The Importance of Providing High-Quality Visuals for Publications

Including visual elements in scholarly publications is often necessary to adequately convey and back up certain research findings. However, these elements, which include images, figures, tables, graphs, charts, etc., can oftentimes provide challenges for researchers, as ensuring their quality in the final publication can be difficult. Moreover, every publisher has different requirements for the presentation of visual elements within the text, how they are received, and the specifications required to ensure
their clarity.

To ensure that your visuals meet the publisher’s standards, it is always recommended to consult each respective publisher’s image guide. IGI Global’s image guide provides authors and editors with best practices, policies, and requirements for all images, figures, tables, graphs, charts, etc. Below is an overview of some basic guidelines to follow when integrating visual elements into your work and submitting it to an IGI Global publication:

• Images can be 6.25’’ W at 300 dpi (Minimum) and 8.5’’ W at
  300 dpi (Maximum).
• Complex figures with multiple parts must be submitted as a single .tif file with all parts included in one image.
• Colored images may appear in color in the electronic version of a manuscript but will appear in grayscale in the
  printed version.
• Color should not be referenced in the image captions.
• Figures that rely on color to be understood and legible should be altered so that they can be easily understood
  in grayscale.
• Five to eight figures are ideal for a standard chapter of 8,000 total words, with no more than fifteen figures at most (unless the publication type warrants more).
• Figure/table numbers must be included in the image captions as well as in the .tif file name.
• Captions must be included to indicate where an image should be placed with the following format: Figure 1. Caption here.
• Call outs in the text indicating where each visual will be placed are required.
• Tables should be created in Microsoft Word.
• Word Art is not recommended for creating and submitting images.
• Written permission to include copyrighted images must be obtained by having IGI Global’s permission form signed. View the: Image Permission Form
• Appropriate permission must also be obtained for use of photographs. View the: Photograph Consent Form
• IGI Global will not publish any copyrighted image that requires a permission fee OR for which permission is required for each subsequent publication of the image.
• APA citation of sources in figures is necessary for academic standards.

As most authors are not seasoned designers, IGI Global offers a variety of Author Services which include a figure, table, chart, and equation conversion service that will ensure that any visual elements in the manuscript follow publication guidelines. Through this service offering, experts review and correct the following:

• Figure design, enhancement, and correction for clarity
• Image editing, color correction, and sizing/resolution modifications
• Raw data transformations into graphs, charts, and tables
• Equation conversions to MathType or Microsoft’s Equation Editor
• Presentation illustration including animation, slide design services (in Microsoft PowerPoint), and poster design

Utilizing this service can help you ensure that you are accurately representing your research, while also improving your chances of having your work accepted into a major publication. Overall, following the publisher’s image guide and providing the highest quality version of your visuals will allow for the best possible production of your manuscript.

Should you be interested in submitting your work to an IGI Global publication, please visit the Publications Seeking
Submissions page.