Book formatting with a traditionally-published look
If there’s one thing we specialize in, it’s formatting. This vital element of book production is often overlooked by indie authors, but it’s just as important as editing and cover design. Quality formatting enhances your story, making it rival any traditionally published book on the market and providing readers with a seamless reading experience.
While auto-formatting programs like Atticus and Vellum offer quick, templated solutions, they lack the precision and customization that a professional layout demands. At Alt 19 Creative, we use Adobe InDesign, the industry-standard software trusted by traditional publishers, to create interiors with flawless typography, balanced page layouts, and customized design elements that aren’t possible with automated tools. This ensures better readability, superior aesthetics, and a polished, professional finish—giving your book the quality it deserves.
With expert craftsmanship and attention to detail, Alt 19 Creative transforms your manuscript into a beautifully formatted book, ensuring a seamless experience for both print and eBook readers. Whether you need an efficient, budget-friendly option or a luxurious special edition, we offer three levels of formatting to suit every project and budget.
- Essential, print and eBook
Perfect for authors looking for a quick, clean, and cost-effective solution, the Essential offers beautifully formatted interiors using a range of professional templates. - Signature, print and eBook
Elevate your book’s interior with our Signature Design, where we craft a fully customized look based on your manuscript and cover. Perfect for authors who want their interior to stand out. - Bespoke, print only
Designed for special editions, the Bespoke is the ultimate in luxury formatting. This package is perfect for authors looking to create stunning keepsakes for their readers or for Kickstarter campaigns.
If you are looking for formatting for an omnibus, children’s illustrated, or nonfiction books, such as memoirs, cookbooks, financial books, workbooks, etc., please use the contact form below for a quote as these are quoted on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the complexities of the manuscript. We provide additional price information for these types of books below.
Print Formatting
For print formatting, we design your interior in Adobe InDesign, the leading layout software that is used by professional publishers. Your print book will rival any traditionally-published book on the market and provide your readers with the best possible reading experience. Our print standards are:
- formatting completed in Adobe InDesign
- professional and proper structure with countless design possibilities
- readable typography
- balanced pages
- no runts, widows, or orphans (unless absolutely necessary for balanced pages)
- match overall look and feel of cover for a cohesive book product
- PDF file provided
eBook Formatting
For eBook formatting, we set up your manuscript in Adobe InDesign, export it as an ePUB, then crack it open and make custom tweaks to ensure your eBook meets our standards. Our eBook standards are:
- small file size (essential for KDP as they charge a delivery fee)
- validated, error-free files
- match print book, including cover, as much as possible (if applicable)
- the best possible reading experience for your readers
- ePUB file is provided
Formatting Process with Alt 19 Creative
Order Formatting
Pick your formatting level. Pay in full or a 25% deposit for Signature and Bespoke.
Schedule
Within 2 business days of placing your order, you’ll receive an email with detailed information about your interior project.
Draft/Concepts
You’ll receive a draft or concept(s), depending on your formatting level.
Edits
Once your book is formatted, you may notice the need for edits. A certain amount of edits are included which each formatting option.
Final Approval
We’ll prepare the final files and submit to you via email. Remaining balance is due before final files will be sent if you did not pay in full.
Formatting Levels
Our Essential, Signature, and Bespoke formatting options are available for any novel. If your book is a memoir or a nonfiction, be sure to contact us for a custom quote. Our Essential and Signature options include both print and eBook. Our Bespoke includes only print. If you are publishing a book series and want your interiors to be cohesive with each other, additional books in the series are discounted to an Essentials format if you choose the Signature option for the first book. We do not offer eBook only formatting.
Essential
You choose between several professionally designed templates. We’ll set your manuscript to the chosen design and your book size. No customization to the template other than with or without graphics and with or without dropcap.
Timeline: 1 to 2 weeks.
Receivables: print PDF and ePUB (eBook).
$120 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $10 per additional 10,000 words
- Pick between several design options
- Include up to 3 author-provided images (such as an author photo, author logo, and/or publishing company logo).
- Choose between drop cap and no drop cap.
- 2 rounds of edits with up to 20 edits (before eBook is created), Additional rounds are $5 per round and $2 per edit (after eBook is created). Option to edit in a Google Docs folder available.
Signature
Cohesive interior design tailored to your story and cover. We’ll provide up to 3 design concepts (additional concepts available for a fee). Perfect for authors who want their interior to stand out. Can be ordered without the eBook option.
Timeline: 2 to 4 weeks. Must reserve a calendar spot.
Receivables: print PDF and ePUB (eBook).
$200 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $10 per additional 10,000 words
- Up to 2 custom-design concepts, including a custom designed title page and up to 4 custom design chapter title pages (allows different designs for changes in POV).
