Amazon: Cover image should be 72dpi and 300ppi

what · 03-09-2021, 09:39 AM

In their guide on how to create an ebook cover, Amazon tell us that the cover image should be 72 dpi and 300 ppi (see attached image). Now how does that work? And what should I really choose?

(I do understand the difference between dpi and ppi and have no idea why Amazon use ppi to refer to images displayed on screen.)

phillipgessert · 03-09-2021, 01:51 PM

I would just ignore the dpi/ppi and build to the pixel dimensions listed in the dimensions section. My best guess is that they're making a distinction between min res (72dpi) and best res (300+ ppi). But their documentation overall seems to have an often-confusing mix of digital and print specs, as is further shown in your screenshot where they've made sure to also point out that your ebook cover should not contain separations, something that would only actually happen for print (decades ago).

j.p.s · 03-09-2021, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipgessert

I would just ignore the dpi/ppi and build to the pixel dimensions listed in the dimensions section. My best guess is that they're making a distinction between min res (72dpi) and best res (300+ ppi). But their documentation overall seems to have an often-confusing mix of digital and print specs, as is further shown in your screenshot where they've made sure to also point out that your ebook cover should not contain separations, something that would only actually happen for print (decades ago).

I think their instructions are the equivalent of an e-book that hasn't had "This book printed on 100% recycled paper." stripped out.

dpi and ppi are meaningless without spatial dimensions. I have never seen a JPEG image with either spatial dimensions or spatial resolution in its metadata, if it even has metadata.

Notjohn · 03-13-2021, 10:05 AM

A print cover must be 300 dots per inch, and a "dot" is the same as a pixel. Assuming a book 5.5x8.5 inches, the jpeg for the front cover as uploaded to KDP Print Cover Creator should be 1687.5 pixels (well, make it 1688) by 2625 pixels.

That works fine for the ebook, too. Just trim off the 0.125 inch extra on the top, right side, and bottom of the image.

For purposes of KDP, a dot is a pixel is a dot.

03-09-2021, 09:39 AM	#1
what Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2021 Device: none	Amazon: Cover image should be 72dpi and 300ppi In their guide on how to create an ebook cover, Amazon tell us that the cover image should be 72 dpi and 300 ppi (see attached image). Now how does that work? And what should I really choose? (I do understand the difference between dpi and ppi and have no idea why Amazon use ppi to refer to images displayed on screen.) Attached Thumbnails

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03-09-2021, 01:51 PM	#2
phillipgessert Addict Posts: 311 Karma: 3196258 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Madison, WI Device: Kindle 5th Gen	I would just ignore the dpi/ppi and build to the pixel dimensions listed in the dimensions section. My best guess is that they're making a distinction between min res (72dpi) and best res (300+ ppi). But their documentation overall seems to have an often-confusing mix of digital and print specs, as is further shown in your screenshot where they've made sure to also point out that your ebook cover should not contain separations, something that would only actually happen for print (decades ago).

03-13-2021, 10:05 AM	#4
Notjohn mostly an observer Posts: 1,515 Karma: 987654 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kindle	A print cover must be 300 dots per inch, and a "dot" is the same as a pixel. Assuming a book 5.5x8.5 inches, the jpeg for the front cover as uploaded to KDP Print Cover Creator should be 1687.5 pixels (well, make it 1688) by 2625 pixels. That works fine for the ebook, too. Just trim off the 0.125 inch extra on the top, right side, and bottom of the image. For purposes of KDP, a dot is a pixel is a dot.