Manuscript
Also called: interior file, book PDF
Definition
The manuscript is the interior PDF file uploaded to KDP, distinct from the cover file. For coloring books, the manuscript contains all the line-art pages, any front matter (title page, copyright), and any back matter (about the artist, also-by). KDP requires a print-ready PDF at 300 DPI with embedded fonts and bleed.
What is the manuscript for a KDP coloring book?
The manuscript is the interior PDF a publisher uploads to KDP. For coloring books it contains every interior page in print order: front matter pages, the line-art coloring pages, and any back matter. KDP requires it as a single PDF with all fonts embedded, all images at 300 DPI or higher, and bleed included if any page art touches the edge.
What goes in the front and back matter?
Front matter typically includes a title page, a copyright page, and optionally a "how to use this book" or "tips for getting started" page. Back matter usually includes a "thank you for buying" page, a same-author book list, and a request to leave a review. Front and back matter usually add 4 to 6 pages to the count.
Why does KDP reject manuscripts?
The five most common manuscript rejection reasons are: missing bleed on full-bleed pages, low DPI somewhere in the file, unembedded fonts (causing text substitution at print), wrong trim dimensions, and gutter margin below the page-count minimum. Pre-flighting in Adobe Acrobat (Print Production tools) catches all five.
Can the manuscript be updated after publishing?
Yes. KDP lets a publisher upload a revised manuscript at any time without resetting the ASIN, reviews, or BSR. Existing buyers keep what they bought; new orders ship the revised version after a short approval window. This is the right path for fixing a print issue, refreshing front/back matter, or adding pages, but not for changing trim size, which requires a new title.
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Related terms
Bleed
Bleed is the 0.125 inch (3.2 mm) extension of artwork past the trim line of a KDP paperback page. It exists so that small variations in the cutting machine do not produce a thin white sliver at the page edge. Coloring books with full-page line art must include bleed or risk KDP rejection.
Trim size
Trim size is the final physical dimensions of a KDP paperback after cutting, measured in inches (US) and rounded to 0.001 inch. The most common KDP coloring book trim sizes are 8.5 x 11 inches (standard letter), 8 x 10 inches (compact), and 8.5 x 8.5 inches (square). Trim size is set at title creation and cannot change later.
Gutter
The gutter is the inside margin near the spine where two facing pages meet. KDP requires a minimum gutter margin that scales with page count: 0.375 inch for 24 to 150 pages, 0.5 inch for 151 to 400 pages, and 0.625 inch for 401+ pages. Putting critical art in the gutter leaves it hidden in the spine.
DPI
DPI (dots per inch) is the print-resolution measure of a coloring book page. KDP requires a minimum 300 DPI on every interior image at the page's printed size. A 300 DPI 8.5 x 11 inch page is 2550 x 3300 pixels. Files below 300 DPI print fuzzy and trigger a quality warning at upload.
Interior
The interior is the full set of inside pages of a KDP paperback, distinct from the cover. KDP interior options for coloring books include white or cream paper, black-and-white or color printing, and standard or premium paper weight. Coloring book interiors almost always use white paper with black-and-white printing.