For many authors Ingram Spark is their first choice when considering a print on demand service, their finished product always tends to be high quality and they offer very expansive distribution of author’s books. Each time we receive a completed book from Ingram we’re always impressed with how it’s been finished (especially when you compare it to some of the other more popular POD providers).

The design and exporting process however is a little different to many other publishers, but it’s still pretty straightforward all the same, the main things that you’ll need to consider is in using one of their excellent templates and ensuring that the ink levels are adjusted to meet their stands of 240%.

​To get a template for your own book you will need to go to Ingram’s Cover Template Generator, here you’ll add the details for your book (you will need your ISBN), selecting either and InDesign file, IDML or PDF (we tend to use InDesign and the PDF) and then click on the submit button, it will then send you a template direct to your Inbox.

​These templates are very useful as you can build your book cover design on top of them, this ensures that everything stays within their safe areas and margins.

​Once you have your book cover created and placed within the layout of the template, you will need to check that the ink levels of your design,  this you can check by going to Window > Output > Separations Preview, next, in the drop down box select Ink Limit and change the % to 240%, if any area is in red you need to adjust the source file for the art work (or elements within InDesign).

​If you are changing your source file/artwork in Photoshop, make sure you have a separate copy of the file saved, as you can lose the layers if adjusting the ink levels.

​To adjust the levels go to Edit > Convert to profile > change the Destination Space Profile to ‘Custom CMYK’ than change the Total Ink Limit to 238% (just go slightly under 240%), click on ‘ok’ and save the file separately. 

Go back to InDesign and relink your embedded file using the new version of your artwork which has just had the ink adjusted, now go back to the Separations Previewer and check again, you should find that the red areas have disappeared and all areas are in black and white (meaning the levels are fine).

​You should now have a PDF which is ready to use with Ingram Spark, if you would like any help with this, we have created countless book covers for Ingram, get in touch with us today for further details.

Guest post from Angela Baker

Writing is a beautiful creative process that can have a beneficial effect on our mental health and inner peace. It can help us find a connection between our mind and our emotions and establish a balance that we all need. This is because writing can shape thinking. But, what does that mean?
 
There are impressive ways in which writing shapes our thinking and can help us reach depths we didn't even know existed. If you want to learn more, just keep reading. Here's how writing positively influences your thinking and helps you grow.

1. Helps You Relax
When we're under stress or there's a tension of any kind, we can't really cope with our emotions or our thoughts. Feeling stressed out is a major distraction that makes it impossible for us to calm down.
 
But, writing can help you relax and regain your peace. Here's how.
 
When you're stressed, and you take a piece of paper and a pen, here's what you're doing: 

• taking a moment to calm down
• taking control over your actions
• creating a stress-free environment for yourself and your thoughts
• relaxing

 Writing helps you relax and exit the stressful situation you may have been in. It's like stepping into a whole different world, where you're in charge of how you feel.

2. Helps You Find Focus
Finding focus and clearing our minds from various distractions can be tricky. With the fast pace of life and so many things happening in a single day, it's almost impossible to concentrate and deal with your thoughts freely.
 
But, when you decide to write down your thoughts, it all takes on a different perspective.
 
The truth is, writing helps you find focus because:

• it’s just you and the piece of paper or the computer screen
• you are alone with your thoughts
• as your write, you’re focusing on a single string of thoughts
• you’re in control

 
You should also consider retreating to peaceful places from time to time, and spend more time writing, eating healthy, listening to music, and spending time with friends. You could go camping or spend a day by the water. It will help you further improve your focus.
 
Finding focus is easier when you’re writing things down. You manage to remove all the distractions, aim your mind to a single idea, and process it peacefully.

3. Helps You Plan
Planning and setting future goals is a great way to help yourself to achieve more and be more productive. When you’re just planning things but not keeping them in writing, it’s easy to forget, skip, or ignore your plans.
 
But, writing them down is a whole other thing.
 
That's why you should always:

• write down your goals
• set a deadline for accomplishing them
• keep writing about achieving those goals
• make step-by-step plans on how to make it happen

 
This way, you're empowering yourself to push through and continue dreaming big. Writing this down helps you shape your thinking and create a positive mindset about achieving greatness.

4. Helps You Learn About Yourself
Writing an emotions journal is a great way to learn something new about yourself and invest extra effort into growing on a personal level. This is yet another great way in which writing shapes thinking.
 
When you're talking to a friend, you're never 100% honest about how you feel or what you're thinking. There's always a filter for your thoughts and emotions that you use before presenting any of it to another person.
 
But, when you're talking to yourself, you need to be completely honest. And, writing can help you do it:

• write about your emotions
• write about what caused those emotions
• try processing them through writing
• get it all out of your system

 
Over time, you'll be able to look back at your previous entries. You'll see how you felt, what you thought, and what you did. You'll also learn about your triggers.
 
This way, you'll be getting to know yourself better, and that is truly valuable and unique.

5. Expresses Your Creativity
As we’ve already mentioned, writing is a creative process. People often believe that they’re “not creative enough” to be artistic and create art. But, we need to beg to differ.
 
We're all creative in our own ways. We just need to learn how to express that creativity.
 
 So, if you're interested in writing for an audience, just sit down and try it. It might take some time before you find your style and learn how to handle words, but who knows what might happen.
 
You might even end up publishing a book. And, in case you need a design cover service, make sure to check out JD&J book cover design services.

6. Boosts Your Confidence
Self-love and confidence and more important than you might think. Loving yourself is the primary precondition for having a happy and balanced life.
 
But, self-love and confidence do not come overnight. It takes practice, effort, and determination to build it.
 
Luckily, writing can help you shape your thoughts and build the self-love and confidence that you need. You can do it in many ways:

• writing down positive affirmations
• writing down one thing you love about yourself every day
• writing down the things you did you’re proud of
• encouraging yourself to step out of your comfort zone

 
Through writing, you'll be able to reveal your hidden talents, bond with yourself, and be your own biggest support. 

7.  Teaches Your to Persevere
​There’s one final benefit of writing regularly, and that is teaching yourself the importance of discipline and perseverance. When writing becomes a regular habit, you’ll soon notice:

• how great you feel when you’re writing
• how much burden it takes off your shoulders
• how fun it is
• how you’re getting better at shaping your thoughts

 
That means that writing will help you understand that you can do anything when you're determined. You could even start blogging, writing articles, and sharing your writing with others. If you do, Get Good Grade can help you polish your writing at first. You can also use Pixabay or Canva to add visuals to the mixture.    

Final Thoughts
Writing is one of the best hobbies you can take on to build your inner peace and shape your thinking. Positive thinking and a forward-looking attitude can take you a long way.
 
The tips and examples provided above will hopefully help you realize the true power of writing, whether you’re doing it just for yourself in a journal or you’re writing to share with others.