GENERAL AUTHOR GUIDE
 
 
Guidelines for Submitting a Proposal
 
Overview of the Prentice Hall Production Environment
 
Compositor's Guidelines
 
Online Submission Form
 
 adobe icon PDF file (218k)
 
 ezprint icon  EasyPrint Version

MORE AUTHOR GUIDES

Technical Author Guide #1
Comprehensive coverage of the full workflow cycle involved in publishing a technical manuscript. For Computer Science and Engineering authors NOT providing Prentice Hall with camera-ready copy.
 
Technical Author Guide #2
For computer science and engineering authors who WILL be providing Prentice Hall with camera-ready copy.
 
Non-Technical Author Guide #1
Covers the entire workflow cycle, from submissions of your manuscript to final revisions and publication. For PTR authors NOT providing Prentice Hall with camera-ready copy.
 
Non-Technical Author Guide #2
For PTR authors who WILL be providing Prentice Hall with camera-ready copy.
 
General Author Guide
Compositor's Guidelines
   

Specifying Color
  • When creating gradients or blends, be aware of the limitations of postscript. Banding can occur in Illustrator or Quark generated blends depending on the colors and length of the gradation.
  • Create gradations in Photoshop and add some noise to diminish possible banding.
  • When printing spot colors, disable process separation in Quark's Edit/Colors menu. In FrameMaker move the PMS color into the spot color column in the Print menu/print separations dialog box.
  • In Quark, when creating CMYK colors, enable process separations in Edit/Colors menu. Colors created in CMYK mode without process separation checked will separate as a spot color. When creating CMYK colors, name the colors based on their components and shade ie: M50, Y20.
  • In FrameMaker apply color to text with the paragraph or character designer, this is the only way to make a global color change if needed.
  • In FrameMaker, only graphic elements that are on a reference page and set up as a property of a paragraph format can have the colors changed on the reference page and updated where it is used.
  • All scans should be saved in CMYK mode for film output.
  • Spot colors will process separate when created in Photoshop in CMYK or RGB mode. Files that contain only the PMS color can be created in duotone mode using the monotone model.
  • Gradations created in Photoshop that consist of a PMS blending to a process color (ie: PMS #314 to Yellow), must be created as two process colors to correctly output two pieces of film (ie: created as cyan and yellow).
  • When creating gradations or blends remember how each program handles color separation:

    • Quark Gradations:
      *PMS to PMS separates correctly - 2 plates generated
      *PMS to one process color separates correctly - 2 plates generated
      *PMS to white separates correctly - 1 plate generated
      *PMS to 2 process colors (70M, 30Y - separation on), separates correctly - 3 plates generated
     
    • Illustrator Gradations:
      *PMS to PMS separates correctly - 2 plates generated
      *PMS to white separates correctly - 1 plate generated
      *PMS to one process color - generates process plates
     
    • Illustrator Blends
      *PMS to PMS - process separates
      *PMS to white - process separates
      *PMS to process - process separates


Creating Line Art
  • Before drafting submit sample files for evaluation.
  • Draft art to size.
  • Use Adobe Fonts #1-360 only. If circumstances call for additional fonts, check with a Production Coordinator or Editorial Production Manager before using them.
  • If using an uncommon font as part of the illustration only (not in the page layout as text), consider creating outlines of the font so it will not be needed to output the file.
  • Reflective line art should be scanned at 800-1200 dpi, Streamlined when appropriate and re-drafted in Adobe Illustrator.
  • If using alternative vector line-based illustration programs, save the art in an .eps format and remember to supply the original native versions of the file along with the .eps file.
  • Trap all art that is 2 color or more within the illustration program. Traps should be .25 pt. unless specified otherwise by the printer. If creating a stroke around an element to be the trap, make the stroke .5 pt. (because a stroke draws from the center out, only .25 pt. will overprint the background.)
  • Set black text and rules to overprint if it prints over a tint. When appropriate, large black objects, text and rules over a tint should have a stroke trap set instead of overprinting.
  • Delete all custom colors not used within the illustration.
  • Define colors used in art files with the same name and values as colors defined in the page layout files.
  • If importing any raster images into vector illustration files, be sure they are hi- resolution, converted to the CMYK color space and supplied when submitting final files.
  • Set labels and leaders on a separate named layer for editorial purposes.
  • Group masked objects.
  • Do not mask objects from different layers.
  • Name all files and graphics according to Prentice Hall's filenaming conventions. If you have not received a copy, please request one from the Project Coordinator.


Creating Raster Art
  • Before drafting any art, submit sample files for evaluation.
  • Scan black and white photographs in grayscale mode not halftone.
  • Hi-resolution images should be scanned at 1 1/2 to 2 times the output line screen resolution and 100% of the output image size. NOTE: With all hi-resolution scanning or digital separation for print media, issues such as gain on press should be taken into consideration.
  • All images rendered in raster-based image programs should be created at 1 1/2 to 2 times the output line screen resolution and 100% of the output image size.
  • When rendering 3-Dimensional images for print media be sure anti-aliasing is set to medium or highest.
  • When supplying CAD files that may require editing or corrections, save them as DXF file format and supply all associated color scheme and texture files. If files are considered final save them as TIFF or EPS.
  • Be sure the final image files are created or converted to the appropriate color space for intended use, such as CMYK for print media. Be certain the final image files can be opened by Adobe Photoshop.
  • Placed hi-res Photoshop files should not be enlarged more than approximately 120% in the page layout program.
  • Reduce placed hi-res images in Photoshop instead of in the layout program. The files will be easier to process, image, and transport.
  • Increasing the resolution of an already scanned image does not make it hi-res. It has to be rescanned at the higher resolution.
  • Name all files and graphics according to Prentice Hall's filenaming conventions. If you have not received a copy, please request one from the Project Coordinator.


