Figure Preparation Checklist for Accepted Articles
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The quality of the figures you submit has a direct bearing on the ultimate printed quality of your paper. Figures may be submitted electronically, camera-ready, or as a combination of both. Please use this checklist as a guide when preparing your final figures.
Submittal of Figures as Electronic Files
- Submit electronically created figures on CD (see also “Electronic Submittal Guidelines: Submission Formats for Accepted Articles ”).
For additional information on preparing electronic files, visit the Cadmus Web site or contact Anne Pinkey at apinkey@aapg.org; or 918-560-2624. Graphics prepared using Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop produce the best results. - Provide high-quality laser prints of all your electronic figures; figures will be scanned if translation problems occur.
Submittal of Figures as Original Art
- Submit black and white line art as original art (returned on request) or laser prints.
- Submit photographs as good-quality prints. Color photographs (that will be reproduced in color in the Bulletin) may also be submitted as original slides (not duplicates).
- Do not send photographic negatives or screened copies of photographs.
Patterns, Screens, and Lines
- When possible, use patterns instead of dot screens.
- If dot screens are used, use screens with coarse dots (no finer than 65 lines).
- Dot screens must be between 20 and 70% black. A screen that is less than 20% black will reproduce as white, and a screen that is more than 70% black will reproduce as black.
- Dot screens that represent different values in the same illustration must differ by at least 20%. Subtle shadings are not distinguishable in final production.
- When using more than three patterns, a combination of dot and line patterns is best.
- Check all line weights carefully; lines must be defined 0.6 or higher. Laser printers can fool you because they will print a line no matter how fine its definition, but the high-resolution equipment used by printers can render lines so fine they are invisible.
Orientation
- Mark the orientation of the figure by placing the figure number in the lower right corner of the figure.
Appearance
- Size any text to scale with the rest of the figure so that if the figure is reduced, text will be legible.
- Place any labels that cross a pattern or textured area on a white background.
- Do not put titles on figures; incorporate that information into the caption.
- Include scales on maps and charts, and label axes on graphs.
- Make sure any borders are square with the figure.
- Correct weak lines and broken letters.
- Check the overall appearance and spelling.
Size
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We size figures according to the following chart:
COLUMN WIDTH LENGTH one column
3 in. (8 cm)
9 in. (23 cm)
one-and-one-half columns
5 in. (13 cm)
9 in. (23 cm)
two columns
7 in. (17 cm)
9 in. (23 cm)
broadside
9 in. (23 cm)
7 in. (17 cm)
We can print large figures across two pages or as foldouts (foldout expense is borne by the author).
The editor reserves the option to resize figures. Original figures or photographs returned on request.