IngramSpark Rejected My File: Every Error Message Explained
An IngramSpark "Title Processing Error" email reads like code. Here's what the most common messages actually mean and exactly how to fix each one. The messages in the boxes are quoted word-for-word from real IngramSpark rejection emails.
"Interior content extends outside the safety area… interior content is not centered"
BOOKBLOCK: INTERIOR CONTENT EXTENDS OUTSIDE THE SAFETY AREA. All text, borders, and important elements need to be at least 0.5 inch (13 mm) from trim edges. INTERIOR CONTENT IS NOT CENTERED. Submit a new interior PDF with the content properly centered at the correct size.
What it means: something on your pages sits closer than 0.5" to the edge, or your pages are the wrong size. The most common cause is a PDF exported at letter size (8.5" x 11") for a 6" x 9" book, so everything looks huge and off-center to the printer.
The fix: set your document's page size to your exact trim size (6" x 9", for example), keep at least 0.5" of margin on every side, and re-export the PDF. Check the PDF's page size in your PDF viewer's document properties before uploading.
"Ink coverage exceeds 240%"
What it means: printers measure ink by adding up cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Some areas of your file go over 240%, which smears and won't dry. It often happens with rich black text or images converted from RGB.
The fix: for a black-and-white interior, export it as grayscale (black ink only, which can never go over 100%). For color, convert with a profile that limits total ink, and avoid "rich black" (black mixed with other colors) for text.
"RGB / color content found in a black & white interior"
What it means: your black-and-white book still contains color: often black text saved as RGB, or a colored logo.
The fix: convert the whole interior to grayscale before exporting. Text that looks black on screen is often made of colors.
"Cover contains template elements" / "document size incorrect"
What it means: the colored guide boxes or labels from IngramSpark's cover template are still in your cover, or the cover PDF isn't the template's full size.
The fix: hide or delete the template layer, keep the full template size including bleed, and export again. More in our IngramSpark cover template guide.
"Incorrect spine width… reduce spine text to fit"
JACKET LAYOUT NOT BUILT TO SPEC. INCORRECT SPINE WIDTH — SPINE SHOULD BE 0.313" FOR 78 PAGES. REDUCE SPINE TEXT TO FIT.
What it means: your cover was built for a different page count, or the spine lettering is wider than the spine.
The fix: download a fresh template for your current page count, and scale the spine text so it fits inside the spine with space on both sides. The spine width calculator helps you plan.
"ISBN on cover does not match"
What it means: the barcode or ISBN printed on your cover belongs to a different edition (paperback vs hardcover each have their own ISBN).
The fix: make sure the barcode on each cover matches the ISBN of that exact edition.
Catch every one of these before IngramSpark does
SparkPrep was built by an author who got these exact emails, 18 rejections in a row. It checks your interior and cover for every problem on this page, explains them in plain English and fixes them for you, so your next upload is your last.
Check my files with SparkPrep Free cover calculatorMore free tools
- IngramSpark cover template guide
- Book spine width calculator
- KDP cover size calculator & template generator
- Book cover dimensions for every common book size
SparkPrep is an independent tool and is not affiliated with IngramSpark or Ingram Content Group.