Adobe ID | IngramSpark | Error Messages | Low Resolution | ICC Color Profiles

[Joe-New-to-ID]

I created a book using InDesign. The book was published in both print and eBook versions successfully on Amazon. I now want to publish it on IngramSpark. However, when I try to upload the content file and cover-spine-back cover file in IngramSpark I receive the following error messages.

[Content File Error]

"LOW RESOLUTION IMAGES IN FILE: We recommend color and black and white images be 300 ppi. For line art, we recommend 600 ppi bitmap images. For best results, please correct the issue(s) listed. You may refer to the File Creation Guide for further instructions on creating a compliant PDF."

The book's content, which is all in black and white, features an illustration (created by an artist I hired) in the beginning of each chapter. Per Link info in each chapter file, the illustrations' resolutions are inconsistent. Some are at 300 ppi and some lower.

(Q1) Assuming this is the problem, is there a way to change/increase the resolutions on my own without having to purchase additional software, or go back to the artist to resave the illustrations? (I don't have Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Illustrator.)

(Q2) I tried to increase the resolution in the Export Book to PDF stage to no avail. Is there something else I can do to avoid trying to manipulate each illustration and/or document file?

[Cover-Spine-Back Cover File Error]

"PDF CONTAINS ICC COLOR PROFILES: We request files with no color profiles assigned. Please convert all colors to grayscale for black and white images, or CMYK for color images and remove all color profiles. Saving a new PDF with the default setting of PDF/X-1a:2001 will address the issue. For best results, please correct the issue(s) listed. You may refer to the File Creation Guide for further instructions on creating a compliant PDF."

The Cover-Spine-Back Cover file features black and white text as well as color illustrations. I simply imported the illustrations via Copy-Paste or File > Place... when I created the file.

(Q3) How do I convert all color images to CMYK and remove all color profiles as suggested above by IngramSpark's error message? I don't recall ever establishing or manipulating these settings when I created the file. When I select Color, the CMYK % boxes are empty.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Q1 & Q2 - what settings? Can you post some screenshots? 

"Copy-Paste or File > Place..." are two different things - first will embed object and should be avoided at all cost - second is a correct approach and will link to the file. 

[rob day]

However, when I try to upload the content file

Hi @Joe-New-to-ID , Could you clarify what you mean by content file? Are you sending a PDF? Ingram requests that you export to the PDF/X-1a preset, which does not include ICC profiles—your Export setting should be this:

You can check your images’ resolution, by selecting them and checking the Effective Resolution in the Links Info panel—they should all be 300ppi or higher:

[Joe-New-to-ID]

Robert and Rob:

Thank you for your responses. Here are my replies:

[1] I uploaded screenshots per your request.

[2] The Copy-Paste for some of the Cover-Spine-Back Cover file illustrations only (not the Content file) was the only way to make this work without purchasing additional software. It worked for the Amazon upload. I used File > Place... for everything else.

[3] Here's a summary of the two files:

   - Cover-Spine-Back Cover = Single Adobe ID document with black and color text, along with color illustrations

   - Content = The actual book (~interior) comprised of multiple Adobe ID documents, all (text and illustrations) in black and white

[4] The Export Adobe PDF output settings apply to the Content (~book) file only. I don't get this Export Adobe PDF option for the Cover-Spine-Back Cover file. For the latter, I only get File > Export... that then defaults to a PDF, which is what I want and what IngramSpark requires.

[5] As stated, per the Link info in each chapter file, the illustrations' resolutions are inconsistent. Some are at 300 ppi,  some are lower, and some are higher. All illustrations came from the artist I hired.

(Q1) Assuming this is the problem, is there a way to change/increase the resolutions of the illustrations on my own without having to purchase additional software, or go back to the artist to resave the illustrations? (I don't have Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Illustrator.)

(Q2) Is there something else I can do in a "global way" to avoid trying to manipulate each illustration and/or document file?

