Titivillus Editing for the Health Sciences: Stage 8. Figure Editing

Titivillus Editing for the Health Sciences

Preparing Ideas and Research Results for Publication

Timothy DeVinney, Author's Editor and Copy Editor

Titivillus Editorial Services

Stage 8. Editing of Figures by the Copy Editor

Objective: to prepare figures so that they meet the specifications of a particular publisher, journal, or other presentation medium, and so that they present key data in a clear and cogent fashion.

As the copy editor, I will edit and prepare the figures (if it has been so agreed), so that they are consistent with the text and conform to the requirements of the publisher, journal, or other publication medium.

For example, some journals require that all illustrations and figures be submitted as computer files using the CMYK color space. Others specify the RGB color space. Some want TIF format files; others require JPG or EPS files. The figures may also need to be the right image print size and resolution for the appropriate 1- or 2-column width at which they will be printed. Some publishers require that you convert any PowerPoint figures you want to use, to another format. For the requirements specified by a selection of journals and publishers, see the procedure page: samples of guidelines from different journals.

I use Adobe Photoshop CS2 for raster-graphic images and Adobe Illustrator CS2 for vector-graphic images to make any changes necessary and to prepare the figures as required.

Sources of guidelines for figure preparation

Adobe staff. Optimum strategies for using Photoshop CS2 in scientific and medical imaging. Available at: http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/scimedwp.pdf. Accessed October 2, 2005.

American Medical Association Manual of Style. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1998.

Nicol AAM, Pexman PM. Displaying Your Findings: A Practical Guide for Creating Figures, Posters, and Presentations. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 1999.

For the next step, go to stage 9: receive your copyedited MS from the copy editor.

URL for this page: http://www.HeathSciEdit.com/tes-stage08.htm
© 2003–2009 Timothy DeVinney. Page updated April 17, 2006.