Print-on-demand (POD)
Print-on-demand, often shortened to POD, is the system used to manufacture and distribute most self-published books today. It is a modern publishing model that allows books to be printed individually when they are ordered, removing the need for large print runs, storage, or unsold stock. Wordzworth use Ingram (and Amazon KDP) to print books, with digital printing facilities across the US, UK, and Australia. When a book is ordered online it is printed at the nearest facility and shipped directly to the customer, allowing books to be sold worldwide through a fast and efficient production network.
Production options are fixed
Print-on-demand works by using standardised production options rather than fully customised printing. Books must be produced using one of the supported trim sizes, paper stocks, binding styles, and colour options offered by the printer. This system allows books to be manufactured efficiently across many facilities, but it also means some traditional printing features are not available. Custom sizes, specialist paper types, lay-flat books, photo plates, pull-outs, foil stamping, embossing, or spot UV finishes cannot be produced through the POD system.
Small variations between copies are normal
Because POD books are printed one copy at a time rather than in large batches, small variations between copies can occur. A proof copy may occasionally show a slight trim shift, a small change in colour density, or a spine that appears fractionally off-centre. These variations fall within normal commercial printing tolerances. It is important not to adjust the design files in an attempt to compensate for something seen in a single proof copy, as each book is printed independently and the next copy may not show the same variation.
Minor manufacturing imperfections can occur
As with any manufacturing process, occasional minor imperfections may appear in individual copies. These are usually cosmetic and do not affect the readability or durability of the book. Examples can include faint white void lines, small cover scratches, lamination smudges, slight waviness in pages, or small ink spots. If a more significant issue occurs, clear photographs can be sent to us so we can review the problem and raise it with the printer where appropriate. Please also include a photograph of the final back page containing the printer barcode, as this allows the printer to identify the specific production batch.
Printed colours differ from screen colours
Books are printed using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink in what is known as CMYK process colour. Screens display colour using RGB light, which produces brighter and more saturated tones. Because of this difference, colours printed on paper will usually appear slightly darker and less vibrant than they do on screen, and some very bright colours may fall outside the printable colour range entirely. This is a normal characteristic of commercial printing and is taken into account when preparing cover and interior files.
Additional blank pages may appear
Print-on-demand equipment prints books in grouped page blocks as part of the binding process. Because of this, printers may occasionally add blank pages so that the final page count fits the nearest compatible print block. Books must also include a completely blank page used by the printer for internal manufacturing information and a barcode that allows the interior block to be scanned and matched with the correct cover during production. This page is a required part of the printing process and cannot be removed.
Amazon and Ingram printing
For customers using our Smart Publishing Plus service, books are printed through both Ingram and Amazon KDP. The two systems are similar but not identical, and some trim sizes or finishes available through Ingram may not be supported by KDP. When preparing a book we ensure that production choices work across both platforms wherever possible, although colour tones or finishes may occasionally appear slightly different between the two versions due to differences in equipment and production processes.
Using other printers
Some authors choose to produce a separate print run with another printer in addition to their print-on-demand edition. This is perfectly possible, but the files prepared for POD will usually require adjustment before they can be used with a different printing system, particularly the cover file. If a Wordzworth ISBN is used, that ISBN must also be removed before printing the book with another supplier.
Print-on-demand is one of the reasons modern self-publishing is accessible to so many authors. By working within a standardised global printing system, books can be produced efficiently, distributed worldwide, and printed only when they are needed. Understanding how POD works helps authors review proofs confidently and focus on the overall quality of the book rather than small variations that fall within normal printing tolerances.