Why Your KDP Images Look Blurry and How to Fix Them

Blurry images in KDP books usually happen because the image does not have enough pixels for the size it is printed. A picture may look fine on your screen but still print poorly.

Common causes

• The image was downloaded from the web at low resolution.
• The image was stretched too large in the manuscript.
• The image is below 300 DPI at print size.
• The file was compressed too much.
• The original image was already blurry.

How to check image quality

Look at the pixel dimensions first. DPI only matters when connected to print size. For example, a 900 pixel wide image can print 3 inches wide at 300 DPI, but only 1.5 inches wide at 600 DPI.

How to fix it

Start with the best source image you have. Then resize or upscale it to the pixel dimensions needed for your print size. Avoid stretching images manually in Word, Canva, or another layout tool.

Best export format

Use PNG for graphics with text, icons, and sharp lines. Use high-quality JPEG for photos.