Cermify · Error Library · KDP

Cover · C-SAFE

Text or critical art outside the safe zone

Critical cover content sits too close to trim or fold edges and may be clipped or hard to read after binding.

Severity
warning
Automatic repair
Manual / guided
Submission impact
KDP: warning
Rule ID
C-SAFE
Error: Text or critical art outside the safe zone
Category: Cover
Severity: warning
Auto Repair: Not automatic
Rule ID: C-SAFE
Affected: KDP=warning, Apple=unknown, Google=unknown, Kobo=unknown
Check this automatically with Cermify

Why this happens

How platforms treat it

PlatformResult
KDPwarning
Apple Booksunknown
Google Playunknown
Kobounknown

How Cermify detects it

  1. Compute front/back safe text zones from trim and bleed.
  2. Inspect critical content boxes against those zones.
  3. Flag critical boxes that are not fully contained.
  4. Report as warning for guided adjustment.

Automatic repair

Not auto-moved. Positioning requires design judgment; use overlays and nudge content in the source tool.

Manual fix

  1. Show safe-zone guides on the KDP template.
  2. Move titles, credits, and barcodes-adjacent text inward.
  3. Keep spine text centered with margin from folds.
  4. Re-export and confirm no critical boxes remain outside the safe zone.

Examples

Keep critical text/art inside safe zones.

Incorrect

Title box overlaps trim margin (critical: true)
Outside front safe zone

Correct

Title fully inside front safe zone
≥ manufacturing margin from trim/folds

FAQ

Will KDP reject safe-zone warnings?

Not always, but clipped text causes poor reviews and print complaints. Treat C-SAFE as publish-blocking quality work.

Are barcodes part of C-SAFE?

Barcode clear-zone collisions are C-BARCODE. C-SAFE covers general critical content vs trim/safe margins.

What counts as critical content?

Elements marked critical (title, author, spine text, key logos). Decorative full-bleed art may intentionally leave the safe zone.

Related errors

References