Print Specs for Graphic Novels

A graphic novel is unforgiving in print. A page that looks perfect on screen can come back with a character's hand trimmed off, a dark scene printed as mud, or speech balloons lost in the binding. Most of these problems are decided before you draw a single panel — by a few technical choices.

Trim size

Trim size is the final size of the printed page. Choose it before you draw, because it sets the shape of every page.

• 6 × 9 in is common for prose and works for smaller, manga-style books.
• 6.625 × 10.25 in is the classic American comic book size.
• 7 × 10 in and 8.5 × 11 in suit graphic novels with large, detailed art and are popular for children's titles.

Check KDP's current list of supported trim sizes for each format before you commit.

Bleed

If any art runs right to the edge of the page, you need bleed: extend the art past the trim line so there's no white sliver if the cut is slightly off. KDP asks for 0.125 in (3.2 mm) of bleed on the top, bottom, and outside edge. Your PDF page is then slightly larger than the trim size.

Safe zone and gutter

Keep balloons, faces, and anything important well inside the trim — a safe margin of a quarter inch or more from the outside edges. The inside edge (the gutter) needs more room still, because pages curve into the binding. Thicker books need a bigger inside margin; KDP's guidelines scale it with page count.

Resolution

Art should be at least 300 DPI at the printed size. A 6.625-inch-wide page needs roughly 2,000 pixels across, more with bleed. Lower resolution prints soft or blocky, especially line art and lettering.

Color

KDP prints paperbacks in black and white, standard color, or premium color.

• Premium color gives richer, more consistent color and is the usual choice for full-color graphic novels.
• Standard color costs less to print, which can mean a lower price or a higher royalty, but colors are less vivid.

Dark scenes are where color problems show. Lighten very dark pages slightly, and always check a printed proof.

Lettering

Use a clear comic font at a readable size. Leave space inside every balloon, and keep balloons out of the gutter. If your lettering is part of flattened art, zoom in on the export to make sure it stays crisp.

Exporting the PDF

• One PDF for the interior, every page at the same size (trim plus bleed).
• One PDF for the cover: back, spine, and front together. The spine width depends on page count and paper, and KDP's cover calculator gives you the exact dimensions.
• Embed fonts, or flatten text into the art.

This is exactly the stage Graphic Novel Factory is built for: it keeps every page at the right size and exports print-ready PDFs. You still check the proof yourself — no software replaces holding the printed book.