After artwork is reordered, compare the list of figures with the actual illustrations in the final manuscript. Verify numbering, titles, page locators, and the rules for inclusion. Regenerate or revise the list from the approved figure records, then test its navigation in the publication output.
Define which illustrations belong in the list
A book may contain instructional figures, decorative images, chapter ornaments, and repeated icons. Decide which types the list of figures includes and apply that decision consistently. Otherwise, an omitted decorative image can look like an error while a missing instructional diagram goes unnoticed.
Keep the rule in the editorial record. For a practical guide, the list might help readers locate diagrams they need to consult again. That purpose can justify a different selection from an art catalog whose illustrations are themselves the primary contents. The list should serve the book's reader rather than follow an unexplained habit.
Match each entry to an actual figure
Use stable figure identifiers to reconcile the inventory with the manuscript. Check that every included entry has one intended destination and that every required figure has an entry. A removed image can leave behind a plausible title in the list long after the layout editor has deleted the picture.
Inspect replacements as well as removals. A new diagram may occupy the same slot while explaining a different subject. Retaining the previous entry because its page number still works can send readers to an illustration that does not answer the question implied by the list.
Check numbering after movement
Confirm the numbering convention and review the sequence after reordering. Some books number figures continuously, while others use a chapter-based convention. Keep the selected approach coherent and update references in the prose when a figure's displayed number changes.
Do not rely on numbers as permanent identities in the working record. A stable identifier makes it possible to recognize the same illustration before and after movement. This reduces the risk of correcting one reference while accidentally connecting another passage to a different figure with a reused number.
Reconcile titles with final captions
Compare the list wording with the approved captions and decide how shortened entries should work. A concise title can be useful, but it must still identify the same subject. Check for abbreviations or old terminology that survived from an earlier illustration brief.
Avoid copying an entire long caption into the list without considering its function. Readers usually need enough information to locate the figure, while the caption can provide detailed explanation at the destination. Keep that distinction intentional and ensure that any shortened wording remains accurate after the figure changes.
Verify locators in the actual output
Check page references against the printed numbering in the final file, not just the editing application's current page view. If the publication format supports linked navigation, follow the links and inspect their destinations. The list's source structure and the reader-facing navigation need separate examination.
Pay special attention to chapter openings, blank pages, and figures that moved during final pagination. Those changes can invalidate locators even when the entries themselves remain correct. Record which file version the navigation review covers so a later export does not inherit approval without a relevant comparison.
Close the list with the release inventory
Before handoff, compare the approved list, the figure inventory, and the exported manuscript one last time. Explain intentional exclusions and resolve entries with missing or ambiguous destinations. Keep the list's maintenance source available so future revisions do not require reconstructing it from the finished pages.
Use the applicable KDP formatting guidance for the publication output, while recognizing that a technically readable list can still point to the wrong content. The editorial check is complete when readers can use the list to reach the intended illustrations reliably and the production record makes clear which manuscript and artwork versions were verified together.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for this publishing decision.
Should decorative images appear in the list of figures?
Choose a rule based on the list’s reader purpose and apply it consistently. Record intentional exclusions so they remain distinguishable from missing entries during later review.
Can a stable page number prove an entry is still correct?
No. The figure occupying that page may have changed. Compare the entry’s meaning with the actual illustration and its final caption as well as checking the locator.
What should be rechecked after reordering figures?
Review numbering, prose references, entry titles, inclusion, and destinations. Verify the actual exported navigation after pagination is settled, using stable identifiers to track the underlying illustrations.
How wide does the full-wrap cover need to be, and how thick is the spine?
The cover width is back cover plus spine plus front cover plus bleed on both sides; the spine width is the final even page count multiplied by the paper-specific factor Amazon publishes, so the cover cannot be sized before the interior page count is final.
Prepare the cover in a book project