[Joe-New-to-ID]

The problems have been fixed. Here are the remedies:

[1] LOW RESOLUTION IMAGES IN FILE

• I had to purchase Adobe Photoshop, import all illustrations and images into Photoshop, and increase the resolution to 600 ppi:

              - Photoshop > click on image > Image > Image Size… > Resolution = 600 Pixels/Inch

                 * For illustrations or images with thin/faint lines, use: Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen Edges

                 * There are ways to bolden lines too; YouTube can help in this case

              - OK > File > Save

              - File > Save a Copy… > name file but with JPEG extension (not PSD) > Image Options > Image Quality = “12” and “Maximum”

              - Reimport illustration/image into InDesign

[2] PDF CONTAINS ICC COLOR PROFILES

• CYMK was already set
• Had to select "Spread" (vice "Pages") in InDesign upon export to PDF; tried the latest setting (other than PDF/X-1a:2001) to no avail; toggled back to PDF/X-1a:2001 and it worked (not sure what happened; already tried PDF/X-1a:2001 mutliple times)

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

"Had to purchase Photoshop" — what version of InDesign are you using, and were you subscribing only to the ID package?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I know, that's what I asked. I am hoping he didn't take out two single-app subscriptions instead of the (cheaper, I am pretty sure) CC one.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I know, that's what I asked. I am hoping he didn't take out two single-app subscriptions instead of the (cheaper, I am pretty sure) CC one.

By @James Gifford—NitroPress

Yeah. Sorry. 

[rob day]

toggled back to PDF/X-1a:2001 and it worked (not sure what happened; already tried PDF/X-1a:2001 mutliple times)

Just to clarify–the PDF/X-1a Standard only allows CMYK color with no profile (DeviceCMYK if you inspect the process color objects in the PDF) and Spot color plates. It would be impossible to have profiled CMYK, Lab or RGB process color objects in a PDF that passes a PDF/X-1a preflight in AcrobatPro.

When you export to the PDF/X-1a preset check that the Standard is set to PDF/X-1a:2001 and not None. It would be possible to export to the named [PDF/X-1a:2001] preset but override the Standard. The X-1a Standard does allow an Output Intent Profile, but that is not the same as an embedded profile.

[Joe-New-to-ID · Accepted solution]

Rob:

Thank you. I will keep this in mind for the next time I export to PDF. I should be OK for the moment. (I'm on IngramSpark error-free now.) I did a preflight check in InDesign with all green lights. I had no/minimal problems with Amazon KDP. The two error messages recorded above (now fixed) came from IngramSpark only.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

As RT says, if your images are of poor/low res quality, from pasting in or other reasons, there is no magic way to make them high quality. (GIGO, you know.) You will have to go back to high-resolution originals and Place them properly in the file for a successful export.

Despite all the verbiage and technical blater, neither KDP nor Ingram are all that fussy about images; they just expect a certain minimum. (I am of two minds about requiring CMYK images, as that's a rather old and obsolete requirement in the era of all print files being PDF. The standard has become to work with high-resolution RGB source files and export — as and if needed — to selected CMYK profiles.

I am a little surprised you had no problems with KDP, but again, for all their stated insistence on 300ppi files they will let nearly anything pass in the interior, but you may fail to make certain quality levels that result in additional promotion value ("Great on Kindle," for one.) I disagree with their requirements but then, I've come to regard KDP as something of a clown car.

Stripped of editorializing, the question is: are all your source photos high resolution and Placed from source files, not pasted in?

[Joe-New-to-ID]

James:

KDP was not fussy and their print quality was good. IngramSpark's system was less forgiving so I had to adjust accordingly. I was at the mercy of what my artist provided to me for illustrations via JPEGs. (Hindsight is 20/20.) The enhancement to 600 ppi in Photoshop worked; the IngramSpark error message went away. The boldening in PhotoShop was necessary for some thin-lined images that didn't print well from IngramSpark. Having received a the latest proof copy from IngramSpark, I should be all set for now. Thank you.