We scan your book
You get ebook and print-ready
files with full cover design
Ready to publish on Amazon
Lightning Source
Formatting
Finished writing your book? Our team of expert book
formatters will make your book shine. We make
publishing easy. Get in touch with us now!
Starting at $49.00
48 Hour Delivery
Unlimited Revisions
Get Accepted To Amazon. Fast.
Get in Touch
Sue Anne Dunlevie
"Thanks so much. What a great job you did! I will recommend you to my friends"
We have converted 1000s
of eBooks since 2013
We design your eBook according to the strict Amazon KDP guidelines.
Your eBook will run flawlessly on Kindle, iPad, and Android.
You will be accepted by Amazon, instantly.
Unlimited revisions. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Free eBook cover made from stock images with author's name and title information!
We will deliver your properly formatted file to you within 48 hours.
Book Formatting for Lightning Source
We provide top-notch formatting solutions for authors looking to publish their works through Lightning Source. With our expertise and attention to detail, we ensure your book not only meets the strict formatting guidelines of Lightning Source but also captivates readers with its professional presentation.
At Word-2-Kindle, we understand the importance of making a lasting impression. Our team of experienced formatters works diligently to ensure your manuscript is flawlessly formatted for Lightning Source’s digital and print distribution channels. From adjusting margins and line spacing to optimizing typography and headers, we meticulously craft each page to create a visually stunning result that enhances the reader’s experience.
With Lightning Source’s global reach and extensive distribution network, your book gains access to a wide range of online retailers, bookstores, and libraries. However, meeting their formatting requirements can be a complex and time-consuming task. That’s where Word-2-Kindle comes in. We take the stress out of the equation, allowing you to focus on what you do best – writing.
Whether you’re an established author or a first-time writer, Word-2-Kindle is here to support your publishing journey. Trust us to handle the intricate details of book formatting for Lightning Source, while you concentrate on creating compelling stories that captivate readers around the world.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make your book shine. Contact Word-2-Kindle today and let our formatting expertise take your manuscript to new heights.
What Lightning Source Formatting Actually Means
Lightning Source is the legacy name for Ingram Content Group’s print arm. Ingram unified the brand under IngramSpark in 2013, but “Lightning Source” persists as the term for the wholesale-channel publisher partner program that runs on the same printers. A formatted Lightning Source file is a print-ready PDF/X-1a:2001 built to Ingram’s wholesale specs — not a Word export, not a recycled KDP interior.
Files submitted through the LS portal go through the same pre-flight as IngramSpark, but rejections at the LS tier delay catalog activation across the wholesale channel rather than one title. Proper formatting handles PDF/X-1a:2001 export, CMYK, font embedding, 0.125″ bleed, 300 DPI minimum, and spine calculation against Ingram’s paper table before the file reaches the queue.
Lightning Source vs IngramSpark
Same printers, different programs. LS Direct requires a publisher imprint with a 10+ ISBN allocation, runs wholesale-only pricing, and treats returns as mandatory across the catalog. IngramSpark allows single-title publishing under your own name, supports retail-and-wholesale pricing, and lets you opt returns in or out per title. LS fits established small presses, hybrid publishers, and authors with multi-title catalogs and their own ISBN range. IngramSpark fits self-publishers and one-off projects.
Lightning Source file specifications
Interior PDFs must be PDF/X-1a:2001 compliant with all fonts embedded, color converted to CMYK with no RGB or spot colors, and 0.125″ bleed on every outer edge of any bleeding page. Image resolution is 300 DPI minimum at final print size. Trim sizes mirror the IngramSpark catalog — 5″×8″, 5.5″×8.5″, 6″×9″, 7″×10″, 8.5″×11″ and the rest. Spine math uses the same multipliers as IngramSpark: 50# white at page count × 0.002252″, 70# white at × 0.0032″. A 320-page book on 50# stock needs a 0.72″ spine.
Why Publishers Choose Lightning Source Formatting
- PDF/X-1a:2001 export. The interior is exported through the X-1a:2001 standard that Ingram’s pre-flight expects at the LS tier.
- CMYK with no stray RGB. Every image and vector is converted to CMYK and checked for orphan RGB before shipping.
- Spine math against the Ingram paper table. 0.002252″ or 0.0032″ multipliers are applied to actual page count and the cover wrap is rebuilt to match.
