Amazon KDP | Proof Copy of Print Version | Issues | Experience?

[Joe-New-to-ID]

I created a print/paperback book in InDesign, then uploaded it to Amazon KDP as a draft for review prior to publishing. KDP's Print Previewer shows everything as desired. The physical proof copy received, however, exhibits the following issues:

   [1] The spine items (author name, title, and logo) are not centered on the proof copy, yet they are centered in InDesign and KDP's Print Previewer.

   [2] The illustrations and figures in the proof copy are readable but they are not as clear and crisp as they are in InDesign and KDP's Print Previewer.

   [3] Some intentonally-faint-but-discernible graphical background in the cover and back cover are not discernible on the proof copy, but they are discernible in InDesign and KDP's Print Previewer.

   [4] I selected "Black & white interior with white paper" for the "Ink and Paper Type" via KDP. Would selecting "Premium color interior with white paper" solve the problems in [2] and [3] above even though I want a black & white interior?

Does anyone have experience with these issues?

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

KDP print copies are a faithful representation of the print files provided. 

I've never had a proof or production copy fall short except for very rare print or binding flaws (smudged page, folded corner on a binding edge, etc.)

KDP does produce from multiple depots, and there can be variation. Books from the Ontario plant are often just a bit grainier than those from SoCal and other US plants. But only noticeable side by side.

I used to rail against PoD and refuse to use it; there was a time when it was distinctively awful. But I haven't had a complaint with KDP or Lulu or Ingram in a decade. 

[Joe-New-to-ID]

James: Thank you. I've since communicated with KDP Help. They are addressing my questions now. Perhaps the particular printer/vendor they subcontracted to is the cause for the variation. TBD. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

I don't think Amazon uses subcontractrors, but I could be wrong. They maintain massive print depots at several locations around the globe and AFAIK all work is exclusive to them. But they do vary in age, equipment, press management etc. and there are variations, which most authors never realize.

(I have one author who is aggressively multinational and has actually collected print examples from the Canadian and UK plants as well as at least two US sites. Side-by-side, they show small variations that even jobs over time from the same plant don't.)

What you're describing is either a bad press run, something I have never encountered (I have had jobs mysteriously reset their ship date, which indicates the books may have failed a QA check... maybe yours got through), or you're seeing exactly what you sent in, imperfect PDF rendering and all. KDP checks many things but if your pages are flawed at the content/font level, they assume you know it.

Glad KDP will work with you on this. They are maddeningly AI-bot-policy-autoreply-driven, and it's always Our Fault.