Ingram Lightning Source

Print-On-Demand

A simply better way to meet customer demand without overprinting. Take control of your printing costs—print only what you sell, and create a clear path to more sales plus lower overheads using Ingram’s Lightning Source® print-on-demand service.

Banner Image as Decoration

Millions of Readers. One Easy-to-Use Platform.
Sign up today for Ingram iD and get access to millions of readers looking for their next book.

Why Print-On-Demand?

Incredibly scalable, print-on-demand from Lightning Source is designed to help you not only cut the cost of printing, but also expand your market reach and optimize profits on every book sold, whether one copy or 1,000.

mass markets

Dramatically increase your market exposure through more than 39,000 retailers, libraries, and more.

inventory control

Improve inventory control and significantly reduce overhead by eliminating book warehousing costs.

fast orders

Fast turn-around times. Most book orders print and ship within 48 hours.

backlist sales

Revive backlist sales and ensure every title in your catalog is always in-print so you never miss a sale.

large distribution network

Access to the largest global book distribution network of wholesalers, retailers, and book sellers.

customer service

Fulfillment specialists working behind the scenes to ensure customers get their book orders on time.

How Print-On-Demand Works

A technological publishing feat of innovation, on-demand book printing cuts the distance and time between you and your customers by only printing the books you need, when you need them.

number one

Upload your titles to Lightning Source.

number two

Titles are made available to our global book distribution network.

number three

Customers order your titles—online or in stores.

number four

Lightning Source prints only those books.

number five

You choose if books are shipped direct to you or your customers.

"Ingram has stepped up and essentially rescued Gwendy's Final Task from certain disaster by fulfilling multiple high quantity print orders at an affordable cost and a workable time frame. Meeting retail demand will still present a challenge for us, but thanks to Ingram, it's now a possibility."

— Cemetery Dance Publications

Ways To Use Print-On-Demand

Incredibly scalable and more viable for a fast moving marketplace, one publishing partner opens up a world of endless opportunities for your business.

Print books on demand

Wholesale Solutions

Everyone is a potential customer when you are plugged into one of the largest wholesale networks with access to more than 39,000 wholesale book distribution channels, domestic and international.

Print-To-Order

Your titles made immediately available for print upon upload. So when demand changes you’re more than ready to capture every book sale.

Guaranteed Availability Program

Bridge the GAP between supply and demand, and always know your customers will have the books they want when they want them.

Global Distribution

A simpler way to sell more books in markets all over the world, from Mumbai to Milan, Global Connect puts millions of readers within reach.

Publisher Direct

Ingram's Lightning Source energizes your entire production process from order to fulfillment, working behind the scenes to help you reduce risk, save time and money, and provide your customers with timely delivery and unprecedented service.

Drop Shipping

With distribution centers coast-to-coast, you can be assured your books will arrive fast and intact, making every customer a return customer.

Short Run Direct

Print-on-demand with Short Run Direct simplifies the more stressful parts of your book production process for a risk-free solution that offers big returns. All the pricing benefits of large runs, more frequently, in smaller orders.

Publisher Education Hub

Publisher Education Hub

A dedicated place for industry best practices, tips and tricks on navigating the publisher landscape. Access free publisher-focused guides, blogs, webinars and expert videos created with you in mind.

Education Hub

Get Started with Print-On-Demand