Screen Captures
  • Use screen capture as a technique for saving image files only when appropriate. Never substitute screen capture for actually saving your image files in an appropriate format in the native image application software.
  • The quality of color screen captures is determined by many factors including the video card installed in the computer being used to do the capturing, the color model, the capabilities of the capture program, and conversion and sizing methods. For every project that includes screen captures, testing of sample files should be performed prior to production process.
  • HiJaak for Windows as the capture program, using either SCREENCAPTURE, Blues, or Windows Default color models, yields acceptable color results. Be aware that other color models may yield an unsightly screen patterning or Moiré. From a design point of view, it should be decided which color model is to be used.
  • Capture all screens at 100% of full screen or window size, taking care not to resize or input an interpolated higher resolution than the typical monitor default of 72 DPI (MAC) or 96 DPI (Windows) in the capture program. Be consistent when capturing if one has control over the window size.
  • The most preferred file format for screen capture is color PICT, the least preferred being PCX.
  • Screen captures need to be converted for print media via Adobe Photoshop. The captures should be converted to either Grayscale or CMYK color mode.
  • Screen capture Black text - If the project is a CMYK project, it should be decided what kind of black text is appropriate - black text consisting of 100% black only, or black text consisting of CMYK values.
  • CMYK black text, a result of the Photoshop default conversion to CMYK, is sometimes preferred because it tends to appear "heavier" when printed on press. It appears heavier because registration on press is never perfect enough to print small elements containing multiple tints.
  • Some feel CMYK screen capture text is simply "blurry" and prefer 100% black only text. To generate 100% black text in a screen capture, the Preferences, Separation Setups in Photoshop need to be set to Black Generation MAXIMUM before the conversion to CMYK.
  • Converted screen captures should be saved as either TIFF or EPS file format. There is no need to resize the screen capture in Photoshop, scaling the screen capture down in the page layout program yields acceptable results.


Electronic Production Standards
Our page layout programs of choice are QuarkXpress and FrameMaker. The preferred illustration program is Adobe Illustrator. If any other program has to be used, it must first be approved by the Production Manager. At Prentice Hall, all electronic files received from authors are converted into a Macintosh format for production. Files can be accepted from DOS, Windows and Macintosh platforms as long as they are saved in an appropriate file format.

Page Layout

  • Text files with Style Sheets applied can be imported into the page layout program. Preferred word processing programs are Microsoft Word and WordPerfect.
  • Do not perform extensive formatting and page layout functions in the word processing program, most of it will not translate correctly during the conversion process or when importing into the page layout program.
  • Build documents in QuarkXpress or FrameMaker to trim size of project.
  • Bleed elements off the document by .125" (in FrameMaker enter a minus -.125" in the graphic properties).
  • Build document by chapters. Make sure the H&J settings are the same for all chapters.
  • Have "Convert Quotes" checked when importing ASCII documents.
  • Run "Spell Check" on all documents.
  • In Quark, check "Picture Usage" in the Utilities menu. Update all missing or modified graphic elements.
  • Use Find/Change to delete extra spaces.
  • Check overflow boxes for hidden text.
  • Check for widows and orphans.
  • Use Adobe Fonts #1-360 only. If circumstances call for additional fonts, check with a Production Coordinator or Editorial Production Manager before using them.
  • For printed projects, use Postscript fonts, not TrueType fonts.
  • Delete all unused colors from the color menu.
  • Set trap amount in QuarkXpress to .25 pt. in Edit/Preferences/Trapping. Turn off process trap.
  • Group text and graphic overlay objects to art.
  • Name all files and graphics according to Prentice Hall's filenaming conventions. If you have not received a copy, please request one from the Project Coordinator.

Final Files
  • Supply 100% final hard copy with disk.
  • Supply color hard copy for color projects.
  • Mark FPO on scans that are "For Position Only".
  • Make sure only files needed for final output are on the disk. QuarkXpress has a "Collect for Output" option. A new folder can be created and all elements needed for the project will be collected into the folder, assuring that only what is needed will be on the disk.
  • PreFlight your files by printing separated laserprints to make sure the files separate correctly before sending your disk for film output.
  • Adobe allows their fonts to be sent to vendors if they already own them. Sending screen and printer fonts guarantees that the project will be output with the correct versions of the fonts used. Check with the vendor before sending them the printer fonts.


<<Previous: Overview of Prentice Hall Production Department
>>Next: On-line Submission Form

 

© 2000 Prentice Hall Inc. / A Pearson Education Company / Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 / Legal Notice / Privacy Statement