Add Background Images to Print Pages

Background images let you add visual interest to your printed book by placing custom images behind your text on specific pages. This powerful print-only feature is perfect for creating chapter openers with textured backgrounds, adding decorative elements to special sections, or establishing atmosphere throughout your manuscript.

Note

Background images only appear in print PDFs. They will not display in ebook formats (EPUB or ebook PDF).

Access Background Image Settings

You can add background images to any section through the print settings panel.

1. Open the section you want to customize in your book.
2. Click the options menu for that section.
3. Select Customize print settings.
4. Navigate to the Background images tab.

You’ll see a grid where you can configure page backgrounds for this section.

Add Background Images to Pages

Each background image is assigned to a specific page number within your section. You have complete flexibility to add as many different background images as you need.

Configure Individual Backgrounds

To add a background image:

1. Select an empty slot in the background images grid.
2. Choose your image file.
3. Assign it to a specific page number.
4. Select either Full bleed or Safe zone for the image sizing.

Page number reference: The page number you set is relative to the section, not your entire book. If you assign a background to page 1, it will appear on the first page of that section only.

Tip

You can use the same background image multiple times in a section by assigning it to different page numbers. This is perfect for creating consistent atmosphere across multiple chapter pages.

Full Bleed vs Safe Zone

Full bleed extends the background image to the edge of the trimmed page. This creates a seamless look with no white borders but requires your image to account for the bleed area.

Safe zone keeps the background image within the printable margins. This ensures your background won’t be trimmed during printing.

Apply Backgrounds to Multiple Sections

When you’ve designed the perfect background setup for one section, you can easily apply those same settings to other sections in your book. This is a huge time saver when formatting books like “The Llama Chronicles” where each chapter needs the same textured parchment background.

To apply background settings to multiple sections:

1. Configure all the background images and settings in your source section.
2. Click the Apply to others button at the top of the print settings panel.
3. Select all the sections where you want to apply these settings.
4. Confirm to transfer the settings.

Caution

The Apply to others feature transfers all print settings from the source section, not just background images. This includes start page side, header/footer suppression, and any other print customizations. Think of it as applying a complete preset to multiple sections.

This makes Apply to others extremely powerful for maintaining consistency. You can design one section exactly how you want it (backgrounds, headers, page positioning, and more) and then replicate that entire configuration across your book.