How to Submit Digital Pictures for Magazine Publication

Most magazines now accept digital images. Thecompressing full-colour or grey-scale
question is will they accept mine!photographic-type digital images. The reason for
I won't answer that question I'll leave that to youusing this format is that any computer system
to answer once you have finished reading thiscan open JPG images. Remember, not everybody
article.uses Microsoft's Windows, many magazine
It's only just recently that magazines havepublishers' use Apple Macs and some people are
decided to accept digital images this is due to theusing Linux systems. Regardless of the system
image quality of early digital camera were notused all will read JPEG files.
man enough for the job i.e. did not produceSubmitting work.
images with enough resolution and level of detailWhen submitting work remember to include your
to reproduce well in magazines. Most Picturename & address with a brief synopsis of
Editors on magazines prefer either slides or printswhat is on the CD together with a high quality
as this is mainly at present habit but is currentlyprintout of your images and the file names of the
changing due to more professional photographersimages, this can be easily done in PhotoShop by
using digital cameras. A good reason your imagesgoing to File > Automate > contact sheet.
may not be accepted is if you supply yourFind the folder your images are in pick your paper
images already printed, it's OK to do this for yoursize and number of images on each sheet of
Granny, family or friends it's a no no whenpaper. Please remember someone has to look at
submitting to a publication. Why, have a close lookthese images so small images get a thumbs down
at your printed image the picture is made up ofas does too many. Don't forget to stick a DO
tiny dots and lines. When scanned by the reproNOT BEND label on the envelope as CDs don't like
department they have to blur your image to trybeing bent.
to get rid of these dots and lines otherwise yourNew words we have learnt
image has a moiré effect so you end upMoiré effect - A moiré pattern is
with an image that looks bad. Your best option isthe combination of two or more patterns viewed
to supply your images to the magazine onat the same time.
CD-ROMs again don't use cheap ones they goDPI stands for dots per inch and is used with
wrong! You can get approx. 31 images onto a CDresolution
of 700mbs if each image is 22mbs in size.JPG or JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group is
Increase the resolution.the name of the committee that designed the
Digital photography and getting your pictures intophotographic image-compression standard.
print is supplying an image to the correct pixel sizeDo's and Don'ts of submitting your Digital Pictures
and resolution in a format that can be easilyDo's
opened by another computers operating systems.Do Make sure your images are to the correct
What does that mean, well not everyone usespixel size and resolution.
Microsoft Windows many publishers use AppleDo Make sure you send a contact sheet of the
Macs some even use Linux if your image can't beimages on the CD together with file names.
viewed IT WILL NOT BE USED!Do save in JPG format.
Many magazines now included brief information onDo clearly name image files on CD-ROM.
submitting digital photographs in the contentDo use high quality ink and photo paper for
section. Have a look at To see how to submitcontact sheets.
images to Photography Monthly. If in doubt, ask.Do turn off time/date stamp, as it's difficult to
Did you notice they want your image resolution atremove and takes time.
300dpi, your camera only takes a picture at 72dpi,Do enclose return postage if you require your bits
how do I know what size my image needs to beback
at 300dpi. Help is at hand here's a link to a littleDo e-mail if you are unsure of what is required or
tool, which will help with image sizes, pixels, colourhow files should be submitted
depth and file size. it free. Its called CommercialDon't
Printing Information, there does not seem to beDon't e-mail huge unsolicited images
anything thing like this software anywhere else onDon't over sharpen images
the internet! Using this software to see what sizeDon't send hundreds of images - be selective,
your image can go to and then you can resizesend only pictures to do with that publication
your image accordingly in your normal photo(*see below).
editing software.Don't send pictures of different subject matter
Size matters!unless requested
The pictures pixel dimensions can be read withDon't use cheap blank CD-ROM's, paper or ink.
the above tool so dimensions of sayDon't send expensive storage media i.e. the card
3200x2400pixels we would be looking for a filefrom your camera
size of about 21mbs this would be OK for a fullDon't use long file names remember, not
page. The above program can help you decideeverybody uses Microsoft's Windows.
what size your image will be OK up to.Don't use 3rd party software on your CD's to try
Why JPG?to display your images when viewed.
Another problem magazine picture editors come*If the magazine is say an aircraft magazine don't
up against is images supplied in a unusual format.send irrelevant images of an say landscapes,
To save problems later ALWAYS save images inanimals etc...
JPG format. JPG format is optimised for