

5. Compare Amazon KDP and IngramSpark

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark are both POD and distribution services, but they differ in their capabilities and services.

Amazon has a distribution and POD service that is exclusive to their platform, allowing authors to distribute their book online via all Amazon marketplaces and reach a global audience for both print and eBook formats. On the other hand, IngramSpark opens up a broad range of distribution channels for books printed and distributed through their system. These channels are inclusive of brick-and-mortar bookstores who are signed up to their system and multiple online platforms, including Amazon, Booktopia, and Dymocks Online.

A benefit of using Amazon KDP is that you receive a higher-than-average royalty rate for each sale of your book (usually around 60 – 70%). However, they control the prices for their products and can often set them much lower or much higher than the author wants. Contrastingly, IngramSpark authors have more control over their book’s RRP and can set it at a price reflective of their book’s worth. However, IngramSpark may give out lower royalties compared to Amazon KDP.

Back to Contents

SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Most popular blog posts:

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details

A simple guide to image publishing for books

A simple guide to image publishing for books

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

This is a simple, comprehensive guide about the basics every author needs to know before preparing image files for book publishing. In this blog post, “image” or “photo” applies to graphics and illustrations as well.

Contents

1. How big should images be to look good when printed?
2. Some information about “dots per inch” (DPI)
3. Colour modes: CMYK vs. RGB
4. What are the different file types for images
5. How to prepare and send your images to a publishing company

1. How big should images be to look good when printed?

The file size of your images can indicate the quality of an image regarding size and resolution. If your image has a small file size, it means that your image will likely print at a low resolution, meaning that it will look pixelated or blurry. Trying to force the image to span a whole page would make it pixelated and blurry.

File Size (KB) Image Size Maximum (px)
Less than 10 KB 32 px
10 – 30 KB 64 px
30 – 60 KB 128 px
60 – 100 KB 256 px
100 – 200 KB 384 px
200 – 500 KB 512 px
500 – 1,000 KB 784 px
More than 1,000 KB 1,024 px

Usually, images with enough quality to print need to be at least 1MB (1,000 KB). This again depends on the size that you want the image to be, as bigger images will need to have a higher resolution and will have more KB or MB. It’s always best to supply your publisher with as big of image files as you can. There are a few ways to ensure you do this, but we’ll discuss that a little later.

Back to Contents

2. Some information about “dots per inch” (DPI) for image publishing

Dots per inch or DPI refers to how many dots of ink per inch a printer will put in an image when printing. So, the more dots your image has, the higher the quality when reproduced. This also means that the less dots your image has, the lower the quality of the image when reproduced.

high dpi compared to low dpi

When printing, your images need to be 300 DPI to keep their quality and reproduce well. With this in mind, you must be cautious when sourcing images from the internet. Most images online (unless you download them properly from stock websites, etc.) are set at 72 DPI, thus they will not print at a high quality. Let your publisher know that you have taken images from the internet and keep the URL of these images so your designer can check the size and quality, or so that they can more easily find another alternative at a higher resolution.

For screen publishing (i.e. for eBooks and other digital publishing mediums), 72 DPI works fine as this is the standard DPI for screens. It’s still best to let your publisher know about any images sourced from the internet, however, as copyright infringement is a possibility.

Back to Contents

3. Colour modes: CMYK vs. RGB

You may or may not be unfamiliar with what “CMYK” and “RGB” means and how it relates to image publishing, so we’ll go through everything starting at the basics. CMYK and RGB are both acronyms of the colours that they use to make up the colours in an image. They are both different modes of colour that are best used for different things.

The acronyms are as follows:

CMYK

RGB

C – Cyan (blue)

M – Magenta (red-pink)

Y – Yellow

K – Black

R – Red

G – Green

B – Blue
RGB vs CMYK

Visual representation of the difference between CMYK and RGB colour modes

3.1 What colour mode should I use for print image publishing?

With advances in technology, the answer to “what colour mode should I use for printing” has changed. CMYK was once the only option for printed images as the inks that printers used was cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Now, however, it depends on which printing press you use. CMYK is still best when using offset printing, while RGB is best when using digital printing. Make sure to talk to your designer and publisher to figure out the best printing solution for your publishing project.

3.2 Colour modes and DPI

The way that traditional printers produce images is by nesting dots of different colours together to make other colours. When offset printing, the printer will mix cyan, magenta, yellow, and black together in different ways to create the colours in your image. On the other hand, when digital printing, the printer will mix red, green, and blue.

Back to Contents

4. What are the different file types for images?

Depending on how you are looking to distribute your book (whether it is meant to be an eBook or a print book), there are different file types to understand for image publishing.

4.1 Preferred files for print image publishing

  • TIFF: A great alternative to Photoshop files (PSD). This file type is compatible with transparent images, layered files (i.e. files that have been adjusted in Photoshop or similar software), and RGB and CMYK colours.
  • JPG or JPEG: Designed to make large photos smaller through compression, while still keeping a higher image quality. If images are compressed too much, however, this can still damage the image quality. Be sure to check with your publisher about the specific file sized they prefer. JPG files cannot store transparency in images but can be either RGB or CMYK colours.
  • PSD: These files are almost exclusively created by and used in Photoshop. It can store transparency, different image layers, RGB and CMYK colours and is used by graphic designers and industry professionals. If you do not have Photoshop and are using a different software for your images or graphics, it’s best to save them as TIFF files.