- Bleed and 300 DPI baked in. 0.125″ bleed is set on every outer edge and image resolution is verified at final print size.
- Wholesale-channel ready. The same file works across LS Direct so multi-title imprints don’t re-export per title.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lightning Source Formatting
Is Lightning Source the same as IngramSpark?
Same printers, different programs. LS Direct is the wholesale partner program for established publishers with 10+ ISBN allocations. IngramSpark is the self-publisher program that allows single titles. Print specs are identical — contract terms and pricing models differ.
Should a self-publisher use Lightning Source or IngramSpark?
IngramSpark, in almost every case. LS Direct requires a 10+ ISBN block, mandatory returns, and wholesale-only pricing — rules that don’t fit a single-title author.
What PDF format does Lightning Source require?
PDF/X-1a:2001 with all fonts embedded, all color converted to CMYK, 0.125″ bleed on bleeding pages, and 300 DPI minimum image resolution at final print size.
How is the spine width calculated for Lightning Source?
Page count multiplied by the paper-stock factor — 0.002252″ for 50# white and 0.0032″ for 70# white. A 280-page book on 50# stock needs roughly a 0.63″ spine.
Can I reuse my IngramSpark file for Lightning Source?
The interior PDF and cover wrap carry over because print specs match, but catalog metadata, pricing tier, and returns settings have to be re-entered under LS Direct contract terms.
Services & Pricing
EBOOK FORMATTING
BOOK COVER DESIGN
PRINT FORMATTING
EBOOK FORMATTING
What is eBook formatting?
Ebook formatting is the preparation of a digital file to ensure that it meets the publisher’s requirements and is an enjoyable reading experience.
Why do I need my eBook formatted?
Professional eBook formatting is required to get proper chapter tagging, a clickable table of contents, and a flexible layout compatible with all e-readers.
Formats We Accept
We can also try using other formats
Revisions
Unlimited free revisions for two weeks after delivery. After this date additional revisions request cost a flat $19 for any reasonable amount of revisions.
Output Formats
We provide both Mobi and ePub versions ready for publishing at Amazon, Nook, Smashword, Apple, etc.
48 Hour Delivery
Unlimited Revisions
Get Accepted To Amazon. Fast.
BOOK COVER DESIGN
Book Cover Design
A selection of our recent ebook and print work
An eye-catching, professional cover design is one of the most important keys to the success of your ebook.
Most online retailers will display a very small thumbnail of your cover on their site,
it is vital that your cover works well both as a small image and as a bigger traditional cover.
Basic eBook Cover Design
FREE
FREE with any eBook conversion package. A basic cover is made from stock images with the author’s name and title information
Short Non-Fiction
$99
Premium cover design involves photo manipulation to create an eye-catching cover that really suits your eBook.
Kids’ Books & Cookbooks
$199
This package includes premium custom cover creation with a back and spine for
book printing.
PRINT FORMATTING
Services & Pricing
EBOOK FORMATTING
EBOOK FORMATTING
What is eBook formatting?
Ebook formatting is the preparation of a digital file to ensure that it meets the publisher’s requirements and is an enjoyable reading experience.
Why do I need my eBook formatted?
Professional eBook formatting is required to get proper chapter tagging, a clickable table of contents, and a flexible layout compatible with all e-readers.
Formats We Accept
We can also try using other formats
Revisions
Unlimited free revisions for two weeks after delivery. After this date additional revisions request cost a flat $19 for any reasonable amount of revisions.
Output Formats
We provide both Mobi and ePub versions ready for publishing at Amazon, Nook, Smashword, Apple, etc.
48 Hour Delivery
Unlimited Revisions
Get Accepted To Amazon. Fast.
BOOK COVER DESIGN
BOOK COVER DESIGN
Book Cover Design
A selection of our recent ebook and print work
An eye-catching, professional cover design is one of the most important keys to the success of your ebook.
Most online retailers will display a very small thumbnail of your cover on their site,
it is vital that your cover works well both as a small image and as a bigger traditional cover.
Basic eBook Cover Design
FREE
FREE with any eBook conversion package. A basic cover is made from stock images with the author’s name and title information
Short Non-Fiction
$99
Premium cover design involves photo manipulation to create an eye-catching cover that really suits your eBook.
Kids’ Books & Cookbooks
$199
This package includes premium custom cover creation with a back and spine for
book printing.
