4.2.1 ASPCS to Make Proof
Corrections
A proof is considered to be a finished product ready to be printed.
The master for it resides as a PDF file at the printer and can no longer be
directly modified by the editor, but must be modified by the ASPCS staff. You
will be provided with an electronic proof and asked to examine the proof copy
and provide a list of required corrections (if any) before it is printed.
4.2.2 General Instructions Regarding
Electronic Proofs
An electronic proof accurately reflects the layout of the page,
including size, position, margins, pagination, color, placement, etc. However,
electronic proofs in general are not capable of showing exact quality of
images.
Image quality, lightness, darkness, etc. is extremely subjective.
It therefore can be difficult to determine from an electronic proof whether
the expected result will be achieved in the printed version. Thus, editors
need to understand that electronic proofs will not give an exact picture of
how the images will reproduce in the printed volume. Before sending the
manuscript to the printer, we provide editors with a preflight report that
indicates images that are low resolution or have color issues that may reduce
the quality of the printed image. We ask editors to print these images to
determine if the image is satisfactory as it is or if the author should be
asked for a higher resolution image. In some cases (faint labels, gray
background, etc.), an image can be improved with software (e.g., Photoshop or
others). Please discuss any concerns about images with the ASPCS Publication Manager.
We strongly recommend that editors carefully review the Instructions for Authors and Editors, when
considering the quality of images. Keep in mind that pages in the printed book
are reduced by 10% which can cause an image to become darker or
figures to lose detail.
Photos, in particular, sometimes print darker than they
appear in the proof. If you are concerned that a photo may be too dark, it
should be lightened. In addition, low resolution images are not only less
clear, but also have less distinct variance from light to dark areas.
If absolutely necessary, printed hardcopy press
proofs may be requested at the editor's expense.
A press proof can cost $1,000.00.
Our experience has been that a press proof is rarely necessary, and
we do not recommend them.
4.2.3 Separate Proofs for Text,
Cover and Color Pages
Separate proofs may be provided for the text, the cover and
the color pages (if any). Please carefully review each one and approve
each proof separately. Approval should be sent to the Publication Manager,
not the printer. See the Proof Review instructions in Section
4.2.7 below, which apply to all three proofs.
4.2.4 Technical Corrections vs.
Editorial Corrections
Editorial corrections should have been made during the manuscript
review and incorporated prior to submitting the PDF to the printer. At the
proof stage, most revisions should be technical in nature and related to the
printing process, not editorial corrections. Corrections to
technical problems will be made by the ASP free of charge.
Editorial
corrections can still be made but will be billed to the editor (see
below).
4.2.5 Cost of Proof
Corrections
At the proof stage it costs $50.00 per correction. The ASP pays
for technical corrections or problems caused by our processing of the
manuscript, but not for editorial changes requested by the editors.
4.2.6 Cost of Corrections after
Approved Proof
Once the proofs have been approved and the book is printed, it is very
expensive to fix, so please review the proof carefully. See Step 5 for options
and associated costs.
4.2.7 Items to Review In
Proof
-
Please start with the cover and carefully check everything including:
size and location of cover image, quality of image, spacing on cover,
spelling and order of editors' names, and color tones of image. Please also
check the spine.
-
Next, check the color pages, if any. Please make sure you are happy
with the color tones and resolution.
-
Finally, examine the text proof. Please review the entire volume page
by page to the end, including the back pages.
-
Please check page numbering to make sure no pages are missing
and that the page numbers in the Table of Contents are correct.
-
Please pay special attention to each image. Check for shading, missing
text and symbols, extra artifacts in the image that should not be there,
background, etc.
-
Please check all text specifically for such problems as:
A.
Combined letters missing (e.g., ff, fl, fi);
B. Symbols, equations,
or any text missing;
C. Changes or loss of quality of the image or
text in a figure;
D. Labels missing around figures;
E.
Unacceptable changes caused by conversion or print process, (e.g., year
missing in references within the text or incorrect references to figures or
tables, etc.)
Please provide us with a list of corrections to be made. Be extremely
detailed and specific in telling us the page number, author name or file name,
and the problems you see for each figure, image, line-drawing, text or page.
As the editor, you know what images should look like and what is important to
be seen concerning shading, background, etc. Please describe exactly what
needs to be corrected.
4.2.8 Time Frame of Revised
Proofs
Carefully reviewing the first proof will help to expedite the printing of
the book, because a new proof is required each time corrections are made. Once
the ASP makes required changes to the volume and provides individual
replacement pages to the printer, they return a new proof usually within one
week. At this point the editor is asked to review the proof again. The exact
length of the delay in printing depends largely on the number of proof
revisions, how many times new proofs are required, and the amount of time
needed for the editors to review each proof. Once the proof has been approved,
it takes about one month for the volume to be
printed and shipped.
