ASPCS
 

Step 4. Proof Stage

4.1  Proof Download Instructions

4.2  Editors' Instructions for Proof

4.2.1  ASPCS to Make Proof Corrections

4.2.2  General Instructions Regarding Electronic Proofs

4.2.3  Separate Proofs for Text, Cover and Color Pages

4.2.4  Technical Corrections vs. Editorial Corrections

4.2.5  Cost of Proof Corrections

4.2.6  Cost of Corrections after Approved Proof

4.2.7  Items to Review In Proof

4.2.8  Time Frame of Revised Proofs

 


4.1  Proof Download Instructions

You may download the proof from your editor home directory at pulication.aspbooks.org using sftp.

4.2  Editors' Instructions for Proof

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.