Ebook only
Vellum or EPUB-source. For digital-only releases.
starting from $440
Start here - EPUB tested on three devices
- Working files included
- TOC and metadata configured
Production · from $440 · 5 to 10 business days
Interior layout that doesn't fight the reader.
Print and ebook layout using Adobe InDesign and Vellum. KDP-ready, IngramSpark-ready, EPUB-valid.
Most authors discover formatting is hard the first time their ebook ships with broken indents. We do this in InDesign for print and Vellum or Sigil for ebook, with separate proofs of both before release.
Behind the scenes
What book formatting looks like on a working day.
Five shots from the studio — the kind of work that ends up on your project.
The work, in three tabs
Click through what you actually get, how it runs, and who owns it.
Deliverables, not vibes.
300 DPI, CMYK, embedded fonts, validated against both KDP and IngramSpark templates.
- Print-ready PDF with bleed, crop, and KDP/IngramSpark spec
- Reflowable EPUB tested on Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo
- Working files (InDesign + EPUB source)
- Print proof and ebook proof, both checked
A written timeline. No silent stretches.
Trim size, paper, page count target, font choices, chapter opener style. Locked before layout starts.
- Day 1 — Specifications confirmed
- Days 2–6 — First-pass layout
- Day 7 — Print proof
- Days 8–10 — Adjustments and final delivery
A senior lead, by name, on day one.
Sample deliverables
Drag through real book formatting work the studio shipped this year.
How it works
A written timeline you can plan around.
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Day 1
Specifications confirmed
Trim size, paper, page count target, font choices, chapter opener style. Locked before layout starts.
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Days 2–6
First-pass layout
Full manuscript laid out. Widow/orphan checks, hyphenation, running head, page numbering.
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Day 7
Print proof
Physical proof from KDP or IngramSpark, FedExed to you. Wait for proof before final approval.
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Days 8–10
Adjustments and final delivery
Final tweaks based on proof, then delivered as print PDF and EPUB.
Pricing
Three tiers. Real numbers.
No 'contact us for pricing.' If a tier here looks close to your project, the final quote on the discovery call will be within 15% either way.
Print + ebook
Most-booked. InDesign for print, Vellum or EPUB for ebook.
starting from $890
Start here - Everything in Ebook only
- Print PDF with bleed and crop
- Physical print proof
- Both KDP and IngramSpark spec
Illustrated / complex
Picture books, illustrated non-fiction, footnoted academic, image-heavy memoir.
starting from $1,800
Start here - Adobe InDesign throughout
- Image placement and color management
- Index creation (additional $0.008/word)
- Fixed-layout EPUB available
Studio
The named team behind every project.
Book formatting — FAQ
Questions we get every week, answered straight.
Why does formatting cost extra if it's just typesetting?
It's not just typesetting. It's catching widows on chapter end pages, hyphenation drift across the manuscript, the moment a TOC entry breaks because chapter ten is on page 167 and chapter eleven is on page 167 also. Doing it well takes 8–14 hours per 80k manuscript.
Can I format my own book in Vellum?
Yes, for ebook and basic print, Vellum is excellent and we sometimes recommend it. For more bespoke layouts (illustrated non-fiction, footnoted academic work, image-heavy memoir) Vellum is too restrictive and InDesign is what we use.
What trim sizes do you support?
All KDP and IngramSpark sizes. Most fiction goes 5×8 or 5.5×8.5. Most non-fiction goes 6×9. Hardcovers go 6×9 or 6.14×9.21 (the IngramSpark casebound size).
Do you handle index and footnote layout?
Yes — indexed non-fiction and footnoted academic work both supported. Index creation itself is an additional $0.008/word.
Pairs with
Services that pair with this one.
Most projects use two to four services. We bundle on the discovery call.
Ready when you are
Ready to ship a book formatting project?
A 30-minute discovery call with a senior editor — no sales script, no pressure. We'll tell you whether we're the right fit for your project, what it would cost, and how long it would take.