REGION 10

STREAMLINED

MANUSCRIPT

PROCEDURE

MANUAL

11/13/23

**FOREWORD**

This document discusses the procedures to be used in developing a
streamlined soil survey manuscript. It includes information about
editing the NASIS database in order to generate manuscript reports, such
as MUG (map unit generator). It also discusses manuscript review
procedures and the incorporation of prewritten material and photographs.
It is intended to aid the author in preparing a streamlined manuscript
for technical review. The streamlined manuscript format is different
from the full manuscript format as follows:

-   There are no general soil map or association descriptions.

-   There are no taxonomic unit descriptions.

-   There are no block diagrams.

-   There are no self-authored or guest-authored sections, except for
    formation of the soils.

-   References to use and management have been removed from the map unit
    generator report.

The intent is to develop a manuscript format that requires less time to
prepare, review, and edit and also requires less time and money to
publish.

*The procedures in this manual have been developed for streamlined
manuscripts. These procedures assume the use of Region 10 reports and
streamlined prewritten material and some National interpretation
reports. They are not intended to be interchanged with procedures,
reports, and prewritten material from other regions. Any attempt to do
so may result in inconsistencies.*

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[FLOW CHART FOR COMPLETING A STREAMLINED SOIL SURVEY MANUSCRIPT
4](#flow-chart-for-completing-a-streamlined-soil-survey-manuscript)

[PARTS OF A COMPLETED STREAMLINED MANUSCRIPT
5](#parts-of-a-completed-streamlined-manuscript)

[INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A STREAMLINED MANUSCRIPT USING NASIS
6](#instructions-for-preparing-a-streamlined-manuscript-using-nasis)

[SAMPLES OF A NASIS MUG MAP UNIT DESCRIPTION WITH NECESSARY NASIS EDITS
11](#samples-of-a-nasis-mug-map-unit-description-with-necessary-nasis-edits)

[EDITS NEEDED TO THE REGION 10 STREAMLINED ELECTRONIC PREWRITTEN
MATERIAL
14](#edits-needed-to-the-region-10-streamlined-electronic-prewritten-material)

[Manuscript Photographs 15](#manuscript-photographs)

[ITEMS TO BE COMPLETED AND INCLUDED WITH A STREAMLINED MANUSCRIPT
SUBMITTED TO THE MLRA REGIONAL OFFICE FOR TECHNICAL REVIEW
18](#items-to-be-completed-and-included-with-a-streamlined-manuscript-submitted-to-the-mlra-regional-office-for-technical-review)

# FLOW CHART FOR COMPLETING A STREAMLINED SOIL SURVEY MANUSCRIPT

1.  Make edits to the NASIS database elements that need edits. These
    will be elements in the Datamapunit Object.

> **⇓**

2.  When the Datamapunits are appropriately edited, test for errors by
    generating map unit descriptions, manuscript tables, and NASIS data
    validations

> **⇓**

3.  **Generate final map unit descriptions and tables using NASIS**

> **⇓**

4.  **Edit and incorporate prewritten material, self-authored sections,
    and photographs**

> **⇓**

5.  **Send unmerged electronic files and photographs to the MLRA Office
    for technical review and English edit**

