Digital Cover Creation - B&W AND COLOR BOOKS
Step 1

Review Our Requirements

If this is the first time producing a digital cover for Lightning Source (or the first time in a while), please take a moment to review our submission standards and best practices:
Step 2

Request a Cover Template

An auto-generated template can be emailed to you that is custom-built for your specific title, and includes guides for all necessary bleed, type safety, etc.
Step 3

Layout and design your cover to the custom template

Publishers and designers experience much less issues when using the templates from step 2 to build the final version of their cover.


How to use our template:




How to open our template in Photoshop:




How to open our template in Quark:
Step 4

Create a Lightning Source compliant PDF from your custom template

Below are instructions for creating a Lightning Source compliant PDF file from various applications:


Windows and Macintosh*:


* Macintosh screenshots are shown in some documentation but the overall information may vary slightly from current Window's versions.

Step 5

Review your PDF file for accuracy

This is a very important – yet often overlooked – step in the process. Please open and review your newly created PDF to insure that all elements are present and properly represented in your PDF prior to submitting it for printing. Incomplete or incorrect digital files will put your project behind schedule and could add charges to your account.
Step 6

Upload your file

Once you have the PDF completed and double-checked, it is time to upload the file to the Lightning Source servers via our website.

Note: The upload area is typically in the publisher’s password-protected account. If you are a Designer who does not have access to this area, you may:



  1. Request for the publisher to email you a direct link to the upload area for this title (you will need a different link for each title needing to be uploaded).
  2. Supply the publisher with the PDF file and the publisher can upload the file from their account.
  3. Request the username and password of the publisher’s account.