The Dorrance Reference Shelf Contents Page

C A M E R A - R E A D Y C O P Y

The following are guidelines to use when submitting camera-ready copy to achieve a good-looking end product.

The text page should appear as a rectangular block of type, that is, lining up the text on the left and right edges. Only the last line of every paragraph should not be aligned on the right edge, but aligned on the left edge only with the lines in the rest of the paragraph. (Exceptions to the rectangular block would include poetry or picture books.
(See Example A .)
Page numbers should appear in Arabic numerals centered at the bottom of the pages and begin with the first page of what you consider the beginning of the body of the text, not including preliminaries or front matter pages which are handled separately as described below. Page 1 will always appear as a right-hand page.
(See Example B.)
Page numbering is consecutive throughout the book. Do not begin each chapter or part with page number 1 but continue with the numbering from the previous chapter or part. For example, if "Chapter 3" ends of page 49, "Chapter 4" should start on page 50.
Dorrance will typeset only title and copyright pages since they contain publishing information about our imprint. We will send these pages to you for approval. Therefore you need not supply these pages camera-ready.
All illustrations should be originals or very good copies and be free of any extraneous marks, staples, clips, or tape. Black and white illustrations should be drawn in pen and black ink. (No pencil, ball-point pen, or crayon drawings are acceptable.) We must have originals of any full-color illustrations, black and white photographs, or color photographs.
Pages on which only illustrations appear do not usually have page numbers printed on them, but they do need to be counted in the page count. For example, if the page following page 8 contains a full-page illustration, it is counted as page 9, not page 8A. The page following this illustration page would be numbered page 10.
When preparing photographs to be used in your book, please indicate the order of appearance in the book by marking each photograph with letters A-Z (and, if necessary, AA-ZZ) and the page number on which the photograph is to appear. This information should be placed on Post-It^TM notes adhered to the back of each photograph; photographs should never be written on, stapled, clipped, or attached in any way that would possibly mar the surface of the photograph. Text pages containing only the captions should be included in your camera-ready copy, leaving space for the photographs (which may have to be reduced in size by Dorrance.)
The text pages which you provide should contain type that measures somewhat smaller all around--top, bottom, left, and right--than the finished trim size of the book as stated in Article V of your subsidy contract. For example, the text image area for a 6" x 9" book is 4 1/2" x 7 1/2"; for a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" book is 4" x 7"; for a 8 1/2" x 11" book, 6" x 9". This is done to allow for ample margins for the binding and so that text is not cut off in trimming by the printer. Please note the image area includes page numbers, heads, running heads, and text.
(See Example C.)
The spacing, placement, and design of all headings, such as chapter titles or subtitles, should be consistent.
Front matter includes such items as: dedication page, table of contents, list of illustrations, list of tables, foreword, preface, acknowledgments, introduction, and list of abbreviations or chronology. Items should be arranged as indicated in the above order, only including those elements of front matter you submitted with your original manuscript, and should not include any page numbers. (Even if you did not originally submit one, it is permissible to include a dedication.)
If you have elected to include running heads (titles and subtitles which may appear in the top margin) in your book, please do not include them on front matter pages or pages featuring blanks; part titles; chapter openings; or full pages of illustrations, charts, or tables.

The best way to learn how to prepare camera-ready copy is to examine other published works. Your camera-ready text should look like it belongs on a shelf alongside professionally designed books. Visit a local bookstore or library and, for further style information, we recommend you consult The Chicago Manual of Style, published by The University of Chicago Press. For layout information, word processing software manuals often include sample templates and assistance. Also layout and type design books for nonprofessionals are available at local bookstores.

Finally your camera-ready copy should be printed on dark black ink on good quality, bright white paper to provide contrast. If you have any questions while considering camera-ready copy, please contact your Dorrance author relations representative.

(Glossary of Commonly Used Printing and Publishing Terms)

(Commonly Misused Words and Phrases, M-Z)