> **⇓**

6.  **MLRA Office performs technical review and English edit**

# PARTS OF A COMPLETED STREAMLINED MANUSCRIPT

1.  NASIS-generated reports

2.  Limited hand-generated documents (self-authored and guest-authored
    sections)

3.  Prewritten material

4.  Photographs

# INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A STREAMLINED MANUSCRIPT USING NASIS

1.  Edit appropriate data elements in NASIS.

2.  Most of the reports in NASIS used to generate descriptions and
    tables for the manuscript are under ***Options, Standard Reports,
    Local*** in NASIS, and their names begin with ***MANU-MO10**.* NASIS
    interpretation reports are under **Options, Standard Reports,
    National** in NASIS, and their names end with **w/fuzzy rating.**
    Generate map unit descriptions using the ***MANU-MO10 Map Unit
    Generator*** report. **This report is written so that the only data
    that will appear in the map unit description is data that has been
    populated in NASIS. For example, if the component parent material
    group has not been populated, then the entry for Parent Material: in
    the mug program will not be displayed. This provides flexibility in
    displaying more limited data for components that are miscellaneous
    areas or water. It also provides a check on whether you have
    adequately populated data for a particular component. In addition,
    the component text table can be populated with a short narrative
    description for miscellaneous areas or water.** The report is
    formatted with indents to make it easier to read. Generate the
    cropland consideration tables, forestland consideration tables,
    other standard manuscript tables, and interpretations reports (see
    the listing of available manuscript tables and interpretations
    reports below). **Each of the manuscript reports has a corresponding
    report with the term *(no pages)* at the end of the report name.
    These reports** **have no page breaks (each report is treated as one
    page). These are the reports that should be submitted to the Region
    10 office for technical review and English edit. Reports without
    page breaks simplify the English edit process. The reports that do
    not have the term *(no pages)* at the end of the name have page
    breaks and should be used in preliminary documents, such as soil
    handbooks, descriptive legends, and advance manuscripts.** Review
    the map unit descriptions, tables, and interpretations for invalid
    or missing data. If there is invalid or missing data, it most likely
    means that there is invalid or missing data in the database. Also
    run validations to check for invalid data under ***Options, Validate
    Data Elements*** in NASIS. Edit the appropriate database tables, and
    regenerate the reports mentioned above. Repeat the above process
    until the map unit descriptions and manuscript tables are
    acceptable.

3.  Generate final map unit descriptions using the ***MANU-MO10 Map Unit
    Generator***.

4.  Generate final manuscript tables and interpretations using the
    manuscript table and interpretations reports in the NASIS report
    generator.

5.  Generate a map unit list for the manuscript using the NASIS report
    ***MANU-MO10 Legend By Symbol For Manuscript Generation***.

6.  Edit the self-authored Formation and Classification of the Soils.

7.  Edit the electronic prewritten material using the guidelines
    provided. If you want to use any other specialized tables in the
    manuscript, you will need to write self-authored sections to explain
    these tables.

8.  Send unmerged electronic files and photographs to the MLRA office
    for technical review and English edit.

The following is a list of the reports in NASIS that generate
descriptions and tables used in the manuscript:

Local:

-   MANU-MO10 - Source of Gravel and Sand(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 -- Source of Gravel and Sand

-   MANU-MO10 Acres

-   MANU-MO10 Chemical Properties

-   MANU-MO10 Chemical Properties (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Classification

-   MANU-MO10 Classification (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Classification w/taxadjuncts

-   MANU-MO10 Component Crop Names

-   MANU-MO10 Component Irrigated Yields (1-5 CROPS)

-   MANU-MO10 Component Irrigated Yields (1-5 CROPS) (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Component List (series) for Manuscript Generation

-   MANU-MO10 Component Non-Irr Yields (1-5 crops)

-   MANU-MO10 Component Non-Irr Yields (1-5 crops)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Component Yields (1-3 crops)

-   MANU-MO10 Component Yields (1-3 crops)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Component Yields (4-5 crops)

-   MANU-MO10 Component Yields (4-5 crops)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Cons. Tree Shrub Grp. (w/comp. percent)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Conservation Tree Shrub Groups

-   MANU-MO10 Conservation Tree Shrub Groups (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Conservation Tree Shrub Groups (w/comp. percent)

-   MANU-MO10 Cropland Management Considerations

-   MANU-MO10 Cropland Management Considerations (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Engineering Index Properties

-   MANU-MO10 Engineering Index Properties (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Flooding

-   MANU-MO10 Flooding (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forage Suit. Groups (w/comp. percent) (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forage Suitability Groups

-   MANU-MO10 Forage Suitability Groups (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forage Suitability Groups (w/comp. percent)

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Haul Road Considerations

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Haul Road Considerations (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Land Har. Equip. Consid. (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Land Harvest Equipment Considerations

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Log Landing Considerations

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Log Landing Considerations (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Productivity

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Productivity (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Site Prep. and Plant. Consid. (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Site Prep. and Planting Considerations

-   MANU-MO10 Forest Understory Plant Communities

-   MANU-MO10 Hybrid Poplar Management Considerations

-   MANU-MO10 Hybrid Poplar Management Considerations (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Legend by Symbol for Manuscript Generation

-   MANU-MO10 MU Non-Irr Ylds, CSR, Sub P&K(1-4 crops)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Map Unit Generator

