Page 98 - How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 8th Edition 8th Edition

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photograph is of a field that can be printed in any orientation, mark "top" on a narrow side. (That is, on a 4 by 6 or 8
by 10 print, the 4-inch or 8-inch dimension should be the width, so that less reduction will be required to reach one-
column or one-page width.)

As with tables, it is a good idea to indicate the preferred location for each illustration. In this way, you will be sure
that all illustrations have been referred to in the text, in one-two-three order, and the printer will know how to weave
the illustrations into the text so that each one is close to the text related to it.

With electron micrographs, put a micrometer marker directly on the micrograph. In this way, regardless of the
percentage of reduction (or even enlargement) in the printing process, the magnification factor is clearly evident. The
practice of putting the magnification in the legend (e.g., x 50,000) is not advisable, and some journals no longer allow
it, precisely because the size (and thus magnification) is likely to change in printing. And, usually, the author forgets
to change the magnification at the proof stage.

Color Photographs

Although many laboratories are now equipped to make them, color photographs are seldom printed in journals; the
cost is sometimes prohibitive. Many journals will print a color illustration if the editor agrees that color is necessary to
show the particular phenomenon and if the author can pay (perhaps from grant funds) part or all of the additional
printing cost. Therefore, your laboratory photographs should normally

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be done in black and white because that is what can be printed. Although color photographs can be printed in black
and white, they often wash out and do not have the fidelity of original black-and-white photographs.

In recent years, the cost of printing four-color illustrations has come down somewhat, and the use of color in some
fields (clinical medicine, crystallography, as examples) has become common. In addition, many medical journals carry
a large number of four-color ads, and color photographs can then sometimes be printed in the text at minimal cost
(most of the cost having been absorbed by the advertisers). Incidentally, color slides are peferable to prints for
reproduction in journals.

Pen-and-Ink Illustrations

In some areas (especially descriptive biology), pen-and-ink illustrations (line drawings) are superior to photographs in
showing significant details. Such illustrations are also common in medicine, especially in presenting anatomic views,
and indeed have become virtually an art form. Normally, the services of a professional illustrator are required when
such illustrations are necessary.

Preparing Photographs and Drawings Electronically

Many journals accepting digital manuscripts will also accept digital images along with traditionally prepared drawings
and photographs. If you are submitting hand-drawn black-and-white images, they can be scanned with a conventional
office scanner, preferably set at 600 dots per inch (dpi). If you plan to submit your photographs or gray-level drawings
in digital format, you will find that reproduction should be at least 1200 dpi or higher for the best quality image.
Because most office-quality scanners do not provide that high a resolution, you will need to have scans made at a
service bureau. When getting scans made, tell your service bureau that the scans will be used for reproduction.

Digital photographs can be created with a digital camera. Cameras that are advertised for $800 or less will not be
suitable; their resolution is meant for the screen, not for print. Quality high-resolution digital cameras are expensive,
with prices ranging from $10,000 to over $50,000 depending on features. Another way to go digital is to use a

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