Free Color Online for OSA Journals

Authors now have the option of having their figures produced in color in the online journal free of charge. To take advantage of this free service, supply usable color graphics files in time for use during the production process. In addition to the points below, see information on

• It is the author's responsibility to provide OSA with suitable art files (as specified below).
• If suitable electronic color files are not submitted, we will scan from a hardcopy of the manuscript and use a black and white image; in this case the author will not have the option to replace the artwork with a color version.
• Authors are responsible for ensuring that the page proofs have the appropriate note in the caption when figures with online-only color are present (see below).
• The procedures for obtaining color in the printed journal remain unchanged (see below).

Acceptable File Types

A usable color graphics file must be in one of the following formats: Encapsulated PostScript (.eps), PostScript (.ps), or Tagged Image File Format (.tif). No other type of color illustration is acceptable, and only one version of each graphics file will be accepted. Graphics should have a resolution of at least 300 dpi (600 dpi if there is text or line art in the figure) to ensure good quality reproduction of the black and white version in the print issue. Include all parts of a figure in one electronic file.

To maintain online color as a free service to authors, multiple versions of the same graphics file will not be accepted. Also, submission of two versions of the same illustration (e.g., one for color and one for black and white production) is not allowed.

Note that any multipart figure submitted electronically must consist of one file that includes all the parts.

When preparing illustrations for color production online and for black and white production in print, ensure that (i) colors chosen will reproduce well when printed in black and white and that (ii) descriptions of figures in text and captions will be sufficiently clear for both print and online versions. These are the author's responsibility.

General Guidelines for Preparing Electronic Images

Key points are summarized below. Consult OSA's Electronic Art Submission Guidelines for examples and additional information.

1. Figure should include only necessary figure elements, no labels or identification that is not meant to print.
2. Artwork "pictures" used should be of the appropriate resolution [at least 300 dpi (600 dpi if there is text or line art in the figure)] and color mode (RGB, not CMYK, if for color online only).
3. All graphic elements should be fully embedded.
4. All fonts used should be fully embedded or outlined.
5. Images should be generated at 100% of the intended reproduction size: 1-, 1.5-, or 2-column width.
6. After reduction lines should be no smaller than 0.5 point.
7. After reduction type should be no smaller that 6-8 point.
8. Images should also be generated with the intended page orientation.

Other Considerations

If usable color graphics files are received in time for the production process, color versions of those figures will be in the proofs. (The Corresponding Author will receive notification when the proof, as a PDF file, is available for downloading.) At the proof stage, the phrase "(Color online)" must be inserted (see example caption below) into the captions of figures that will appear in color online and in black and white in print. This is the author's responsibility.

Sample caption:

Fig. 10. (Color online) Experimental (dotted curve) and simulated (solid curve) x-ray diffraction spectra.

The procedures for obtaining color in the printed journal remain unchanged. Authors or their institutions must bear the cost of any color they wish to use in the printed version of their papers. A fixed rate of $650 for the first color figure and $325 for each additional color figure will apply. For multipart figures, the charge for a single figure ($650) will apply only if all figure parts are submitted as a single piece of artwork on one page. Letter labels, if any, should be included, centered below each figure part (without the caption, which will be typeset separately from the list of captions).

The Editors and the Optical Society of America hope that availability of free online color will be beneficial to the journal community. Please direct questions about free online color to ElectronicArt@osa.org.