4

I submitted figures to the journal and they informed me that the quality was poor and that the figures must be in vector scale. What does this mean if I have only images?

Also, do these guidelines imply that the image must either be 8.5 inches by 11 inches or 7791 pixels by 4724 pixels?

Width = 8.5 inches OR Width = 7791px (In-between) Height = 11 inches OR Height = 4724px (In-between) Pixels/Centimeter = 300 (DPI) (minimum)

Here are the requirements according to the journal:

  1. Figures required in vector scale
  2. Halftone image type (continuoustone photograph containing no text ) should have the preferred file format TIFF, with color mode being RGB or Grayscale, in a resolution of 300dpi, and Combination image type (image containing halftone, text, or line art elements )should have a resolution of 500-900 dpi.
  3. Format & Resolution: The following file formats can be
    accepted (our preference in order of appearance) : PDF, PPT,MS Word, Excel, PNG, CDR, IA, EPS, TIFF, JPG

Thank you for your help!

Improve this question
8
  • What are your figures? How did you generate these images? Vector format means instead of pixels, you have geometric forms (circles, squares, etc... though these can be very complex). Vector images are usually generated in Adobe Illustrator or other similar software. If the figures in question are charts from data, you can export vector images of the charts from both Excel and LibreOffice. It would be useful to know what your workflow is.
    – user183813
    Commented Jun 27 at 13:49
  • Side note: DPI means Pixels per Inch, not Pixels per Centimeter. (300 dpi is approx 118 pixels per cm). Can you post the exact text of the specs you were given?
    – user183813
    Commented Jun 27 at 13:50
  • Thanks for the added info, how are you generating your images?
    – user183813
    Commented Jun 27 at 14:11
  • 1
    From what I have found, you should be able to generate a PNG with the required size and resolution (300 dpi) with that software. Not that the workaround given to change the size and resolution in Photoshop or GIMP only really works if you do not add pixels to the image
    – user183813
    Commented Jun 27 at 14:18
  • 2
    To be honest, I think the writer of the spec was not very knowledgable about typical graphic file formats or technology; it's also possible that this is somehow a translation issue if the original language wasn't English.
    – GerardFalla
    Commented Jun 27 at 15:18

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
4

Honestly, whoever gave you the specs is adding to the confusion.

"Vector scale" probably means vector format, and these are vector formats: AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, CDR.

These are not vector formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF.

Also, be aware vector files can include non-vector elements, e.g. a PDF file can contain a non-vector photo, but that's optional and may not be the scope of your issue.

Improve this answer
0

The ambiguity may arise from a language translation. The term “figure” is unclear. It may mean “glyph”, such as converting typography characters to vector outlines.

Referring to “vector scale” as a format kind is incorrect. Scale as applied to vector can mean the image is scalable because it is a mathematical description of a path bounded region. Another way to say this is “resolution independence” because the coordinates of the path can be scaled independent of the ppi resolution.

Improve this answer
0

This is a several part answer.

1. A vector file

The correct term is "vector file" or "vector format", not vector scale. It is one that can be edited and scaled. Internally is made of formulas and data.

One example is a circle. You can define the circle position, radius, fill color, and edge color. To scale it you simply change the radius information.

Some examples of programs that do this are graphs from a worksheet, shapes made in presentation software like PowerPoint, or more complex illustrations made in (sorry if I am redundant) vector Illustration software like Illustrator, Corel Draw, Affinity Design, or Inkscape.

The logo of this website is a vector. https://cdn.sstatic.net/Sites/graphicdesign/Img/logo.svg?v=c784e64edfd8

2. What is not a vector file

If you take a photo with your cellphone of the same circle you can not edit it anymore. You do not have a circle, but a bunch of pixels arranged in the shape of a circle. You can zoom in but it will make the image blurrier.

My avatar is raster: https://i.sstatic.net/B1JLd.png?s=256

3. What they need

A good quality image that will look good when printed, and some room to adjust it to the project.

4. What you need to do

Define if you have your source files, instead of giving them, for example, a screen capture.

What does this mean if I have only images?

But the truth is that you need to hire a designer, to see if they can export the files to the proper size or re-make them in the proper quality or format.

5. They have no idea

For me, it is really funny the word salad of the requirements. I am not referring to your post (Of course is great that you want to clarify your doubts). I am referring to what they assume they want.

You can continue to read, but I do not want to confuse you more.

Let us see the word salad

Also, do these guidelines imply ... 7791 pixels by 4724 pixels?

If you have pixels, then it is not a vector. This is an alternative size.

Width = 8.5 inches OR Width = 7791px (In-between) Height = 11 inches OR Height = 4724px (In-between) Pixels/Centimeter = 300 (DPI) (minimum)

The math is really simple.

If you have a letter size page at 300px in every inch you have 8.5 x 300= 2,550px 11 x 300 = 3,300px

Pixels/Centimeter = 300 (DPI)

  • DPI is dots per Inch, not pixels per centimeter.
  • The correct unit is PPI, Pixels per inch. And the common number is 300 PPI.
  • If you make the conversion to PPcm is 300/2.54 is 118 pixels per centímeter, but NOBODY in the planet uses pixels per centímeter. And I live in a non-anglo-unit country.

Halftone image type ... with color mode being RGB or Grayscale.

A facepalm. This is getting worse. Nobody sends a Halftone image. What you use is a "normal" photo or image. They are usually RGB. The photos from your cellphone, a screen capture, a file downloaded form the web. A grayscale image is a simple conversion to grayscale.

  • A halftone is made on a VERY specialized process that can ONLY be defined by an expert on the output, normally a part of the print process.

  • A halftone is NOT RGB or grayscale, is a 1 bit image.

  • The resolution of a halftone is not 300PPI, is normally a multiple of that. 600 or 1200PPI.

  • It can be also be used as an effect for stylistic purposes. Only in that case can be RGB or whatever.

The following file formats can be accepted (our preference in order of appearance): PDF, PPT, Word, Excel, PNG, CDR, IA, EPS, TIFF, JPG

Yup, you do not have a salad... you have a smoothie. They mixed all together in a blender.

  • PPT, Word, Excel. They want the source files to extract the elements they need.

  • CDR: Corel Draw, AI (Not IA): Adobe Illustrator. These are specialized drawing software.

  • PDF, EPS: These are delivery formats. You make something in some other program, Word, Corel, or Illustrator, and Export it to PDF to deliver a fixed file that can be viewed in a lot of platforms. EPS is just an old format not really used anymore. Just use PDF.

  • PNG, TIF, JPG: are raster formats made of pixels, not vectors.

Corel Draw, Illustrator, Power Point, and even Word an Excel can have also raster images inside. You can copy and paste your photo inside any of them.

The point of a "vector format" is that the image is generated inside them, not imported.

If you have a blurry JPG photo of a shape, copy-pasting inside Word will accomplish the "accepted format" but the shape will still be unusable.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.