By Bethany McKay, Freelance Writer
In the world of publishing, the old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words” rings true. Not only is a quality piece of art key to your publication, but it should be positioned optimally on the page and needs to be properly formatted.
Quality is easily identified, especially in the digital world.
The quality of graphic files shapes the quality of an article and even the entire publication; therefore, high-quality graphic files are required.
Digital art renders images as a finite number of dots, called “pixels.” The size at which a piece of digital art can be reproduced is limited to the resolution of that file, measured in pixels per inch, otherwise known as “ppi.”
To ensure your digital art will not be rejected, graphic files should meet these pixel requirements:
300ppi — “Continuous Tone” images such as photographs must be at least 300ppi. In continuous tone images, each pixel can vary in color and tonality; transitions from light to dark appear smooth and realistic—as long as the resolution is high enough.
1200ppi — “Bitonal” images such as line drawings must be at least 1200ppi. In bitonal images, each pixel will be one of two values: 100% black or 100% white. Such pieces of art require higher resolution to ensure quality reproduction.
There are some other generalized rules to follow:
- Check the resolution of the files to be certain they meet requirements.
- Submit labeled printouts of all files.
- Don’t assume that a file that looks good on a computer screen is acceptable for print reproduction.
- Don’t submit digital images in a PowerPoint file or embedded in a Word Document, unless otherwise notified. Instead, submit each image as a separate file.
- Don’t enlarge substandard files.
Many sources are available for obtaining digital images. The first place to look is on hospital or department computers, for test results and scans.
“An increasingly popular source of digital images is the digital camera. . . . Images can also be downloaded directly from the Internet. Graphics downloaded or saved from Web pages may not be acceptable for print products because these graphics have relatively low pixel dimensions, which are satisfactory for screen display but are often too low for printed output.”[i]
Another thing to think about is image manipulation. Good science requires reliable data, which includes images. In the days before imaging software, making adjustments to images required considerable effort and expertise. With it being simpler to do now, there is more of a temptation to adjust or modify digital image files. However, “this temptation constitutes inappropriate changes to your original data, and making such changes can be classified as scientific misconduct.”[ii]
Ultimately, when it comes to good art, make sure to check image quality and keep it as original as possible.
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[i] Eric J. Stern and Michael L. Richardson. Preparation of digital images for presentation and publication. Journal of Roentgenology. 2003;180: 1523-1531. 10.2214/ajr.180.6.1801523
[ii] Mike Rossner and Kenneth M. Yamada. What’s in a picture? The temptation of image manipulation. Journal of Cell Biology.2004;166(1): 11-15; DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200406019