To format a romance novel for IngramSpark, use a 5”×8” trim on cream paper, export as PDF/X-1a:2001 with CMYK color space, and set a wholesale discount of 50–55% if you want bookstore and library distribution. IngramSpark’s main advantage over KDP for romance authors is wide distribution — your paperback appears in the catalogs of 40,000+ retailers including Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, and library systems worldwide. The tradeoff: stricter file requirements and higher per-unit printing costs.
Romance-specific specs for IngramSpark
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Trim size | 5” × 8” (mass-market feel) or 5.25” × 8” |
| Paper | Cream (55#) — warm, traditional romance feel |
| Body font | Garamond or Caslon, 10.5–11pt |
| Line spacing | 1.3–1.45× |
| Scene breaks | Ornamental divider (hearts, flourishes) |
| Drop caps | Optional — common in romance chapter openers |
| Inside margin | 0.65”–0.8” |
| PDF format | PDF/X-1a:2001 |
| Color space | Grayscale (B&W interior) |
For detailed romance formatting conventions (fonts, scene breaks, chapter openers, back matter), see the complete romance formatting guide. This page focuses on IngramSpark-specific requirements.
PDF/X-1a for romance
Your romance interior PDF must be:
- PDF/X-1a:2001 compliant — KDP accepts standard PDFs, IngramSpark doesn’t
- Grayscale color space — even if your interior is “just text,” some formatting tools export with RGB color profiles
- All fonts embedded
- Page size exactly 5” × 8” (or your chosen trim)
- Even page count
If you’re formatting in Word, you’ll need Adobe Acrobat Pro to convert your PDF to PDF/X-1a. Or use Cambric, which exports PDF/X-1a natively when you select IngramSpark.
For a complete PDF/X-1a walkthrough, see IngramSpark PDF/X-1a requirements.
Cream paper pricing on IngramSpark
IngramSpark charges more for cream paper than white. For a typical 75,000-word romance (305 pages at 5×8):
| Paper | Print Cost | Spine Width |
|---|---|---|
| Cream (55#) | ~$5.60 | 0.763” |
| White (50#) | ~$5.12 | 0.688” |
The $0.48 difference per copy matters at scale. At 100 copies/month, that’s $48/month. But romance readers overwhelmingly prefer cream paper — it’s warmer, easier on the eyes during long reading sessions, and feels like a “real” book. Don’t switch to white to save $0.48.
Use the KDP Book Calculator to estimate page count and costs.
Pricing strategy for IngramSpark romance
IngramSpark’s economics differ from KDP:
| Factor | KDP | IngramSpark |
|---|---|---|
| Print cost (75K words, 5×8 cream) | ~$4.66 | ~$5.60 |
| Royalty rate | 60% of list price minus print cost | List price minus wholesale discount minus print cost |
| Wholesale discount | Fixed 40% | You choose: 40–55% |
Example at $14.99 list price
KDP: $14.99 × 60% - $4.66 = $4.33 royalty IngramSpark (50% discount): $14.99 × 50% - $5.60 = $1.90 royalty IngramSpark (55% discount): $14.99 × 45% - $5.60 = $1.15 royalty
IngramSpark royalties are lower per unit. The value is in distribution reach — bookstores, libraries, and retailers that KDP doesn’t reach. Many romance authors use both:
- KDP for Amazon sales (higher margin)
- IngramSpark for everywhere else (wider reach)
Cambric creates separate KDP and IngramSpark editions from the same romance manuscript — different PDF export settings, same beautiful interior.
Get Cambric — $199
Series sell-through on IngramSpark
Romance is a series genre — readers buy in sequence. IngramSpark’s advantage: your books appear in bookstore ordering systems alongside traditionally published titles. For series:
- Consistent trim size across all books in the series (5×8)
- Consistent spine design — readers recognize your series on a shelf
- Preview chapters — include the first chapter of the next book in your back matter
- Series metadata — set series name and volume number in IngramSpark’s metadata fields
- Returnability — enable for bookstore orders (stores won’t stock non-returnable books)
Cover setup
IngramSpark uses the same cover dimension formula as KDP, but the cover file must also be PDF/X-1a with CMYK color. Your romance cover’s vibrant colors will shift when converted from RGB to CMYK — especially pinks, purples, and bright reds. Have your cover designer work in CMYK from the start, or review a CMYK proof before approving.
Use the Cover Size Calculator for exact dimensions.
Related guides
- Format a romance novel — genre conventions + KDP
- 5×8 IngramSpark specs — trim specifications
- IngramSpark requirements — platform overview
- KDP vs IngramSpark formatting — side-by-side
- Spine Width Calculator — spine for cover template