-   MANU-MO10 Map Unit Generator (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Irrigated Yields (1-5 crops)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Irrigated Yields (1-5 crops)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Non-Irr Yields (1-5 crops)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Non-Irr Yields (1-5 crops)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Non-Irr Yields, CSR, Subs. P&K (1-4 crops)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Past. Ylds.(1-5 pasture species)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Pasture Yields (1-5 pasture species)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Yields (1-3 CROPS)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Yields (1-3 CROPS) (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Yields (4-5 CROPS)

-   MANU-MO10 Mapunit Yields (4-5 CROPS) (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Phy. Prop.(Perm.)(w/o s,si)(round Ksat)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Phy. Prop.(Perm.)(w/o sand and silt)(rounded Ksat)

-   MANU-MO10 Phy. Prop.(with perm.)(rounded Ksat)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (Ksat) (w/o s,si)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (Ksat) (w/o sand and silt)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (Perm.) (w/o sand and silt)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (with Ksat)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (with Ksat)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (with perm.) (rounded Ksat)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (with permeability)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties (with permeability)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Physical Properties(Perm.)(w/o s,si)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Ponding

-   MANU-MO10 Ponding (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Prime Farmland

-   MANU-MO10 Prime Farmland Acreage for Prewritten Material

-   MANU-MO10 Rangeland Prod. and Plant Composition (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Rangeland Production

-   MANU-MO10 Rangeland Production (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Rangeland Production and Plant Composition

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Features

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Features (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moist, Pond, Flood(L,Rv,H-nonstand-no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moist, Pond, Flood(L,Rv,H-stand-no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moist, Pond, Flood(Rv-nonstand-no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moist, Pond, Flood(Rv-stand-no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moisture, Ponding, Flooding (L,Rv,H) nonstand

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moisture, Ponding, Flooding (L,Rv,H) standard

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moisture, Ponding, Flooding (Rv) nonstand

-   MANU-MO10 Soil Moisture, Ponding, Flooding (Rv) standard

-   MANU-MO10 Wildlife Habitat

-   MANU-MO10 Wildlife Habitat (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Windbreak Suit. Groups (w/comp. percent)(no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Windbreak Suitability Groups

-   MANU-MO10 Windbreak Suitability Groups (no pages)

-   MANU-MO10 Windbreak Suitability Groups (w/component percent)

-   MANU-MO10 Windbreak and Environmental Plantings

-   MANU-MO10 Windbreak and Environmental Plantings (no pages)

National:

-   MANU -- Agr Disposal of Manure, Food Waste and Sewage Sludge

-   MANU -- Agr Disposal of Wastewater (rapid infil & slow rate)

-   MANU - Agr Disposal of Wastewater by Irrigation and Overland

-   MANU - Source of Gravel and Sand

-   MANU - Source of Reclamation Material, Roadfill, and Topsoil

-   MANU - Dwelling and Small Commercial Buildings

-   MANU - Roads and Streets, Shallow Excavations, and Lawns

-   MANU -- Sewage Disposal

-   MANU - Landfills

-   MANU - Forestland Planting and Harvesting

-   MANU -- Haul Roads, Log Landings, and Soil Rutting on Forestland

-   MANU -- Hazard of Erosion and Suitability for Roads on Forestland

-   MANU -- Damage by Fire and Seedling Mortality on Forestland

-   MANU -- Forestland Site Preparation

-   MANU -- Catastrophic Mortality

-   MANU -- Camp Areas, Picnic Areas, and Playgrounds

-   MANU -- Paths, Trails, and Golf Fairways

-   MANU -- Ponds and Embankments

**NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE UP TO SEVEN CROPS, RUN ONE OF THE CROP
YIELD REPORTS FOR THE FIRST FIVE CROPS AND THEN RUN IT A SECOND TIME FOR
THE REMAINING TWO CROPS. THE TWO TABLES WILL BE MERGED INTO ONE TABLE
DURING ENGLISH EDIT.**

**NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT ALL REPORTS AND INTERPRETATIONS ARE
FREE OF PROBLEMS. REVIEW ALL REPORTS AND INTERPRETATIONS YOU GENERATE
FROM NASIS. PROBLEMS USUALLY REFLECT A PROBLEM IN THE SOIL DATA, BUT
SOMETIMES THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE REPORT.**

If you have any questions about these procedures or problems with
reports or interpretations, please contact the following people at the
MLRA office for assistance:

