IngramSpark asks for print PDFs with every font embedded, PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002 compliance, images at 300 ppi (600 ppi for 1-bit line art in black and white books), 0.125 in of bleed on the three trim edges but not the bind side, and total ink no higher than 240 percent. ProofSlip checks most of that on Windows before upload: fonts, image resolution, color spaces and plates, ink limit, rich black, size, bleed, gutter and safe area, and shows each problem boxed on its page with the trim and safe area drawn in. It does not claim to validate PDF/X conformance, so IngramSpark’s own checks still have the last word.
IngramSpark’s guide is detailed, and a rejected file costs time. Checking first catches the common problems.
Check fonts, image resolution, color and bleed in your IngramSpark PDF before upload.
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What are IngramSpark’s file requirements?
IngramSpark publishes a File Creation Guide (the edition we read is dated 24 August 2026) and a blog summary, File Requirements for Print Books. The main interior requirements:
| Requirement | Black and white interior | Color interior |
|---|---|---|
| Fonts | All fonts embedded; files with unembedded fonts are rejected | Same |
| PDF compliance | PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002 | Same |
| Image resolution | 300 ppi for 8-bit grayscale; 600 ppi for 1-bit line art | 300 ppi |
| Color space | Grayscale | CMYK |
| Bleed | 0.125 in (3 mm) on top, bottom and outside, not the bind edge | Same |
| Margins | Recommended minimum 0.5 in (13 mm) on all sides | Same |
| Body text | 100 percent black only for text 24 pt or below | Same |
| Total ink | Not over 240 percent CMYK; no Registration black | Same |
| Pages | Single pages, no printer marks | Same |
Source: IngramSpark File Creation Guide and blog, checked on 17 October 2026. The guide also notes that Acrobat’s default Standard setting does not embed the base 14 fonts and may cause a rejection, and that color interior images under 72 ppi are rejected.
Which of these can ProofSlip check?
| IngramSpark requirement | ProofSlip |
|---|---|
| All fonts embedded | Checks fonts |
| 300 ppi images, 600 ppi 1-bit line art | Checks image resolution |
| Grayscale or CMYK, no spot colors | Checks color spaces and the plates the file needs |
| 240 percent total ink | Checks ink limit |
| 100 percent black text, no Registration black | Checks rich black and small text |
| 0.125 in bleed, not on the bind side | Checks bleed against the job preset, with the trim drawn on the page |
| 0.5 in minimum margins | Checks gutter and safe area, and text near the trim or gutter |
| Single pages, consistent size | Checks size and page count against the job preset |
| PDF/X-1a or X-3 | Not claimed; confirm with your export preset or a full preflight tool |
ProofSlip capabilities from its Microsoft Store listing, checked on 17 October 2026. A clean result means the file fits the job preset you picked, so choose the book interior preset that matches your trim and compare its findings with IngramSpark’s figures above.
How do I check an IngramSpark interior with ProofSlip?
ProofSlip checks print PDFs, EPUBs and Word manuscripts on your PC and says, in plain language, what to fix.
- Export with the right preset. In InDesign or Affinity, choose PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002 and include 0.125 in bleed on the three trim edges if any page bleeds.
- Pick the job preset. Choose the book interior preset for your trim. The verdict then covers size, bleed, safe area, gutter, page count and color.
- Drop the interior and cover on the window. ProofSlip checks them together and never changes either file.
- Fonts. Every used font should be embedded. Remember IngramSpark’s warning that Acrobat’s Standard setting skips the base 14 fonts.
- Images. Anything under 300 ppi needs a better source or a smaller placement. For a black and white book, 1-bit line art should reach 600.
- Color and plates. A black and white interior should need one plate. RGB images will be converted at print, and IngramSpark warns this can cause a color shift.
- Ink and black. Check the ink limit and rich black findings. Body text should be 100 percent black, not a four-color mix.
- See each problem. Select a finding to see its page with the problem boxed and the trim and safe area drawn in. Text creeping into the gutter is easy to spot this way.
- Export the reports. Export every report at once, with your name and logo if you prepare books for clients. The HTML report shows the boxed pages too.
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What about the cover?
Covers follow their own template and spine width, which depend on page count and paper. Generate the cover template from IngramSpark first. ProofSlip has paperback cover presets, and in a PDF it checks spine text and the barcode area as well as size, bleed, safe area, fonts, images and ink.
If you also publish the ebook, ProofSlip checks EPUB files too: package and navigation, broken links, missing alt text, and cover and accessibility details. Its book details check confirms ISBN check digits and compares the title and ISBN with your EPUB.
What are the limits of a pre-upload check?
ProofSlip is a check, not a fixer. It never changes your files: it does not embed fonts, convert color, resample images, reduce ink or add bleed. Make the change in your layout app, export again and check the new file. It does not claim to validate PDF/X conformance.
A full preflight tool such as Acrobat Pro’s Preflight can validate PDF/X and apply fixups. If you need files corrected automatically, that is the better pick. For an author or small press checking their own files before upload, ProofSlip covers the problems that most often cause rejections, on your PC, for a one-time price.
Frequently asked questions
Does ProofSlip validate PDF/X-1a?
It does not claim to. Use the PDF/X preset in your layout app, or a full preflight tool, for conformance.
Will ProofSlip tell me my ink is over 240 percent?
It checks ink limit and rich black. Compare the result with IngramSpark’s 240 percent maximum.
Can it tell me whether artwork reaches the bleed?
Select a bleed finding to see the page with the trim drawn in. That shows whether a background stops short of the edge.
Is ProofSlip only for IngramSpark?
No. It checks against job presets, from business cards to book interiors and paperback covers. Compare its findings with whichever printer’s spec you are using.
Is my book uploaded?
No. There is no account and no upload. Files never leave your PC.
Try ProofSlip
ProofSlip is a one-time purchase in the Microsoft Store, with a 15-day free trial. Pick the book interior preset, drop your interior and cover on the window, and click through the findings before upload. For more, see check PDF color space, check PDF bleed and trim box, or the ProofSlip product page.
Send IngramSpark a file you have already checked.
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IngramSpark is a trademark of Ingram Content Group. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Other names are trademarks of their owners. ProofSlip is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Last updated 17 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.