4.2 Preferred image files for web/screen image publishing

  • PNG: Can store transparency well and also allows image compression like a JPG. It can only hold RGB colour, however, so PNG files are only good for web or screen use. You should supply your publisher with TIFF files, rather than a PNG.
  • JPG or JPEG: Designed to make large photos smaller through compression, while still keeping a higher image quality. If images are compressed too much, however, this can still damage the image quality. Be sure to check with your publisher about the specific file sized they prefer. JPG files cannot store transparency in images but can be either RGB or CMYK colours.
  • GIF: Used on the web for graphics and short, basic animated images. You shouldn’t supply your images as GIF files. Instead, use a TIFF file.
  • SVG: This file type can be zoomed in or out at any scale and not show any pixelisation. It’s great for web and screen images because of this, but it must be created in specialised software. A SVG can hold transparency, RGB and CMYK, and can also store layers.

Back to Contents

5. How to prepare and send your images for publishing

5.1 Do:

  • Provide original files: It’s best to give a publishing company copies of your original files, not to screenshot or print them out to scan them. If you’re worried about the amount of files you need to send, you can always compress them in a ZIP folder, or send them through a free WeTransfer
  • Source high-quality scans: If you only own a physical photo or copy of the image, you’ll need to get it scanned. Some home scanners do produce good scans, but it’s always best to go somewhere like Officeworks or similar to get your photos scanned at a high-quality. This will help to ensure that your image will print as best it can in your book.
  • Provide images with transparent content as TIFF files: Some image files don’t keep transparency or can’t be CMYK even if they do. TIFF files, on the other hand, are compatible with various software, maintain an image’s transparency, and can be stored as CMYK, making them perfect for printing.

5.2 Don’t:

  • Give your publisher screenshots or print-screen images: This reduces the quality of images substantially and opens you up to imperfections, like cursors or notification pop-ups, that will need to be removed. Any editing done to your images will likely cost you, so it’s best to steer-clear of these issues and just supply the original image files to your publisher.
  • Supply photos of images: Like with supplying screenshots or print-screen images, supplying photos that you’ve taken of printed photos reduces the quality of images substantially. This is especially true if you leave the plastic sheets over photos in an album when you take the photo. It’s best to scan the photos into your computer and send them to your publisher. If you don’t have a scanner at home, it’s possible to go to a friend or a library and see if they can assist you. Stores such as Officeworks also offer scanning services and can help you get the best out of your images.
  • Provide images with transparent content as a JPG or PNG: This was covered in section 4: Different file types, but it’s important to send files with transparency as a TIFF. This will save the designers in the publishing house time when working on your project and get your book out there quicker.
  • Send images below ### if you intend them to be full colour and large: If you want your image to look effective and be high-quality, you have to supply an image with the file size of 200 KB or more. Your designer will advise you of the quality of your images and how you can use them during the design of your book.

Back to Contents

SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Most popular blog posts:

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details

Everything you need to know about casebound books

Everything you need to know about casebound books

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

There are a few different kinds of printed books available for readers and one is the casebound book. What exactly is involved in the making of a casebound book and is there any benefit to it? Read through this post and find out.

Contents

  1. What are casebound books
  2. How are casebound books made?
  3. What are the benefits?
  4. What are the downfalls?
  5. What kind of books should be casebound?
  6. Is case binding viable for my book?
  7. Do casebound books do well in the book market?
  8. How much do casebound books cost to print?

1. What are casebound books?

Casebound, often referred to as hardcover, is a very common format for a book to be made in. How to identify a casebound book is by its cover, which will be hard and sturdy. This differs from the other common format, paperback (or softcover), as they have soft and flexible covers.

Some casebound books also come with dust jackets, which are made from a higher GSM paper than the interior pages and feature the same cover design as its paperback version. In instances like this, the casebound cover would have a more simplified design or be left almost blank and only have detail on the spine.

In traditional publishing, books are often first released in a casebound version before they transition over to paperback.

Back to Contents

2. How are casebound books made?

Firstly, the book blocks are created. This begins with printing, then moves to guillotining, and then binding. The binding style can differ but is usually limited to one of the standard processes: section sewn or glued. Once bound, cloth spines are added and the book blocks are complete.

Next, the cases are made. The process depends on the style of case (paper- or material-covered), as they require different steps and machines to complete. For paper-covered casebound books, the covers are first printed and cut to shape, then glued to and folded around the three pieces of board (front, spine, and back), before the book blocks are glued in place. For material-covered casebound books, a dedicated machine is used to attach and wrap cloth/imitation cloth around the three pieces of board (front, spine, and back) before they are glued to the book blocks.

