Close Unresolved Illustration Slots Before Final Export

Before exporting an illustrated book, reconcile every reserved image slot with its final decision. Each slot should contain an accepted asset, be intentionally removed with dependent text revised, or remain visibly unresolved and prevent final approval. Check captions and references against the actual included images. A layout that appears complete can still contain provisional artwork or instructions written for an illustration that never arrived.

Inventory the slots that the manuscript expects

List each planned illustration with its purpose and location in the editable manuscript. Use stable identifiers rather than relying only on page numbers, which can change during layout. Include diagrams, worked-example images, chapter artwork, and any other reserved positions that affect the reader's understanding. The inventory should describe what each image contributes, not simply count blank spaces.

For a guide to arranging a small display, one slot might demonstrate two alternative layouts while another marks the sequence for preparing labels. These purposes create different acceptance questions. The comparison image must actually support a comparison, while the sequence illustration must agree with the steps in the text. Recording that intent gives the final review a substantive standard beyond whether an image file exists.

Match accepted assets to their intended roles

Connect each included slot to the actual asset selected for release and distinguish it from drafts or rejected variants. Inspect the image beside its surrounding explanation. Confirm that labels, objects, and relationships match what the text says. A visually polished replacement can still be wrong if it depicts a different process or omits the feature the reader is asked to notice.

Keep the asset's source and revision identifiers available for later correction. Preserve origin records needed for the author's review under current KDP guidance, including AI-generated material where applicable. Do not treat acceptance of visual quality as a substitute for reviewing content, provenance, or intended use. The slot record should connect these pieces without pretending that one check proves all of them.

Resolve missing images through an editorial decision

If an asset is still missing or unsuitable, decide whether to complete it, redesign the explanation, or remove the slot. Evaluate the reader consequence before choosing. An essential process diagram cannot be replaced by a decorative image simply to fill the layout. Conversely, a decorative slot may be removable without weakening the instruction if the surrounding design is adjusted carefully.

When removing a slot, revise captions, references, and transitions that assumed the image would appear. Search for phrases such as a reference to the figure or an instruction to compare panels, then read those passages in context. A deleted placeholder can leave the manuscript referring to an absent teaching aid. Record the reason for removal so a later editor does not reintroduce the slot from an older plan without understanding the decision.

Inspect the actual layout after placement

Review the accepted images at their intended size in the actual output workflow. Check readability, placement, and the relationship between the figure and its explanation. A detailed source file may become difficult to interpret when reduced. If important information is lost, revise the presentation or content rather than approving the image solely because its original resolution was high.

Look for provisional captions, placeholder labels, and duplicated assets introduced during assembly. Compare the output against the slot inventory rather than reviewing only the most noticeable pages. Where the book has multiple formats, inspect each edition's treatment separately. An image can serve the same instructional purpose while requiring a different arrangement or explanation in a reflowable ebook and a printed page.

Close the inventory against the release files

Mark each slot with a final state and the evidence supporting it. Included slots should identify the accepted asset and reviewed location; removed slots should identify the manuscript correction; unresolved slots should remain explicit. Do not allow a general export-complete status to hide an open content decision. The inventory is useful precisely because it separates file production from editorial completion.

After the final export, open the selected release file and verify the important mappings again. Preserve its identifier with the accepted manuscript and assets. If a later change replaces an illustration, use the record to locate dependent captions and references before re-exporting. This closes the gap between the original illustration plan and the book readers actually receive, while making future revisions easier to understand and review.