GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Linux
OS Version: Xubuntu
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

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Hey Gimpers. This screenshot is from Amazon.com (from the same page). My book is "Rise..." See all the splotchiness (around the images), while the other guy's cover is smooth and uniform. I made my cover in GIMP 2.8. Did I do something wrong that my (red) color looks so splotchy? Can I do something to get it smooth and uniform like the other cover? Thanks.

Sorry, but I can't see your image?

I sort of remembered where the image came from

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=16164#p224262

...and the image there was very small for a book cover only 200x302 pix, although print resolution set to 300 as if for sending to a printer.

The background there is fine.

What happened in the meantime? Only iggy can answer that.

Looks as if it has been re-exported as a low quality jpeg many times, but even then difficult to scramble the background like that.

More information on procedure sending to Amazon needed. Could be Amazon used the print resolution and created a thumbnail from a tiny 17mm x 25mm image.

Sorry, atlanta. Hopefully you can see it now. (I can see it.)

Thanks Wallace. I added the dropshadows to the .xcf and reduced it to 150X226. One I did with one pixel drop shadow, the other with five. Do you think the one is enough? I also left unchecked the "allow resizing" box--is that all right?



I just checked them against the original post and they look so much better, but I'm going to post what a 150X226 looks like without the dropshadow to rule out that it might just be Amazon's version that is splotchy.

Yeah, the one with no dropshadow doesn't look splotchy.

It's just on Amazon and just on the thumbnail that the problem happens. (When I look at the thumbnail on GIMP or anywhere else it looks fine. I had a red cover on Amazon that was splotchy in the thumbnail before. I even contacted Amazon and they gave me some kind of a runaround that it was my file that was the problem.) I will try the dropshadow though and see what happens. But yeah, if you could let me know if you think the one px dropshadow is sufficient or if not, what you think might be optimal. Thanks.

Hi Rich. Thanks. Everyone says to upload 300 resolution covers to Kindle Direct Publishing. So was I supposed to lower the resolution for the 200X302 you referred to? And anyway, once Amazon has a cover (and I submit a 1838X2775 .jpg), I have no say about resizing. (Kindle Direct Publishing does accept .png files. But I always think .jpgs are more flexible for re-sizing. Think it might be better to submit a .png?) And I was very careful about not over-resizing or over-exporting when I made the file. I have seen problems with red in other Amazon thumbnails. I really do think the problem is on their end. But I'll try Wallace's dropshadow suggestion and see if that helps.

I see the blurb on requirements here https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200645690 300dpi is correct

For size says To ensure the best quality...the height...at least 2,500 pixels. Ideal dimensions for cover files are 2,560 x 1,600 pixels so at 1838 x 2775 pix you are ok for height.



You have plenty of scope for exporting File types mentioned are jpeg and tif. An uncompressed tif will be a lot larger than a jpeg maybe about 15 MB but if a png is acceptable, much preferable where text is involved than a jpeg and might be 1.5 MB-ish.

Amazon again For the best results, upload your images with minimal compression A png while compressed is a lossless compression, do not worry about that.



Very careful not over-resizing is a dubious policy. Start off with correct size is better

Hope the tweaks work, best of luck

Thanks Wallace. Had to answer down here, as I got a message saying I could only embed three quotes. Anyway, I' ll try the dropshadow and upload to Amazon and see what happens. Appreciate it.

Thanks a lot, Rich. I'm going to try the tweaks and upload a png this time. Appreciate it.