- Include up to 3 author-provided images (such as an author photo, author logo, and/or publishing company logo). additional images are $2 each
- 3 rounds of edits with up to 30 edits (before eBook is created), Additional rounds are $5 per round and $2 per edit (after eBook is created). Option to edit in a Google Docs folder available.
Bespoke
Designed for special editions or stunning print versions. Perfect for authors who do a lot of in-person events or Kickstarter campaigns. Only for print versions and can be an omnibus. We can set it up for any printer. You can add on a Signature eBook.
Timeline: 4 to 6 weeks. Must reserve a calendar spot.
Receivables: print PDF and 3-D mockups of 5 double-page spreads for marketing.
$400 and up
- For novels up to 75,000 words
- Additional $25 per additional 25,000 words
- Up to 2 custom-design concepts, each concept to include a custom designed title page, custom designed front matter pages (playlist, author’s note, etc.), up to 3 part or book title pages, up to 4 custom design chapter title pages (allows different designs for changes in POV), and custom designed back matter pages.
- 3 rounds of edits with up to 30 edits, Additional rounds are $10 per round and $1 per edit (after final file has been created). Option to edit in a Google Docs folder available.
- Can include forced edges for an additional $100 fee.
Formatting Portfolio
- Select your formatting level based on your needs and budget. Order from Alt 19 Creative’s store. For the Essentials, due to the quick turnaround and lower price, we require payment up front. For Signature and Bespoke levels of formatting, you have the option to pay a 25% deposit or in full for us to get started. If you pay a deposit, the remaining balance will be due before delivery of final files.
- Essentials formatting does not require for you to reserve a calendar spot. You will need a calendar spot for Signature and Bespoke formatting. We are usually booked up 1 to 2 months for Signature and Bespoke formatting.
- Within 2 business days of placing your order, you’ll receive a detailed email with your start date as well as a link to submit your information and manuscript.
- Complete the provided questionnaire and submit your FINAL manuscript at least 24 hours before your scheduled start date. Failure to submit your information and manuscript in time will result in a delayed start date. If editing has set your timeline back, contact us as soon as possible to reschedule your start date.
- Once you’ve given Alt 19 Creative final approve of your draft, we will prepare the final print-ready PDF (for print formatting) and ePUB (for eBook formatting with Essential or Signature). Remaining balance is due before final files will be sent.
- If you are on a deadline and want to inquire about timelines and available start dates before placing your order, complete the form below.
- It’s imperative you submit your FINAL, edited manuscript. You’ll have the opportunity to make small changes after. However, substantial changes may require a reformat in which you may incur additional fees.
- If you come back for edits after your book is finalized, there is a $5 per round with $2 per edit charge.
- We’ll release a packaged InDesign file to you for an additional $200. Fonts will not be included due to licensing restrictions; however, we will provide links to the fonts for you to purchase. In most cases, we utilize fonts provided by Adobe that are available through a Creative Cloud subscription. Use the InDesign file at your own risk. If you need to come back to us to correct an issue created in the file after we’ve released it, we charge $60 an hour for consultation or to correct the file.
- We utilize stock images. By purchasing our formatting services, you are agreeing to the terms of any license agreement for any images purchased by Alt 19 Creative through a third-party image provider for use in the interior design. The final cost includes the license to use these images and may be limited to a print run of 500,000 units, depending on the terms of the third-party provider. If print run is exceeded, additional licensing may be required. More details will be provided on the images and the third-party providers used upon request. The original photographer owns the copyright to the images, and they cannot be distributed in any manner other than in the interior design, including promotional images based on the interior.
- Alt 19 Creative has the right to use the print layout for portfolio and advertising purposes on their website and social media accounts. Less than ten page spreads will be used.
- Please credit Alt 19 Creative on your copyright page for interior formatting.
- Nonfiction: Our base fee for nonfiction books is $400. Additional fees depending on word count and special formatting such as tables, images, forms, bulleted lists, numbered lists, varying levels of headings, block quotes, etc. Also, if you want an eBook file, the additional fee ranges betwee $50 and $100, depending upon the complexity of the book.
- Cookbook: Our base fee for cookbook formatting is $400 plus $5 per recipe. Additional fees may apply depending on complexity of recipes and front and back matter contents. Also, if you want an eBook file, the additional fee ranges betwee $50 and $100, depending upon the complexity of the book and whether you want a fixed layout or reflowable (recommended).
- Children’s Illustrated: Our base fee for children’s illustrated books is $200 for up to 32 pages. Additional pages are $5 each. There is a $50 add-on for a fixed layout eBook (for both Kindle and ePUB).
