Design and Production

Manuscript Tips

Create tables with tabs only.
Avoid extra tabs and extra spaces for indenting text.
When you create a text document you are creating code to be processed by a page layout program. Don't make your code buggy with extra returns. Keep it simple.
Coordinate style sheet names in the Word document with the style sheets in the design template to avoid incorrectly formatting design layouts.
Try to get an accurate manuscript-to-layout ratio estimated before printing bids are requested.

Encourage the author and designer to coordinate their ideas about the look and feel of the book.
Cover designer and interior designer should communicate on creating consistent design elements.
Avoid changing design elements in the middle of the production process.
Avoid using too many fonts in a design. Service bureaus hate it as much as readers do.
Avoid making the text-to-trim margins too tight. Trimming and binding creep can cause text and design elements to be lost.

Create manuscript file names that adhere to a standard naming convention. This will aid greatly in the production process.
Avoid submitting incorrectly saved art files to production. All art should be saved at the correct resolution and size for the best possible image reproduction. Outstanding items will certainly slow down the process of submitting final pages to the printer.

PC-to-MAC translation is not always smooth; editors need to save files correctly and production must have all software translation tools operating.
Always package files with a pre-flight utility for automated file collection before shipping to the printer.
Always produce a high-quality PDF in the package before zipping it up and sending it to the printer or uploading to their server.
Avoid making inappropriate changes at the final proof. Unless it is a libel issue, anything that has gotten this far can wait until the second printing.
Do not avoid talking to the printer. Never assume the job is going well just because you haven't heard otherwise. They might be waiting for a check to arrive before they ship the books and you might be waiting for the books to be shipped.