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Submission Guidelines: Laser Focus World
How to Get Published
For over 40 years, Laser Focus World has been the international resource for technology and applications in the global photonics industry and offers our readers greater technical depth, through the world's most experienced team of science editors and writers, than any other publication in the field. It is the leading monthly magazine for engineers, researchers, scientists, and technical professionals in this worldwide market. Each month, the magazine analyzes the latest developments and significant trends in both technology and business and currently nearly 75,000 qualified optoelectronics professionals from around the world subscribe.
In addition to providing in-depth articles written by Laser Focus World editors, the magazine accepts articles, news stories, and new product information for publication from qualified outside contributors. For more information on submitting articles and other optoelectronics-related material to Laser Focus World, please use the following links:
AUTHOR GUIDELINES: FEATURE ARTICLES
DESCRIPTION: Feature articles vary from broad coverage of relevant technological issues to discussion of specific subjects such as system designs, novel applications, market trends, and product developments relating to the technologies that Laser Focus World covers. Our readers are primarily engineers and scientists who are knowledgeable about optoelectronics and photonics but are not specialists in all areas.
CONTENT: The subject and general outline of contributed feature articles should be agreed in writing with the soliciting editor before the article is written.
LENGTH: Manuscripts should not exceed the length agreed in advance with the soliciting editor. Feature articles are typically about 1500 words.
TEXT: Please supply electronic text files (such as MS Word) with NO EMBEDDED FORMATTING (examples include embedded footnotes and headers). Also Greek letters and symbols should be inserted using only "Symbol" font.
ART: Two to five pieces of art (photos, charts, and/or drawings), as agreed in advance with the soliciting editor, are an appropriate number. The best illustrations support points made in the text. Stock product shots will not be published. All illustrations must be supplied with captions in complete sentences.
Electronic files are preferred (see "Artwork Submission" attached)
Drawings need not be camera-ready
Please do not embed art in Word or PowerPoint files; use the native file formats for the art
DEADLINES: All material is due three months ahead of the scheduled publication date (e.g., Dec. 1 for March publication, and so forth). Necessary clearances or approvals should be obtained in advance of the due date. Anticipated delays should be discussed with the soliciting editor as early as possible.
SUBMISSION: Please mail all materials to the soliciting editor at Laser Focus World. A complete submission should include the following:
- the full text (ideally both an electronic copy and a hardcopy printout via fax or mail)
- a 100-word summary
- a suggested headline using an active verb
- art and captions
- references, where appropriate
- biographical information, including full title and work address of the author(s)
- signed copyright agreement (see below)
NOTE: Submissions should be made via email (as file attachments) directly to the soliciting editor. Due to the time required to download images at remote sites, please check with the editor before emailing large image files. Art files larger than 1 Mb can usually be zipped, mailed on a CD, or transferred using a file transfer service such as www.mailbigfile.com.
PennWell assumes copyright of all Laser Focus World articles.
WHO TO CONTACT
NEW PRODUCTS
Is there someone to call if I have press release about a new product for the optoelectronics industry?
Mail press releases to LFW New Products at Laser Focus World. Use email: lfwnewproducts@pennwell.com Include a color image (color photograph or jpeg format preferred)
Keep new product press releases short (less than 200 words) and to the point. Stick to the facts: what"s new, what are its benefits, what market is the product aimed at, and who is the contact for more information.
TECHNICAL NEWS
Whom do I contact with technical news regarding new developments in optoelectronics or its applications?
- East Coast: contact John Wallace (johnw@pennwell.com)
- West Coast: contact Kathy Kincade (kkincade@pennwell.com)
- International: contact Steve Anderson (stevega@pennwell.com)
We are always interested in ideas for technical news stories. Tell us how the development advances technology, what are its benefits, and what are the likely applications.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Whom do I call with optoelectronic business and market news such as financial reports, executive changes, and major industry events?
- Send press releases to Kathy Kincade
- Use email: kkincade@pennwell.com
- Include a contact name, phone number, and email address
Typical industry news includes financial reports, executive changes, major contract awards, mergers and acquisitions, market research reports, and industry events.
FEATURE IDEAS
- Check the editorial/marketing planner for topics
- Send ideas (a couple of paragraphs will do) to Steve Anderson (stevega@pennwell.com)
- Follow up with a phone call (301-620-1451) or email
Although many of our feature topics are planned with the Editorial Calendar included in this Media Kit, we regularly publish additional technical features about advances in lasers and optoelectronics technologies, written by leading research and development scientists and engineers.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- Send to Carol Settino (carols@pennwell.com)
- Include address and phone number
- Keep it short (100-200 words)
If you would like to comment on something that appeared in the magazine, send us a letter or email--we"d like to know what you think.
