# **New Printing Options for Soil Survey Reports and**

# **New Guidelines for Illustrations and Prewritten Material**

Prepared by Suzie Meierdierks, Editor, MO-13

# **Traditional perfect bind through GPO\***

## Professional appearance

## High-quality color photographs

## Cost of individual copy goes down as number of copies printed goes up

## More economical than looseleaf surveys printed through NPSS unless storage costs are incurred because an excessive number of copies is ordered

# **Looseleaf format through GPO\***

## Professional appearance

## High-quality color photographs

## Cost of individual copy goes down as number of copies printed goes up

## More economical than looseleaf surveys printed through NPSS unless storage costs are incurred because an excessive number of copies is ordered

## Easily updated; ready for insertion into 3-ring binder

# **Looseleaf format through NPSS**

## Duplication of text and tables by the NPSS in Fort Worth; maps printed by contract map printer

## Easily updated; ready for insertion into 3-ring binders

## Save on printing costs if [total]{.underline} number of copies is limited to less than 600

# **General guidelines for illustrations**

## Photographs should be well composed and in focus

## About 15 illustrations per manuscript

## Submit two or three photos for the cover, indicating 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices

## Protect illustrations by inserting in protective cover or slide holder

## Don't make crop marks on illustrations

## Lightly write the figure number on back of illustration\--do not use a felt tip pin or stick on a label

## Refer to illustrations in text

## Caption should supplement the photo\--point out important facts; e.g., "Profile of Alpha silt loam; shale is at a depth of 15 inches"

## **Black and white photographs**

## Submit two glossy black and white prints, 8 inches x 10 inches, of each photograph

# **\* Important change: If a survey is printed through GPO, the state can order some copies perfectly bound and the other copies in looseleaf format; e.g., 1,200 perfectly bound copies and 300 looseleaf copies.**

# **Line drawings**

## Block diagrams, special maps, locator maps, etc.

## Submit two press-ready prints (and electronic files if available)

## Maximum size of drawing

### 7 inches wide x 8 inches deep (two columns)

### 3.25 inches wide x 8 inches deep (one column)

# **Color photographs**

## Be sure that the colors are accurate in the slides and prints

## The slides and prints should be technically approved by a soil scientist for accuracy in content and in color before they are submitted to the editor

## Traditional perfect bind and looseleaf format printed through GPO

### Only the cover photo and soil profiles can be color

### The soil profiles will be grouped in the series section

### Minimum of six color profiles

### Submit the original slide and two 8 x 10 inch color prints or laser prints that include the full image area of the slide

## Looseleaf format through NPSS

### Color can be used on the cover and throughout the text

### Photographs in the text will be grouped to hold down printing costs

### No minimum number of color photos

### Submit the original slide and three prints, which will be used for color matching (prints can be 5 x 7, 4 x 6, or 3 x 5 inches)

#### The MO will keep one copy of each print, the editor will keep one copy, and the third copy will be sent to NPSS with the slide to be used for color matching

# **Prewritten material (PWM)**

## Versions of PWM

### Use PWM dated 1/94 or 5/97 with Ames tables

### Use PWM dated 2/99 with FOCS tables

### Use PWM dated 11/99 with NASIS tables

## Submit a marked up paper copy of the PWM\--the editor will revise the electronic file

## Edit PWM only as needed

### Change or delete statements that misrepresent the survey area; e.g., wildlife species, references to columns that are not in the tables, etc.

### Don't delete rating factors when these factors are not limitations in the survey area; the factors were considered when the soils were rated; deleting references to them implies that they were not considered

# **Reminder:** Before submitting a manuscript for technical review or edit, please complete the "Checklist for Reviewing the Manuscript" in the "Guide for Authors of Soil Survey Manuscripts," NSSH pages 644-137 through 644-142.

If you have questions regarding any of these issues, contact Sarah
Laurent, Editor, MO8 at phone 602-280-8819 or email
<sarah.laurent@az.usda.gov>