Publish Setup · Topic 14 of 17
Ordering and Reviewing a Proof Copy
What to do
Order a physical proof copy of your paperback or hardcover and review it in hand before approving your book for sale.
Why it matters
A proof copy is the only way to see your actual printed colors, paper weight, and binding in person. Screen previews are close, but ink on paper can look different from what you saw on a monitor.
Step-by-step
- Once your book's files are approved in the online previewer, go to your Bookshelf and use the Order Author/Proof Copies option (this option only appears once your book is in a Live or Live with unpublished changes state).
- Order at least one copy for yourself before approving the book for sale to the public. Proof and author copies are ordered at print cost, not full retail price.
- When it arrives, check the cover colors against what you expected, flip through the interior for print quality and image sharpness, and open the spine to check that text isn't crowded too close to the binding.
- If something is wrong, go back to the relevant earlier step (Cover Prep, Print-Ready Files, or the trim/paper/ink settings here), fix the source file, and re-upload, then order another proof if the fix was significant.
- Proof and author copy orders typically take a couple of weeks to arrive, plan for that lead time rather than ordering the day before you hoped to publish.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the physical proof entirely and going straight from the online previewer to publishing live.
- Ordering a proof copy but not actually opening it to check the spine and interior margins in person, just glancing at the cover.
Completion checklist
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Troubleshooting
Do I have to order a proof copy? Can I skip straight to publishing?
KDP doesn't strictly require it, the online previewer alone is technically enough to publish. But a physical proof is the only way to catch a color or paper issue the screen can't show you, so it's strongly worth the small cost and short wait, especially for your first book.