When authors are ready to move past the convenience store model of print-on-demand and focus on a cost-effective business model, they choose the offset printing model.

Offset printing gives the author full control over the materials used to create a quality end-product.

If you want to read more about the differences between offset printing and print-on-demand, lots of content is waiting for you below.


Amazon KDP and IngramSpark offer extremely limited options for your interior paper:

Amazon KDP (source)

  • Black and White Interior
    • Black ink and 55# (90 GSM) cream paper
    • Black ink and 55# (90 GSM) white paper
  • Color Interior
    • Standard color interior with 55# (90 GSM) white paper
    • Premium color ink and 60# (100 GSM) white paper

IngramSpark (source)

  • Black and White Interior
    • Black ink: 50# (74 GSM) cream paper
    • Black ink: 50# (74 GSM) white paper
  • Color Interior
    • Standard color ink: 50# (74 GSM) white paper
    • Standard color ink: 70# (104 GSM) white paper
    • Premium color ink: 70# (104 GSM) white paper

That’s it! You do NOT even have the option of coated/uncoated/glossy/matte. While these options are passable for basic black-and-white books, print-on-demand should be your last option for printing your illustrated children’s book. Even then, you should approach POD as the non-profitable model that it is.

Offset printing was utilized on the book at the top. The offset printed book at the top used 105lb glossy coated paper. The book on the bottom is from IngramSpark. They only offer uncoated 70lb paper.

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark offer extremely limited options for your hardback’s interior layout:

Beginning of book: The hardback from IngramSpark will ALWAYS have white endsheets. You do not have the option of colored endsheets, custom endsheets, or self-ends.
End of book: The hardback from IngramSpark will ALWAYS have white endsheets. You do not have the option of colored endsheets, custom endsheets, or self-ends.

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark do not offer the printing and care quality of a dedicated printer:

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you which one is which.

Limited Control Over Your Distribution

Print-On-Demand truly utilizes some amazing technology. The ability to upload and sell your books through Amazon’s platform is very alluring. But for all of the good these platforms offer, your book is often not stored or shipped with care, which can result in a very unpleasant experience for the customer.

Look at this picture below. I ordered a client’s book that is currently up on POD and this is how it came to me, delivered by hand from my mailman. So it didn’t even have a chance to get smushed in my mailbox. One reason this happened is that a very low-grade of cover stock and interior paper were used. To be fair, the books next to it are a mix of POD and offset and you can’t tell them apart in this photo. But you can in person. The flimsy cover and paper are definitely a huge letdown for the POD books.

And these are just a few of the reasons why POD is not the best option for the quality-minded author. I have many more points that I can cover with you on a no-obligation video call. We can cover more pros/cons, discuss funding options for your book, and share our full range of services with you.

If you want to read more about the differences between offset printing and print-on-demand, lots of content is waiting for you below.


Amazon KDP and IngramSpark offer extremely limited options for your interior paper:

Amazon KDP (source)

  • Black and White Interior
    • Black ink and 55# (90 GSM) cream paper
    • Black ink and 55# (90 GSM) white paper
  • Color Interior
    • Standard color interior with 55# (90 GSM) white paper
    • Premium color ink and 60# (100 GSM) white paper

IngramSpark (source)

  • Black and White Interior
    • Black ink: 50# (74 GSM) cream paper
    • Black ink: 50# (74 GSM) white paper
  • Color Interior
    • Standard color ink: 50# (74 GSM) white paper
    • Standard color ink: 70# (104 GSM) white paper
    • Premium color ink: 70# (104 GSM) white paper

That’s it! You do NOT even have the option of coated/uncoated/glossy/matte. While these options are passable for basic black-and-white books, print-on-demand should be your last option for printing your illustrated children’s book. Even then, you should approach POD as the non-profitable model that it is.

Offset printing was utilized on the book at the top. The offset printed book at the top used 105lb glossy coated paper. The book on the bottom is from IngramSpark. They only offer uncoated 70lb paper.

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark offer extremely limited options for your hardback’s interior layout:

Beginning of book: The hardback from IngramSpark will ALWAYS have white endsheets. You do not have the option of colored endsheets, custom endsheets, or self-ends.
End of book: The hardback from IngramSpark will ALWAYS have white endsheets. You do not have the option of colored endsheets, custom endsheets, or self-ends.

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark do not offer the printing and care quality of a dedicated printer:

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you which one is which.

Limited Control Over Your Distribution

Print-On-Demand truly utilizes some amazing technology. The ability to upload and sell your books through Amazon’s platform is very alluring. But for all of the good these platforms offer, your book is often not stored or shipped with care, which can result in a very unpleasant experience for the customer.

Look at this picture below. I ordered a client’s book that is currently up on POD and this is how it came to me, delivered by hand from my mailman. So it didn’t even have a chance to get smushed in my mailbox. One reason this happened is that a very low-grade of cover stock and interior paper were used. To be fair, the books next to it are a mix of POD and offset and you can’t tell them apart in this photo. But you can in person. The flimsy cover and paper are definitely a huge letdown for the POD books.

And these are just a few of the reasons why POD is not the best option for the quality-minded author. I have many more points that I can cover with you on a no-obligation video call. We can cover more pros/cons, discuss funding options for your book, and share our full range of services with you.

Free Workflow Process: How to Organize Your Manuscript.