TIPS INDEX
TOP TEN
MANUSCRIPTS
PHOTOS
LINE ART
TECH ILLUS
SCAN OR DRAW?
FORMATTING
WEB PAPERS
PDFs— sample editorial stylesheets:
SEAS (2007)
EAS (2008)
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Scanning originals or drawing anew?
some considerations
What kind of illustration do you have?
Iillustrations will generally fall into one of two categories:
- Continuous tone images — i.e., illustrations with seemingly infinite shades of gray or colors blending into each other. This usually means photographs (prints and slides) though can sometimes be certain art work, such as paintings. Originals are tangible, non-digital.
- Everything else — many kinds of drawings, maps, sketches, pieced together drawings, clippings and graphics from previously published works, hand-written or type-written letters, photocopies, historical documents, software generated data graphs and reports, and much more.
For continuous tone images (photographic prints or slides)
When authors submit photographic prints or transparancies to illustrate their work, MetaGlyfix converts them into digital files by scanning at the correct resolution and scale for the intended output (print, web, PDF, etc.), and makes the necessary adjustments to tone, sharpness, and the like. Scans of some poor quality originals may require various degrees of cleaning and retouching.
Many authors do their own scanning or have it done by a third party. MetaGlyfix can advise about optimal dimensions and scanning resolution so that the resultant digital files will suit the intended output. (This also applies to digital images directly from digital cameras.)
The preferred format for submission of digital files of photographs, for print or for any intended output, is TIFF. For images destined for screen and web, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and PICT are usually acceptable. MetaGlyfix can advise for each case.
By-the-way, remember that anything that can fit on a scanner — even objects — can be scanned and incorporated into an author’s work.
(See Submitting source images for illustrations, Part I, for guidelines on preparing continuous tone images for submission.)
 For everything else ...
For non-continuous tone illustrations, each case needs to be evaluated to decide whether a direct reproduction by scanning (or photography) or a transformation into another format would be best. Many factors are involved, including the quality and condition of the original, the intended use, the time available, and the cost.
Again, please contact MetaGlyfix at the outset. MetaGlyfix can advise you on the best methods for your particular purpose, which may or may not involve commercial or professional graphic services, including those of MetaGlyfix.
Scanning an original vs. drawing anew
Often there are better ways to show a scholar’s illustrative material on the printed or digital page than by the scanning source material. This is especially the case if the source illustration is of poor quality, the scan needs cleaning or touching up, or the author wishes to edit or otherwise change the original. It may also be the case when an author has multiple original illustrations of varying quality and/or lacking stylistic cohesion that are intended for a single article or volume.
The two major determining factors are usually quality and efficiency. In most instances, new drawings are superior in quality: they are clearer and more legible, stylistically consistent, and output (i.e., print) better. “Efficiency” encompasses production time, overally cost, reliability and ease of ouput. Clients are often suprised to learn that new drawings of problematic originals are often more economical as well. Clients might also consider whether the problematic illustration might be used again, perhaps repurposed in another setting, perhaps with later modifications. In such cases, new drawings might be advised.
MetaGlyix can give an honest assessment of the options for each job, as well as firm quotes.
What the client needs to prepare
Clients first need to organize and to assess their illustrative material:
- What is the nature of the source material? Is it an old text document? graphics from previously published books? an illustration of intrinsic value? an author’s own sketch? a map pieced together from photocopies? etc.?
- What is the destination of the illustration? — a journal article? a volume published by an established press? a self-published volume? a handout or poster? a web site?
MetaGlyfix can explain as much or as little of the technical steps as a client wishes to know, but we will advise
- what the client can do him/herself,
- what can be done by the printer, publisher, or other service providers, and
- what MetaGlyfix can do.
If MetaGlyfix determines that its services may not be required, we will so advise. (For example, an author may want several illustrations and tables prepared for a book or article for publication. In most cases, the author’s publisher will require that illustrations be finished and press ready — so, MetaGlyfix would prepare them. However, the publisher would probably prepare and typeset the tables for the author — therefore, MetaGlyfix services would not be required for the tables.)
Bear in mind that most jobs that MetaGlyfix accepts are complex, one-of-a-kind projects that require the convergence and integration of many techniques. Bear in mind as well that even the simplest-looking finished graphic may have entailed such complexity.
(See Submitting source images for illustrations, Part II, for guidelines on preparing line art, maps, and other non-continuous tone images for submission.)
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