Figures (artwork) and tables
Numbering and position
Figures and tables should each be numbered by chapter (Fig. 1.1, Fig. 1.2, Fig. 2.1, Fig. 2.2; Table 1.1, Table 1.2 and so on). They should also be mentioned in your main text, preferably before their intended position in the text. Avoid terms like ‘above’ or ‘below’. Instead, directly refer to the figure or table number you have assigned to the item.
Permission
If you intend to reproduce figures or tables from a third party, it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary permission (see Permissions and copyright) .
Figures
Figures include graphs, photographs, maps, diagrams, line drawings, computer-generated artwork and other illustrations.
Each figure that you provide when submitting your manuscript should be saved and provided as a separate file. This should be named according to figure number you have assigned the item.
A description, comment, question or acknowledgement that appears with an illustration or photograph is called a caption. Captions are generally located underneath a figure. Include the caption in the text where the image is to be placed, and be sure to include the figure number.
Example
Australian school enrolments
Supplying artwork
It is essential that images are of high enough resolution to appear in print.
Halftones (photographs and images with continuous colour variation) should be provided as .jpg or .tiff files, with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) at publication size.
Line drawings (for example, graphs and diagrams) should ideally be supplied in the original format or software they were created in (such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel). This enables them to be edited and resized. Some software also allow files to be exported in formats suitable for print, including .eps and .ai. The preferred minimum resolution for these is 600 dpi at publication size.
If you have figures that consist of both halftones and line art, it is preferable to provide the halftone and line art elements separately and to include an indication that they belong to the same figure.
Tip: To calculate an image’s dpi, divide either its pixel width by its width in inches, or its pixel height by its height in inches.
You should also complete an artwork list , which is a list of all your figures. Please submit this with your manuscript.
If you need to request new artwork, either from ACER Press or from an artist you have commissioned, it helps to provide a rough sketch and clear instructions about what you want depicted. We recommend that you set this out on our Artwork brief document.
Tables
Unlike figures, tables do not need to be saved as separate files. They can be retained in the main manuscript. They should also be numbered according to chapter.
Table captions (or ‘table headings’) should appear above tables.
Tables are ideally used for presenting values, categories or comparisons. They should have clear and accurate column and row headings, be self-explanatory and should support the discussion in your text. Tables should not contain excessive information. Those that are too wide or long can also be difficult to typeset or to fit on the page.
The following is a guide for table size (this can vary, depending on the format of your book):
- maximum of 6 columns (including side headings) for numerical data
- maximum of 3 columns (including side headings) for textual material
- maximum of about 30 rows in order to sit comfortably on one page.