Mike Walker - general manuscript questions, NASIS databases, and NASIS
reports

E-mail -- mike.walker@mn.usda.gov

Phone - (651) 602-7892

Rhonda Osterman - MS-Word questions

E-mail - rhonda.osterman@mn.usda.gov

Phone - (651) 602-7862

John Handler - NASIS databases

E-mail - john.handler@mn.usda.gov

Phone - (651) 602-7894

Pattie West -- English edit and manuscript format questions

E-mail -- pattie.west@mn.usda.gov

Phone -- (402) 437-5334

# SAMPLES OF A NASIS MUG MAP UNIT DESCRIPTION WITH NECESSARY NASIS EDITS

**(NASIS table to edit/***NASIS data element to edit***)**

**\* If the major components are the same percent composition (as in an
undifferentiated unit), then the *seq (sequence number)* should be
populated so that the components are sorted in the proper order in the
map unit description**

**\*\* For components such as miscellaneous areas and water, you have
the option to populate a short narrative whether you populate and
display any other fields or not. The component name and composition will
always be displayed. To display a narrative description, you will
populate the component text table for each component. Populate the
"kind" with "miscellaneous notes", populate the "category" with
"component", and write the short narrative in the "text".**

**\*\*\* If a representative (rv) texture is not indicated in NASIS,
textures will not be displayed in the surface layer texture or in the
typical profile.**

\*\*\*\* Soil moisture status, ponding, and flooding must be fully
populated in NASIS for the map unit generator report to work properly.
For components that have some or all months that do not have ponding or
flooding, those months must be populated with "NONE".

48B\--Hiwood Fine Sand, 1 To 6 Percent Slopes **(mapunit/***map unit
symbol, map unit name***)**

Component Description **(component/***component name, local phase,
seq***)\***

Hiwood and similar soils**\*\***

Extent: 85 percent of the unit **(component/***comp %***)**

Geomorphic setting: Rise on lake plain: **(component geomorphic
description/***feature id, feature type, feature name, exists on feature
id***)**

Position on landform: **(component two dimensional surface
morphometry/***hillslope profile)*

Geomorphic component: **(*component three dimensional surface
morphometry/****geomorphic component -- hills, geomorphic component --
terraces)*

Slope range: 1 to 6 percent **(component/***slope %***)**

Texture of the surface layer: Fine sand **(horizon/***designation, disc,
master, sub, top depth, bottom depth,* **horizon texture/***texture,*
**horizon texture group/***tex mod & class, stratified, rv*, **horizon
texture modifier/***modifier***)\*\*\***

Depth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60 inches)
**(component restrictions/***kind, hardness, top depth, bottom depth,
thickness***)**

Drainage class: Moderately well drained **(component/***drainage
class***)**

Parent material: Glaciolacustrine deposits **(component parent
material/***order, modifier, kind, origin,* **component parent material
group/***group name***)**

Flooding: None **(component month/***month, flooding frequency, flooding
duration***)\*\*\*\***

Shallowest depth to wet zone: 2.5 feet (April) **(component
month/***month, **co*****mponent soil moisture/***moisture status, top
depth, bottom depth***)\*\*\*\***

Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet (July, August)
**(component month/***month, **co*****mponent soil moisture/***moisture
status, top depth, bottom depth***)\*\*\*\***

Ponding: None **(component month/***month, ponding frequency, ponding
duration, ponding depth***)\*\*\*\***

Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.7 inches
(**horizon**/*awc*)

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 0.6 percent
(**horizon**/*om*)

Typical profile: **(more than one texture can be labeled as
representative for horizons such as B/E, or E and Bt, and they can be
displayed in order of dominance by use of the horizon texture group
sequence number) (a bottom depth should be populated for all horizons,
including bedrock)**

A,E\--0 to 3 inches; fine sand **(horizon/***designation, disc, master,
sub, top depth, bottom depth,* **horizon texture/***texture,* **horizon
texture group/** *tex mod & class, stratified, rv,* **horizon texture
modifier/***modifier***)**

Bw1,Bw2\--3 to 22 inches; fine sand

C1..C4\--22 to 80 inches; fine sand

Redby and similar soils

Extent: 7 percent of the unit

Geomorphic setting: Rise on lake plain

Slope range: 0 to 3 percent

Texture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sand

Depth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60 inches)

Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained

Parent material: Glaciolacustrine deposits

Flooding: None

Shallowest depth to wet zone: 1.5 feet (April)

Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet (August)

Ponding: None

Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.8 inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 0.6 percent

Typical profile:

A\--0 to 3 inches; loamy fine sand

E..Bw2\--3 to 28 inches; fine sand

Cg1..Cg3\--28 to 80 inches; fine sand

Clearriver and similar soils

Extent: 3 percent of the unit

Geomorphic setting: Beach ridge

Position on landform: Shoulder, backslope

Slope range: 0 to 3 percent

Texture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sand

Depth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60 inches)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained

Parent material: Beach deposits

Flooding: None

Shallowest depth to wet zone: 3.0 feet (April)

Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet (July, August)

Ponding: None

Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 3.5 inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 0.5 percent

Typical profile:

Ap\--0 to 2 inches; loamy fine sand

E1,E2\--2 to 21 inches; loamy sand

E&Bt..C3\--21 to 80 inches; stratified fine sand to gravelly coarse sand

Cormant and similar soils

Extent: 3 percent of the unit

Geomorphic setting: Swale on lake plain; flat on lake plain

Slope range: 0 to 2 percent

Texture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sand

Depth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60 inches)

Drainage class: Poorly drained

Parent material: Glaciolacustrine deposits

Flooding: None

Shallowest depth to wet zone: 0.5 foot (April)

Deepest depth to wet zone: 4.9 feet (August)

Months in which ponding does not occur: January, February, March, July,

August, September, November, December

Deepest ponding: 0.3 foot (April, May)

Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.9 inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 3.9 percent

Typical profile:

Ap\--0 to 6 inches; loamy fine sand

Cg1..Cg7\--6 to 80 inches; fine sand

Zimmerman and similar soils

Extent: 2 percent of the unit

Geomorphic setting: Beach ridge

Position on landform: Shoulder, summit

Slope range: 1 to 6 percent

Texture of the surface layer: Fine sand

Depth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60 inches)

Drainage class: Excessively drained

Parent material: Beach deposits

Flooding: None

Depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all year

Ponding: None

Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.8 inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 0.6 percent

Typical profile:

A,E\--0 to 6 inches; fine sand

Bw1..C\--6 to 80 inches; fine sand

# EDITS NEEDED TO THE REGION 10 STREAMLINED ELECTRONIC PREWRITTEN MATERIAL

**The prewritten material used with the streamlined NASIS generated
manuscript is a modified version of Region 10 prewritten material. Very
few edits will be needed to the streamlined prewritten material, but the
following are edits that will be needed to make it complete. The
streamlined prewritten material is available on the Region 10 web site
(http://www.mo10.nrcs.usda.gov/).**

1.  Fill in the @@@ spaces in the streamlined PWM as needed.

2.  Make edits to the \"credits page\" (\"box\").

3.  Add self-authored sections, where appropriate, to the \"Formation
    and Classification of the Soils\" text. If necessary, change the
    examples of order, suborder, great group, etc., under
    \"Classification of the Soils\" to reflect a classification that is
    actually used in the survey area.

4.  Add extra references you wish to use to the references text.

5.  No revisions should be necessary to the Glossary, but if you need to
    make an addition, you can seek approval from the MLRA office.

6.  No edits will be needed in the \"Engineering\" section.

7.  No edits will be needed in the \"Soil Properties\" section.

# Manuscript Photographs

1\. All manuscript photographs can now be submitted in color, whether
they are landscapes or soil profiles. Black and white can still be
submitted for landscape photographs. Color landscape photographs will be
converted to grayscale for hard-copy publication. For electronic
publication (CD-ROM and WEB), color photographs can be used for soil
profiles and landscapes. The following should be submitted to the Region
10 MLRA office depending on final manuscript format:

-   If the manuscript is to be published **only** in an electronic
    format(CD-ROM or WEB):

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-   Color slides for color photographs and black and white prints for
    black and white photographs.

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-   If the manuscript is to be published in a hard-copy format:

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-   A color slide **and** a good-quality color print for each color
    photograph (the color print will be used to verify and adjust colors
    on the electronic image that is produced from the slide). Black and
    white prints can still be submitted also.

