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Frequently Asked Questions About IEEE Author-Supplied

Graphics and Multimedia

What are the acceptable formats for submitting graphics for my paper?
IEEE accepts PostScript (PS), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), Portable Document Format (PDF), Portable Network
Graphics (PNG), or Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) for graphics submission. Only when the graphic was originally
drawn in the program, is it acceptable to submit Microsoft Office Documents (DOC, PPT, XLS). High-resolution JPGs
are acceptable for author photos only (IEEE also continues to accept Postscript, EPS, and TIFF).

What graphics formats are not acceptable?

Figures prepared as VSD, GIF, JPEG, BMP, or any other file formats not listed as acceptable cannot be processed
except in the case of an author photo.

How should I name my figures / tables / author photos?

Figures should be named beginning with the first 5 letters of the primary author’s surname, followed by a number
signifying the figure’s sequential position within the paper. For example, the first 3 figures in a paper by author John
Author would be named: autho1.tif, autho2.pdf, autho3.png.
Tables should follow a similar naming convention, the only difference is that after the first 5 letters of the author’s
surname, you should insert a “.t” before the table’s sequential location in the paper. Note: figures and tables should
be numbered independently of each other. For example, it the above author is going to include one table in his
paper, it should be named “autho.t1.tif.”
Author photos should be named using the first 5 letters of each author’s surname. If more than one author has
the same surname, you should replace the last of the 5 letters with the first letter of their first names. For example, it
a paper has 3 authors, John Author, Sally Author, and Stephen Contributor, their author photos should be named
authj.tif, auths.tif, and contr.tif.

How can I make sure the graphics I submit are high quality?
Creating and saving your figures in a vector format will ensure that your figures appear as clearly as possible in your
final published paper. Acceptable vector file formats include PostScript (PS), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), and
Portable Document Format (PDF).
If, your are unable to create your figure in vector format, ensure that your figure is created at a high resolution
from the beginning, as increasing the resolution after the fact WILL NOT improve the image’s quality. IEEE standards
for non-vector graphics are >300dpi for color and grayscale images, and >600 for black and white “line art.”
If you create your graphics using Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, or Excel), it is recommended that you save
your files in PDF format.

Can you improve the quality of a figure?

Original image quality is very important to how your graphics will reproduce. Even though we can accept graphics in
many formats, and make revisions when necessary, we cannot vastly improve your graphics. If a graphic is submitted
at low quality, it cannot be “improved” during the publication process.

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• • • How should I size my graphics?
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can reduce the sizes of your figures but, in most cases, cannot increase them without negatively impacting quality.
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My graphics are very large; how can I reduce the size for submission?
First, make sure that all image layers are flattened, and your figure is of the correct resolution (DPI), and dimensions
(no larger than 7.16 x 8.8 inches, 182 x 220 millimeters, or 43 x 52 picas). If none of these factors are the cause of
your large file size, you may use any of a variety of compression methods in order to create a ZIP, SIT, or TAR.Z file:

1) “File > Compress” command

2) pkzip http://www.pkware.com/downloads?kc=googleppc&kw=pkzip&gclid=CKvb58GdnqYCFcNM4AodVTSynw
3) Stuffit http://www.stuffit.com

Please note that “condensing” your figures could have a small negative effect on the final quality of graphics, so we
suggest this only be used when absolutely necessary.

What fonts should I use when creating my graphic files?

When preparing your graphics IEEE suggests that you use of one of the following: Helvetica, Times New Roman, Arial,
Cambria, and Symbol. If you are supplying EPS, PS, or PDF files, please either convert all text to outlines, or embed the
fonts. Some fonts may be native only to your operating system; without the fonts embedded, parts of the graphic may
be distorted or missing when opened on another computer.

What type size should I use?

Please use consistent typefaces and type sizes in all your figures and tables. Type should appear approximately
9-10 pt when viewed at full size.