Casebound books (either material- or paper-covered) can include the following extras:

  • Endpapers
  • Ribbon
  • Head- and tailbands
  • Dust jacket

Back to Contents

Ribbon in a casebound book

Ribbon in a casebound book

Head- and tailbands in a casebound book

Head- and tailbands in a casebound book

Jacket over a casebound book

Jacket over a casebound book

3. What are the benefits?

There are pros and cons to any book format. Casebound books have some great benefits over the other formats you could print your book in:

  • Strength and durability: Casebound books are capable of withstanding more rough-handling and lasting a lot longer than their paperback counterparts. This means that they are great for archives and for collectors who are wanting their books to last many years.
  • Professional-looking product: Having your book casebound brings an element of sophistication, gravitas, and importance. It makes your book like a higher quality than other binding types, especially if it has some print finishes like foiling, em- and debossing, etc.
  • Stands out to readers: Casebound books have an eye-drawing presence on bookshelves that draw a reader’s eye. This is especially the case as they usually incorporate print finishes (like previously mentioned).
  • Set RRP higher: Because casebound books have a status of being a higher quality book than other formats with more processes put into their production, they retail for a higher price. If you print savvy, this can mean authors turning a better profit from their sales.

Back to Contents

4. What are the downfalls?

As with any book, casebound books do have their issues for readers and authors alike. It’s up to you to decide if the pros outweigh the cons:

  • Heavier and bulkier: On average, a casebound version of a book will be weightier and larger than its paperback counterpart. This can effect a couple of different things. The first is that it will bump up the shipping prices during the print phase, in turn effecting the RRP and an author’s profit margin. The second is that some readers—especially the older among us—have trouble holding the book for a long period of time, effecting the reading experience for some. Another is that it makes it harder to travel with a book.
  • More expensive: While a high RRP might be useful for authors, it can be a deterrent for readers who can’t afford to spend $30 – $60 on each of their books. The print cost of casebound books is also higher as the production process is more complicated—especially for books with numerous print finishes.

Back to Contents

5. What kind of books should be casebound?

Having a casebound version of a book is especially useful for publications that need to last a long time or have a high capacity for durability, but really any book can be casebound. It is very common for most genres of fiction and non-fiction to have a casebound version as traditional publishers release a casebound version of their books first to help maximise their profits.

Back to Contents

6. Is case binding viable for my book?

If you are publishing your book traditionally, it’s likely that your book will have a casebound version as it is a standard procedure for these publishers. On the other hand, self-publishing authors need to be aware of the costs of printing casebound books and decided whether it is worth the cost (discussed a little later).

Otherwise, as a general rule, a book can be casebound if it has more than 30-80 pages. If your book doesn’t fit these specifications, check with your publisher or printer to see if your book is able to be casebound or have a think about other strategies, like making your book size smaller or adding more content.

Back to Contents

7. Do casebound books do well in the book market?

As a general rule, paperback books sell more copies than casebound books. Paperback books are almost always cheaper for customers than their casebound counterpart and many readers prefer their lightweight nature. Casebound books, on the other hand, generally do not sell in as large of quantities, but they do generate higher returns on sale. This means that you don’t have to sell as many books to be profitable compared to paperback.

Many readers have their preferences for the kind of book format they like, and there are certainly a lot of them who will opt for a casebound book when given the decision.

Back to Contents

8. How much do casebound books cost to print?

The cost of any printing venture is highly personal and varies from project to project. This is because the cost of printing a book depends on many different variables, such as the quality of the print, the size of the book, and even the printer itself.

8.1 Specialty print finishes

This includes embossing/debossing, foiling, spot-gloss, printed ends, and more. Applying one or more print finish will increase the cost of your book as it adds extra material and processes.

High-end Print finish holographic foil   High-end print finish foiling and debossing   

8.2 Binding

Certain types of binding are cheaper than others. Casebound books are more expensive than other binding types because the materials used in the production costs more to source. There are also additional processes undertaken by printers create casebound books.

8.3 Paper type

The quality of the paper will dictate both how much the paper costs (higher quality = higher cost and vice versa), but it can also have an impact on freight costs as higher GSM paper is thicker and therefore weighs more.

8.4 Page count

Books with a smaller page count require less paper and are lighter, meaning they cost less both in the printing process and when it comes to freight.

Difference in page count between casebound books

8.5 Individual printers

No two printers will give you identical quotes for a print run. This is because printers differ in factory (capacity) size, stock type and availability, and profit margins.

8.6 Printer location

The location of a printer factors into the cost of printing for a few different reasons. Often, printing in countries like China will mean a cheaper price, but you’ll have to print in bulk and then pay for freight, which can also be quote costly. For our Australian authors, printing locally in Australia can cost more per book, but freight is often more affordable, and smaller print runs are available from most printers.

8.7 Number of books printed

Organising a large (or bulk) print run will make the cost of printing a book cheaper per unit than they would be on a small print run. Choosing to print in bulk, however, means committing to a greater up-front cost.

Back to Contents

SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Most popular blog posts:

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details