Formatting Tips for KDPFormatting ensures your book is professional and functional across devices. This section covers eBook and paperback formatting, based on KDP’s official guides and tools.

eBook Formatting:

• Tools: Use Microsoft Word (2016 or later, with similar steps for other versions) or Kindle Create, a free tool available at https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Create/b?ie=UTF8&node=18292298011.
• Key Steps:
  • Paragraphs: Set first-line indent to 0.2" (5 mm), Before and After to 0 pt, and line spacing to Single. Modify the "Normal" style in Word for consistency, as tab spacing doesn’t convert to Kindle.
  • Chapter Titles: Apply "Heading 1" style and center-align each chapter title for clear navigation.
  • Table of Contents: Use Word’s built-in feature or Kindle Create. For detailed guidance, see KDP’s Table of Contents Guide or use Kindle Create at https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G7R2L7V5X6SJH948#toc.
  • Front and Back Matter: Include a title page with book title and author name, dedication, copyright (e.g., "Copyright © 2025 Author Name, All rights reserved"), and back matter like "About the Author" or bibliography.
  • Images: Follow KDP’s guidelines at https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G200645710 or use Kindle Create at https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G7R2L7V5X6SJH948#images.
  • Page Breaks: Insert via Insert > Page Break in Word to ensure text displays correctly.
  • Hyperlinks: Enhance reader experience with external links; guidelines at https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G200952510, insert via Insert > Hyperlink.
  • Footnotes: Insert via References > Insert Footnote in Word; converts to endnotes on upload.
  • Error Checks:
    • Check spelling and grammar.
    • Avoid hard returns (use only for new paragraphs).
    • Ensure "Track Changes" is off.
    • Do not include cover image in manuscript.
    • Avoid page numbers, headers, footers, text boxes, or shapes (use images instead).
    • Use Kindle Create for drop caps at https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Create/b?ie=UTF8&node=18292298011.
    • Follow quality guide at https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G200952510 and ensure reflowable books at https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/GPNJPYK298J8TRRV.
  • Preview: Use Kindle Previewer at https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G202131170 or Kindle Create’s Preview button, and Online Previewer at https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G200641240.
  • Uploading: For Word, save as DOC/DOCX and upload via Bookshelf at https://kdp.amazon.com/bookshelf. For Kindle Create, save as .kpf and upload. Review timelines at https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G202173620.
• Note: If previously published as paperback, reformat using eBook guidelines to prevent errors, as per KDP eBook Guide.

Paperback Formatting:

• Interior Manuscript:
  • Set trim size and margins using KDP’s File Setup Calculator, including bleed (0.125" on all sides) for visuals reaching the edge.
  • Create front matter (title pages, copyright), body matter (chapter headings), and back matter (author bio). See KDP’s Manuscript Guide.
  • Use Kindle Create for text-heavy books with simple layouts, but note it’s not supported for tables, footnotes, or images with bleed.
  • Save as PDF for bleed; otherwise, use DOC, DOCX, RTF, HTML, or TXT (KDP converts to PDF). For Japanese, Hebrew, Latin, or Yiddish, upload as PDF only, per Paperback Submission Guidelines.
  • Upload and preview using Print Previewer.
• Cover File:
  • Options:
    1. Use Cover Creator at https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G201113520, which meets KDP specifications.
    2. Download a template using the Cover Calculator, open as .png or PDF, and save as PDF.
    3. Create your own using the Cover Guide and calculator for dimensions.
  • Ensure file size is ≤650MB, embed all fonts and images, flatten transparent objects/layers, and avoid crop marks, trim marks, bookmarks, comments, invisible objects, annotations, placeholder text, or metadata.
  • All images must be at least 300 DPI, and optimize PDFs for performance, as per Paperback Submission Guidelines.
• Additional Resources: Watch webinars like "Paperback Formatting Essentials" at https://youtu.be/kTkMUoxD2TU and "Creative Cover Solutions" at https://youtu.be/QZj3MKxDB8A.