I’d like to have some or all of the figures in my paper in color. How can I determine what those charges will
be beforehand?
The color-in-print charge is a flat rate of $275 per figure.
The corresponding author of the article will have the opportunity to address the color-in-print option during an
“Article Setup” step. All invoices and payments are handled through an automated payment portal system. The
payment portal allows various payment types such as credit card, bank wire transfers, check, pre-approved waivers,
special payment circumstances, and third party billing. Please note that split payments are not supported at this time.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] for Open Access processing and [email protected]
for all other charges.

Can my color graphics appear as color on-line but print in black and white?
Yes.

How do I supply on-line color files?

IEEE accepts color graphics in the following formats: PDF, EPS, PS, TIFF, PNG, (and Word, PowerPoint, and Excel when
they were generated within those programs). The resolution of a RGB color TIFF file should be 300 dpi. If a graphic is
to appear in print or Web color, it should be submitted as RGB color. All color on web (but not in print) figures will be

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converted to grayscale figures for the print version if no separate grayscale file is provided. In nearly all occasions, this
is sufficient. In the event that simply converting your figures to grayscale will negatively affect the information within
the figure, you may submit a separate grayscale “print” version for each affected figure.

How do I create a PDF file?

Please go to the Adobe website http://www.adobe.com. Here, you will find instructions on how install a PostScript
printer driver to create a PDF on any platform you are working on. You will need to download the software to install
the PostScript drivers. You can do this at no cost.

Is there any way to check my graphics before submitting them?

The IEEE Graphics Analyzer enables you to check graphic files before they are submitted for publication. The tool will
check journal article graphic files against a set of rules for compliance with IEEE requirements. These requirements
are designed to ensure sufficient image quality. When a graphic or a set of graphics, is uploaded to the tool, the tool
will generate a report listing each graphic and whether it met or failed to meet the requirements. If the file fails, a
description and explanation will be sent along with instructions on how to correct the problem. The IEEE Graphics
Analyzer can be accessed at http://graphicsqc.ieee.org/. Please note that this tool is designed to check individual
graphics, and not entire manuscripts, so figures should be uploaded accordingly.

Why is the IEEE Graphics Checker Tool claiming my vector file has “0” resolution?
Because it does. Unlike a raster based graphic, a vector file’s information is not based on a matrix of dots, and thus it
has no defined “resolution” within itself. Their resolution is determined by the output device.

Should I avoid using vector based figures?

No. Vector graphics are comprised of mathematically defined points, shapes and fills that are resolution-independent.
This means we are able to size them perfectly in your paper and keep the highest possible resolution when we
convert them to TIF format. When using them, it is required that all fonts be embedded. Otherwise parts of the
graphic may be distorted or missing when viewed on other computers.

What if I am still have trouble creating graphics or have more questions?

For questions or more information contact the IEEE: Graphics H-E-L-P Desk at [email protected] A member of the
Transactions/Journals graphics staff will contact you and may suggest you e-mail a test file.

What types of multimedia files are accepted?

For audio, IEEE accepts AIFF (older but still common Audio Interchange File Format), AU (Unix audio), MIDI,
MOV (Quicktime audio), MP3, RA (Real Audio) and WAV (Windows audio) files.
For video, IEEE accepts ASF and WMA (Microsoft Media Player), AVI (Microsoft’s Audio-Video Interleaved),
GIF (animated GIFs), MPEG, and MOV (Quicktime) files.

How should I submit my data sets?

Data sets are typically provided in compressed format, and can be submitted in TAR.GZ, TAR.Z, HQX, SIT, or ZIP format.

What information is required in my multimedia file / dataset’s README file?

The information required in your README file varies based on the file type. Please consult the following
documents for specific information:

Multimedia README Requirements- http://www.ieee.org/documents/PlayableREADME.pdf

Data Set README Requirements- http://www.ieee.org/documents/DatasetREADME.pdf

pg 3 Frequently Asked Questions About IEEE Author-Supplied Graphics... © IEEE Transactions and Journals Department 2017