If this is the first time producing a digital cover for Lightning Source (or the first time in a while), please take a moment to review our submission standards and best practices:

• • FAQ
• • Spine Width & Book Weight Calculator
• • Cover Reference Template PDFs

An auto-generated template can be emailed to you that is custom-built for your specific title, and includes guides for all necessary bleed, type safety, etc.

Publishers and designers experience much less issues when using the templates from step 2 to build the final version of their cover.

Lightning Source Trim Sizes and Template Dimensions

How to use our template:

• • Perfect Bound Book Template
• • Case Bound Book Template
• • Dust Jacket Template

How to open our template in Photoshop:

• • PDF Template for CS2 and newer
• • EPS Template for CS2 and newer

The most reliable method we have found for creating a PDF for our use is to create a PostScript file from your application, and “distilling” it using Acrobat Distiller Professional 6 or newer.
Below are instructions for creating a PostScript file from various applications:


Windows:

• • InDesign CS4
• • InDesign CS3
• • Quark Xpress 7.2 & 7.3
• • Quark Xpress 7

Macintosh:

• • InDesign CS4
• • InDesign CS3
• • Quark Xpress 7.2 & 7.3
• • Quark Xpress 7
• • Snow Leopard 10.6/Acrobat 9 Users

Once you have created a PostScript file of your cover template in step 4, you will need to process it with Adobe Acrobat Distiller Professional 6 or newer using the settings shown in the link below:

Windows or Macintosh

• • Acrobat Distiller Settings

This is a very important – yet often overlooked – step in the process. Please open and review your newly created PDF to insure that all elements are present and properly represented in your PDF prior to submitting it for printing. Incomplete or incorrect digital files will put your project behind schedule and could add charges to your account.

• • How to review your PDF prior to uploading

Once you have the PDF completed and double-checked, it is time to upload the file to the Lightning Source servers via our website.

Note: The upload area is typically in the publisher’s password-protected account. If you are a Designer who does not have access to this area, you may:

1. Request for the publisher to email you a direct link to the upload area for this title (you will need a different link for each title needing to be uploaded).
2. Supply the publisher with the PDF file and the publisher can upload the file from their account.
3. Request the username and password of the publisher’s account.

If this is the first time producing a digital cover for Lightning Source (or the first time in a while), please take a moment to review our submission standards and best practices:

• • FAQ
• • Spine Width & Book Weight Calculator
• • Cover Reference Template PDFs

An auto-generated template can be emailed to you that is custom-built for your specific title, and includes guides for all necessary bleed, type safety, etc.

Publishers and designers experience much less issues when using the templates from step 2 to build the final version of their cover.

Lightning Source Trim Sizes and Template Dimensions

How to use our template:

• • Perfect Bound Color Book Template
• • Saddlestitched Color Book Template
• • Case Bound Color Books
• • Dust Jacket Color Books

How to open our template in Photoshop:

• • PDF Template for CS2 and newer
• • EPS Template for CS2 and newer

The most reliable method we have found for creating a PDF for our use is to create a PostScript file from your application, and “distilling” it using Acrobat Distiller Professional 6 or newer.
Below are instructions for creating a PostScript file from various applications:


Windows:

• • InDesign CS4
• • InDesign CS3
• • Quark Xpress 7.2 & 7.3
• • Quark Xpress 7

Macintosh:

• • InDesign CS4
• • InDesign CS3
• • Quark Xpress 7.2 & 7.3
• • Quark Xpress 7
• • Snow Leopard 10.6/Acrobat 9 Users

Once you have created a PostScript file of your cover template in step 4, you will need to process it with Adobe Acrobat Distiller Professional 6 or newer using the settings shown in the link below:

Windows or Macintosh

• • Acrobat Distiller Settings

This is a very important – yet often overlooked – step in the process. Please open and review your newly created PDF to insure that all elements are present and properly represented in your PDF prior to submitting it for printing. Incomplete or incorrect digital files will put your project behind schedule and could add charges to your account.

• • How to review your PDF prior to uploading

Once you have the PDF completed and double-checked, it is time to upload the file to the Lightning Source servers via our website.

Note: The upload area is typically in the publisher’s password-protected account. If you are a Designer who does not have access to this area, you may:

1. Request for the publisher to email you a direct link to the upload area for this title (you will need a different link for each title needing to be uploaded).
2. Supply the publisher with the PDF file and the publisher can upload the file from their account.
3. Request the username and password of the publisher’s account.