Submission Guidelines

Guidelines for Preparing Electronic Artwork

It is important to supply sample files of figures and scans early in the review process so that we can check for software compatibility and advise you regarding formats and other elements. Send your samples with our Electronic Submission Form.

We prefer to receive figures in application files that we use in-house: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PageMaker and QuarkXPress.

If we are not able to work with the software you provide, we may require that you revise illustrations for line weights, type size or labels, and provide these graphics as Postscript files. You may have to make additional changes after the illustrations are copyedited along with your manuscript.

You will find additional editorial information regarding the preparation of your files in our Guidelines for the Electronic Preparation of Manuscripts.

Graphs, charts, and maps:

SIZE: the majority of our books are 6 x 9", with a type area of 4.5 x 7.5". Graphics should fit within that size. It is best to provide artwork at size of reproduction. Figures do not have to be full page.

ORIENTATION: We prefer that graphics be positioned upright rather than broadside; if necessary to print broadside, they can be up to 7.5" wide and 5" high.

SOFTWARE: It is most effective to create illustrations in appropriate graphics applications (such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop) rather than office programs such as Microsoft Word or Excel, or presentation programs such as Powerpoint.

FORMAT: Keep any keying system as simple as possible. We prefer plain screens of black in increments of 20%, starting with the lightest (20% - 40% -60%; screens above that are likely to look black when printed). Avoid heavy patterns such as crosshatching.
Avoid "three-dimensional" bar graphs, pie charts, figures and other "special effects." Simple charts or graphs will be most clearly reproduced and read. Note that your copyeditor may recommend converting simple charts to tables or text.

TYPE STYLE AND USE: We prefer serif type, such as Times Roman or Palatino. Acceptable sans serif type is Helvetica, Univers, or similar, at regular weight, not bold.

Upper- and lowercase labels are easier to read than all caps.
Labels should be between 7 and 9 pt at size of reproduction.
IMPORTANT: Use Postscript fonts; TrueType is not usable.
When sending us files, include all fonts used.

LINE WEIGHTS: Keep line weights between 1/2 point and 2 pt; do not use "hairline" rules. Main axes or outlines should be between 1/2 and 1 pt.

Guidelines for preparing maps

Map sample

Maps are best prepared by professionals with access to map databases and software such as Adobe Illustrator. We can have maps drawn, at your expense, from a sketch of the area to be shown that includes a complete list of locations and place names. If the map and place names are different from contemporary use, indicate the time period.

Drafts of maps will be copyedited and sent to you for approval before we send them to a cartographer.

Maps that an author will supply should follow the general guidelines for preparation of figures; provide a working draft with sample files for our evaluation.

Music files

Music sample

For music files our preferred software is Finale. Music should be supplied as EPS files, with all fonts included (Postscript, not TrueType).

It is especially important with music that we receive sample files early in the review process to confirm compatibility.

Submit with printouts of all files and Electronic Submission Form.

Supplying black and white illustrations

Line and halftone sample

We can ensure most accurate reproduction when we receive halftones and black-and-white illustrations as high-quality glossy prints, 5x7" or 8x10".

We cannot use black-and-white or color negatives; have a photo lab make positive prints.

Color prints or transparencies provided for black-and-white reproduction are usable but will not provide the best quality.

We can work with other formats but cannot guarantee quality of reproduction unless we receive an accurate proof of the final image.

Providing Scans
When scans are submitted, we must see samples before art is accepted.

Tiff is the preferred format. Jpeg format uses compression that loses detail; we cannot use giffs.

Scans can be provided on zip disk, CD (see electronic submission form), or by email or FTP; contact the art director for instructions on electronic transmission. Enclose a clearly labeled printout of each file submitted electronically.

Black and white line art
Images with no gray tones, such as graphs, charts, or cartoons, can be submitted as glossy prints or, after samples have been approved, as high-quality photocopies or laser prints. If scans are the only available format, they should be submitted as bitmap tiffs, scanned at 1200 dpi at 5 x 7". See samples or contact the art director for guidelines.

Black-and-white halftones
Photographs, paintings, and drawings with gray tones will be reproduced as halftones. They should be scanned as grayscale tiffs at 300 dpi, 5 x 7" for text illustrations, or to the final size of reproduction.

Damaged photographs (with spots, creases, or other flaws) can be repaired electronically in Adobe Photoshop. Color and contrast can also be adjusted to some extent. However, for the best reproduction, supply a print that looks the way it should in the printed book. The cost of making extensive correction to the scans you provide, if either requested or necessary, will be billed to you. We will provide an estimate before work is done.

Providing color scans

We can only guarantee the accuracy of color reproduction if you supply a transparency, glossy print, or color scan with a high-resolution proof. We prefer to receive color artwork as transparencies (8 x 10" or 4 x 5" preferred; 35mm is acceptable) or color prints.

If you choose to provide color art as scans, they should be CMYK tiff format. Provide a hard copy if possible showing accurate color. Ideally, show a color bar with the scan.

Scans must be 300 dpi at final size for best reproduction; 5 x 7" should be adequate unless you know the artwork will be reproduced larger (particularly if it is for cover use).

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