COMMENT COLUMN
- Send ideas to Valerie Coffey (valeriec@pennwell.com)
- Controversy is welcome
- Columns are about 750 words
We welcome your ideas. Comment columns should be informed commentary on issues that are important to our industry such as government regulation, export opportunities, or market predictions.
WORLD WIDE WEB
Whom do I call with major contract awards, mergers and acquisitions, market research reports, ideas or material for electronic publication on the Laser Focus World Web site or email newsletter?
- Send ideas to Gail Overton at Laser Focus World
- Use email: gailo@pennwell.com
- Include a contact name, phone number, and email address
- Images, when applicable, should be sent in jpeg format if possible
SOFTWARE & COMPUTING COLUMN
Our Software & Computing column describes advances in computer software and hardware that is related to design of optoelectronic and photonic components, system design, manufacture, or operation, as well as novel implementation of technology for real-world problem solving. This column can be contributed by experts on the topic (see Editorial Calendar for schedule).
- Send abstract or outline with article ideas to Valerie Coffey
- Use email: valeriec@pennwell.com
- Columns are about 1000 words with 1 or 2 illustrations
MARKETWATCH COLUMN
The MarketWatch column provides informative analysis of photonics companies and markets, spotlighting opportunities and successes throughout the industry. This column can be contributed by industry experts (see Editorial Calendar for schedule).
- Send abstract or outline with article ideas to Valerie Coffey
- Use email: valeriec@pennwell.com
- Columns are about 1000 words with 1 illustrations
Regularly updated industry and technology news complements the industry"s largest collection of in-depth technology articles about optoelectronics and photonics, direct from the printed pages of Laser Focus World. We welcome ideas for additional articles, news, and product information that also may be included in our weekly email newsletter to about 30,000 engineers and researchers.
ACCEPTABLE FORMATS FOR ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS
ELECTRONIC FORMATS (preferably accompanied by hardcopy for verification)
A. Photographic images:
Electronic submissions of photographic images refers to any RASTER-based computer image. This can include photographic images and computer-generated images. Electronic file formats that we can access most reliably include TIFF files and Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) files. We can also accept file formats that are compatible with Adobe Photoshop software (Amiga IFF, BMP, GIF, MacPaint, PCX, PICT, Pixar, PixelPaint, Scitex CT, Targa, PNG, and JPEG).
Ideally, electronic image files will have a resolution of 266 pixels-per-inch or higher at a size of about 3 x 5". Images of lower resolution would have to be reduced in size to increase the relative resolution (for example, a 72 pixel-per-inch image, if used, would have to be printed at approximately 1/4 of its submitted size.) For images to be printed at a large size, such as on the cover of the magazine, a high-resolution image (approx. 266 pixels-per-inch) of adequate size (about 8 x 10 in.) is mandatory and TIFF format is preferred. If possible hardcopy (printout) of the artwork should accompany any electronic files so that the identity of the images can be verified.
B. Line art illustrations (charts, graphs, diagrams):
Electronic submissions of illustrations refers to artwork created with a VECTOR-based computer drawing program. Electronic files are preferred to hardcopy line art because they save illustrator time. Our art department uses Macintosh computers and Adobe Illustrator software to create vector-based illustrations for the magazine. Images submitted as Adobe Illustrator files are ideal. We can also read or translate images in formats from other vector-based drawing programs, such as Postscript (PS) files, Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) files,, Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM), Windows Metafile (WMF), Macintosh PICT, and Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
NOTE: Any line art drawing (chart, graph, diagram, sketch, etc.) on paper is considered a traditional hard copy submission of illustration. This artwork should be clean and clear. All type must be legible. If a specific color or a color variation is important, please make a note of it, provide a color version of the artwork, or include additional reference.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA
For artwork submitted on disk, Macintosh format is preferred, but not necessary. ZIP disks are acceptable, but CD ROM is preferred. Please do not send files on traditional 3.5-in. Macintosh or PC floppy disks. We can receive reasonably sized files as attachments to e-mail messages.
We can also download files from a Web site, if necessary this is preferred for large files (see, for instance, www.maibigfile.com).
Questions? Please call Meg Fuschetti, Laser Focus World Art Director at (603) 891-9175 or megf@pennwell.com.