> Keep in mind that manuscripts published in a hard-copy format will
> most likely also be produced in the electronic format (CD-ROM or WEB).
>
> **The following information is taken from an article by John Kelley,
> Soil Data Quality Specialist, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
> Service, Raleigh, North Carolina. It provides excellent guidance on
> the use of digital cameras for soil survey publication
> illustrations.**
>
> Many of you now have access to digital cameras. Before you take to the
> field and begin shooting all those great pictures, there are a few
> basic concepts that you must understand to get the image you want in a
> format suitable for publication in the soil survey report.
>
> As with any photographic technique, you must be knowledgeable of the
> camera, its accessories, its strong points, and its limitations. You
> must understand what the camera can do to meet your needs.
>
> **Your needs.**---Digital photographs used in printed soil survey
> reports must be of high quality. To be used in USDA publications,
> these photographs are required to have an image resolution of 300 ppi
> (pixels per linear inch) at the image size to be printed. A higher
> resolution exceeds the capacity of most offset printers. Any less
> resolution results in a degradation of image quality.
>
> A soil survey color cover picture is typically 7.0 inches wide x 6.5
> inches deep. At 300 ppi, the image would contain about 4 million
> pixels: \[(7.0 x 300) x (6.5 x 300\] = 4,095,000 pixels. Table 1 gives
> the resolution requirements and average file sizes for various types
> of images.

**Table 1.---Resolution requirements and average file sizes for various
image types**

+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| **Image       | **Print** | **        | **Pixel** | **Ave  | **Ave  |
| type**        |           | Average** |           | rage** | rage** |
|               | **Res     |           | **requi   |        |        |
|               | olution** | **publ    | rements** | **     | **     |
|               |           | ication** |           | TIFF** | JPEG** |
|               | **requi   |           |           |        |        |
|               | rements** | **dim     |           | **file | **file |
|               |           | ensions** |           | size** | size** |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
|               |           |           |           |        |        |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| Cover(color)  | 300 ppi   | 7.0 x 6.0 | 3.8 mp    | 11+ mb | 500+   |
|               |           | in        |           |        | kb     |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| Cover(color)  | 300 ppi   | 7.0 x 6.5 | 4.1 mp    | 11+ mb | 500+   |
|               |           | in        |           |        | kb     |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| Color         | 300 ppi   | 3.3 x 6.0 | 1.8 mp    | 5+ mb  | 200+   |
| profiles      |           | in        |           |        | kb     |
| (2/page)      |           |           |           |        |        |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| Color         | 300 ppi   | 5.75 x    | 4.1 mp    | 12+ mb | 350+   |
| profiles      |           | 8.0 in    |           |        | kb     |
| (1/page)      |           |           |           |        |        |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| Landscapes    | 150 ppi   | 7.0 x 6.0 | 0.9 mp    | 1+ mb  | 200+   |
| (b&w)         |           | in        |           |        | kb     |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+
| Landscapes    | 300 ppi   | 7.0 x 6.0 | 3.8 mp    | 11+ mb | 300+   |
| (color)       |           | in        |           |        | kb     |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+--------+--------+

