Digital Image Guide
The Eurasian J Med requires that all digital artwork be prepared according to professional standards. Digital files must meet the Journal requirements to be accepted for publication.
Files that do not meet the guidelines will be rejected. Please refer to the instructions below when preparing images for publication.
A. Image Preparation Checklist. To verify that you have fulfilled the requirements for electronic image preparation, use the following checklist. Each category is expanded below the checklist (Table 3).
• Black-and-white images are saved in grayscale mode (not black and white).
• Photographic images are saved in RGB color mode (not CMYK or indexed color).
• Files are submitted in native TIFF or EPS and are not embedded in another program such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel.
• Charts or illustrations created in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) are submitted in native format and do not include embedded images.
• Charts created in SPSS, SigmaPlot or ChemDraw are submitted as EPS images.
• All graphics are sized to 100% of their print dimensions so that no scaling is necessary (3.2” wide for 1-column figures and 6.4” wide for 2-column figures).
• Images have been scanned according to our scanning guidelines.
• Files are named using our recommended naming conventions.
B. Color. When preparing digital images for publication, it is important to scan and save the electronic files in the correct color space.
1. Photographic images. Images such as photographs, angiograms, echocardiograms, etc., should be scanned and saved in RGB color mode, even if the images will be printed in grayscale. (The journal compositors will convert these images to their final grayscale or CMYK color modes.) Note: Printing in color is expensive and is not always necessary. Please inform the Journal editors if an image requires color for clarity.
2. Line art. Black-and-white images, including line drawings, charts, graphs, and ECG and EEG tracings, should be scanned and saved in grayscale mode (not black-and white or color). (For charts created in SPSS, refer to Section C.2 on creating EPS file formats. For charts and graphs created in Microsoft Office, refer to Section C.3.)
3. Avoid ICC Profiles. Images should not contain any ICC profiles.
C. File Format. Submit only TIFF or EPS for electronic images. See instructions for submitting artwork that was created in Microsoft Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
1. TIFF (Tagged Image File Format). TIFF is recommended for photographic images. When preparing TIFF images, be sure to refer to our scanning guidelines for the proper resolution. Note: The Journal accepts TIFF images that are saved with LZW compression; choosing this option will result in smaller files. In most software programs, a TIFF is made by choosing File/Save as… or Export/TIFF or TIF. For more information, consult the Help menu of your software.
2. EPS (Encapsulated Postscript). EPS is recommended for line art, charts, and illustrations that are created using professional drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator, SPSS, ChemDraw, CorelDraw, SigmaPlot, etc. When submitting EPS files for publication, be sure to use the following guidelines:
• Convert text to outlines or include/embed fonts. Use only Journal-approved fonts.
• Flatten any layers.
• Use line weights greater than 0.5 points.
• Include an 8-bit preview/header at a resolution of 72 dpi.
• Save color images in RGB color mode.
In most drawing programs, an EPS file is made by choosing File/Save as … or Export/EPS. For more information, consult the Help menu of your software.
3. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Charts and illustrations created in any Microsoft Office programs are accepted. Do not submit Microsoft Office files that contain embedded images. When creating charts and illustrations, use the following guidelines:
• Work in black and white, not color.
• Do not use patterns for fill color; use black, white, and shades of gray.
• Avoid 3-dimensional charts.
• Use only Journal-approved fonts.
• Use line weights greater than 0.5 points.
• Submit the grouped image so that the Journal compositors can access the datasheet.
4. AVOID THE FOLLOWING:
• Submitting graphics that are downloaded or saved from Web pages. The resolution will be too low, regardless of how the image looks on screen.
• Submitting GIF files. GIF files are never appropriate for publication. Scanning preprinted photographs (already published halftones). The printing process introduces distortion into the photograph that will transfer to the scan.
• Generating TIFFs within the Microsoft Office Document
• Scanning Program. This proprietary program changes the image formatting in such a way that the image cannot be opened in our image evaluation program.
D. Resolution and Scanning
1. Images must be scanned at the proper resolution to ensure print quality. Use the following guidelines to select the correct scanning resolution. Images that are scanned at lower resolutions will be rejected.
• Photographic images without text or arrows: 300 dpi/ppi
• Photographic images with text or arrows: 600 dpi/ppi
• Black-and-white line art: 1200 dpi/ppi
a. Scanning photographic images without text or arrows
• Scan in RGB mode.
• Scan at 300 dpi/ppi.
• Select a target width of 7.5 cm for 1-column figures and 15.5 cm for 2-column figures.
• Crop images tightly; do not scan the margins.
• Use the Eurasian J Med naming convention; save as a TIFF and apply LZW compression.
b. Scanning photographic images with text or arrows
• Scan in RGB mode.
• Scan at 600 dpi/ppi (even if text or labels will be added after the image is scanned).
• Select a target width of 7.5 cm for 1-column figures or 15.5 cm for 2-column figures.
• Crop images tightly; do not scan the margins.
• If adding labels, use an approved font. If the labels are pixilated, you may be asked for an unlabeled version.
• Use the Eurasian J Med naming convention; save as a TIFF and apply LZW compression.
c. Scanning black-and-white line art
• Scan in grayscale mode.
• Scan at 1200 dpi/ppi.
• Select a target width of 7.5 cm” for 1-column figures and 15.5 cm” for 2-column figures.
• Images should be tightly cropped; do not scan the margins.
• If adding labels, use an approved font. If the labels are pixilated, you may be asked for an unlabeled version.
• Use the Eurasian J Med naming convention; save as a TIFF and apply LZW compression.
2. Scanning originals that are smaller than the target width
• Choose the correct color space for the photographic image or line art.
• Determine the correct resolution. If an image has a width smaller than the target width, it is necessary to compensate by increasing the scanning resolution. To increase the resolution, divide the actual width by the target width (either 7.5 cm or 15.5 cm). Multiply the answer by the target dpi and round up to the nearest hundred. The result will determine the scanning dpi. Use the following example: If an image is 2.4” wide and needs to be 300 dpi/ppi at 3” wide, then 3 divided by 2.4 = 1.251.25, 1.25 times 300 = 375, and round up to 400. Thus, if the 2.4” image is scanned at 400 dpi/ppi, the Journal can properly convert the image to be 3” wide at 300 dpi.
• Use the Eurasian J Med naming convention and save.
E. Naming Files
1. Naming convention. Please use the following naming convention for electronic images:
Author last name + figure number.file format
For example: Okur1.eps or Okur1A.tif
2. Revising images. Any time that you revise an image and resubmit it to the Journal, you need to add a version number to ensure that the image will be re-evaluated.
For example: Smith1.eps would be saved the next time as Smith1_v2.eps
Note: Always allow the software program to add the file format extension. Files that do not contain an extension will be rejected. To change a file format extension, you must use a software program; renaming a file extension does not properly convert a file. For example, simply renaming the JPG extension as TIFF does not convert the file to a TIFF image. Opening a JPG file in Photoshop (or in a comparable software program) and saving as a TIFF does properly convert the file.
Note: You can safely change the author last name + figure number (i.e., anything before the “dot-file format” portion) by using the Rename command.
F. Approved Fonts. Please use one of the following fonts for text in labels, graphs, and charts:
• Adobe Garamond
• Arial
• Helvetica
• Symbol
• Times New Roman
• Univers LT
G. Labels
1. Do not place figure labels (A, B, C, etc.) on the digital images; include the letter in the figure file name (for example, Smith2B.tif).
2. If images are part of an A, B, C series, scan and submit each image separately.
H. How to Submit Images. To submit digital artwork, refer to the information in the Manuscript Submission section.