PRINT FORMATTING
PRINT FORMATTING
BOOK SCANNING
BOOK SCANNING
Book to eBook Package
$199
We scan your book
You get a Kindle-ready ebook file
and an ebook-ready cover design.
Up to 200 pages of normal text.
Extra charge of $1/page over this
Book to Print Formatting
$299
We scan your book
Your get a print-ready PDF file
with a full jacket design
for print on demand services
like Amazon’s CreateSpace
Book to eBook & Print
$399
Frequently Asked Questions
When you format your book for Lightning Source, you ensure that your book is printed and presented in the optimal manner for Ingram’s print-on-demand service. Formatting specifically for Lightning Source makes it a smoother process when it comes to printing your book, and also ensures high-quality results. This includes accurate binding, clear text and images, and overall professional appeal.
Our service takes into account all of the specifications provided by Lightning Source to deliver a perfectly formatted book. This involves managing aspects such as trim size, margins, spine width, and cover layout. We stay updated with Lightning Source’s format requirements and apply them addressedly to provide you with a book ready for printing. Our team’s experience and understanding of Lightning Source’s needs allow us to deliver a service specifically tailored for their print-on-demand process.
Beyond just adhering to Lightning Source’s specific requirements, we also focus on enhancing the visual quality and readability of your book. We provide consultation on internally designing, fonts, paragraph styling, and image placement to ensure professional appearance and improved readability. We also assist with cover design advice to make your book appealing. All these enhancements aim to make your book stand out when printed through Lightning Source.
While Ingram offers book formatting for Lightning Source, using our independent service can provide faster turn-around times and potentially lower costs. This is because our expert team specializes in Lightning Source formatting and has developed efficient processes to do it more quickly without compromising on quality. This efficiency can also transfer to cost savings for you. Additionally, our independent service enables us to provide more personalized attention to each project, something that you might not get when using a large company’s in-house service.
Our service is designed to be highly responsive and adaptive. If any revisions are needed for your book to comply with Lightning Source’s standards, our team will address these promptly. As part of our service, we include a reasonable number of revision rounds to ensure that the final layout meets your expectations and complies with Lightning Source’s rules. We strive to make this process as smooth as possible and aim to turn around any necessary edits quickly. We understand the importance of achieving a well-formatted book that aligns with Lightning Source’s requirements, so you can rest assured that we’ll work diligently to get it right.
1000s of Happy Customers
We are proud to have some of the happiest customers in the business.
Take a look at some of the feedback our customers have left for us.
Absolutely top-notch, professional service in every way! Flawless attention to detail. Impecable and timely communication. Affordable - great value. These folks are the "real deal". They made me look so good I even impressed myself! Trust them. They won't disappoint!
Warren Bosch 
Word-2-Kindle formatted the paperback version of my new book, “MINE! A Novel of The Trump.” They were fast, efficient, professional and the cost was very reasonable. I highly recommend them.
George Merlis 
Word-2-Kindle was a life saver for me! I had no idea how to translate my manuscript into the proper format, especially since so many photos were included. They helped me get my eBook The Dirt Diaries on Amazon where it is getting 5-star reviews. Thanks for a great job. I will be back with my next book!
Lynn Hunt 
I just published my third book using Word 2 Kindle . . . I am very happy to highly recommend them for your formatting needs. Exceptional, personal care and professional skill. They do what they do very well, in proper time, with their heart in the work as if they are family members. Seriously—I strongly recommend them. My first ebook already has sales in USA, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Israel and Spain. Couldn’t have done it without W2K. I think I have at least two more books inside my bones; when the new manuscripts are ready, I will be sure that Word 2 Kindle helps me share them with the world.
Jeffrey Scott Hakes 
W2K has done two eBooks and one POD for me. I'll be sending them my third manuscript to convert into an eBook in a bit. Highly recommend them. They're friendly and patient. When they say they'll get the next step done by a certain date they almost always get it to me sooner. Hats off to Nick, Mary and the Team.
Kel Heyl 
Still Have Some Questions
Email us! You will be pleasantly surprised by how fast we reply and how easy it is for you to self-publish on all platforms. You can also use the blue box on the bottom right of your screen to reach us.
Word-2-Kindle Guarantee
We stand behind our services with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. We genuinely want you to be happy with our work. If for any reason you don’t like something, we’ll work with you to make it right or we will refund your money. It’s that simple.
48 Hour Delivery
Unlimited Revisions
Get Accepted To Amazon. Fast.