> **Limitations.**---Digital images submitted for printing in soil
> survey reports *cannot* be in a compressed format. TIFF is the
> noncompressed file format used by most digital cameras and is the
> format preferred by the Government Printing Office. Images stored or
> recorded in a JPEG file format are compressed. These files do not
> retain all the digital data recorded by the camera's sensor. JPEG
> files, however, do work well if the image is to be posted on the Web
> or used in a PowerPoint presentation. When other formats are converted
> to a JPEG format, the amount of compression can be scaled by standard
> image-editing software. What this means is that all digital photos
> used in published soil surveys must be recorded in the TIFF format or
> must be recorded in another noncompressed file format, such as Windows
> bitmap (BMP), and then converted to a TIFF file.
>
> **Your equipment.**---Many of you now have access to the Olympus
> Camedia C-4000 digital camera. This camera provides you with a new and
> interesting way to produce quality images. It has a still-image
> capture resolution of 2,288 x 1,712 pixels (3.92 megapixels). Images
> are stored in a JPEG or TIFF format. These images are suitable for
> posting on the Web; for use in software applications, such as
> PowerPoint presentations; and for printing in soil survey reports.
>
> The camera utilizes a SmartMedia memory card. You will quickly learn
> that the 16-megabyte card that comes with the camera does not provide
> adequate storage capacity for soil survey images. You will be able to
> shoot only about five images at the highest resolution setting (2,288
> x 1,712 for a TIFF format). Additional cards will be required. The
> largest storage capacity for the SmartMedia format is a 128-megabyte
> card that costs about \$50 to \$75. This card will allow you to shoot
> up to about 40 images at the highest resolution before downloading to
> the computer or changing cards. Such items as a lens adapter for use
> with a circular polarizer or UV filter, a battery charger, and a
> carrying case are nice additions. They can be purchased at most camera
> shops.
>
> **Editing digital images.**---Once you have taken the picture, you may
> be tempted to use an image-editing software to edit color, contrast,
> saturation, etc., or to delete unwanted features or add new features.
> Editing the image has the potential not only for improvement but also
> for disaster. Remember, your monitor's settings for color, contrast,
> or brightness most likely will not match those of the editor or
> ultimately the printer. Editing images can be a creative and fun
> process. Caution should be taken, however, to ensure that you retain
> the concept the image was meant to portray. Before you consider any
> editing, SAVE the image as originally captured by the camera. Most of
> the time, a great deal of work has gone into preparing the soil
> profile or selecting the right time to shoot a scene. If you get too
> far down the editing road, it may not be possible to recover the
> original image and reshooting the image may not be a practical
> alternative.
>
> **Storing and submitting digital images.**---Digital images will
> require significant disk space for storage. Writing files to a CD is a
> good way to maintain a library of images without tying up your
> computer's hard drive.
>
> Images used for printed soil surveys must be in a TIFF format. Do not
> submit images that were recorded in a JPEG format and converted to a
> TIFF format. When taken, these images were compressed. When files are
> compressed, image data are irretrievably lost. These files can be
> resampled to a set resolution, but image quality will not be
> sufficient for the printed soil survey report. *(In other words---you
> can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!)* Do not submit images
> that were initially shot in a TIFF format, stored as a JPEG file, and
> converted back to TIFF. When a file has been compressed and then
> uncompressed, the software deletes pixels and then adds or creates new
> pixels. The file size will increase to its original size, but image
> quality is not the same. Every time a file is resampled, image quality
> diminishes. *(In other words---you can't put spilled milk back into
> the bottle!)*
>
> **References.**---You will want to build a reference library or
> bookmark helpful Web sites. "Digital Photography for Dummies" is a
> good place to start. It has very helpful information, references, and
> software goodies. It is especially helpful when you are using Adobe
> PhotoDeluxe or Photoshop.

2\. Captions should describe what you are trying to show with the photo
as much as possible. For profiles, describe the horizons of the soil and
characteristics of the soil visible on the photo, i.e., color, lime,
mottling, rock fragments, etc. Landscapes and cover pictures should
discuss position of the soils on the landscape, visible soil
characteristics, use and management, etc. Please say more than \"Corn in
an area of Alpha loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes.\" Instead say something
like, \"An area of Alpha loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes. This soil is
suited to corn, but the hazard of water erosion is a consideration.\"
Please make sure that any statements you make do not conflict with the
cropland and/or forestland consideration tables or any other
interpretive tables.

3\. It is a very good idea to keep duplicates of all photographs that
you use in your manuscript.

4\. Additional information on soil survey photography can be found in a
Powerpoint presentation by John Kelley, SDQS, Region 14 MLRA Office.
This presentation can be viewed or downloaded from the following site:
http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/nssc/educ/photography/index.htm

# ITEMS TO BE COMPLETED AND INCLUDED WITH A STREAMLINED MANUSCRIPT SUBMITTED TO THE MLRA REGIONAL OFFICE FOR TECHNICAL REVIEW

1.  One electronic copy of the completed manuscript files (not merged).
    The electronic manuscript files can be sent electronically via email
    attachments or on a CD-ROM. Submitting a hard copy is optional.

2.  The Microsoft Access tables that include the data that was
    downloaded for SSURGO at the time the manuscript was produced.
    Please send only the tables and no ACCESS template.

3.  A copy of the correlation document and any amendments to the
    correlation document.

4.  All of the photographs (prints and slides).

5.  A list of the references in the manuscript (bibliography)
    identifying where in the manuscript they are cited.

6.  A list of the photographs that includes the captions and also
    identifies where in the manuscript they are to be used.