Press Releases & Other Editorial Text - If you are submitting material by email and it is only text, there is no need to use a separate attachment. Simply send the content in the body of the email message. Photo files still need to be attached. If you do need to send a word processor file it must be in a format we can open and use. Generally we are able to use any version of MS Word for either Windows or Mac. If you are familar with using the "Save As" option in Word or WordPerfect and choosing an alternative file format, then saving to a .rtf (Rich Text Format) or .txt (plain text) will guarantee we can read the file. We prefer to not receive letters and text in pdf files. Just put the text in the body of an email message. Keep it simple.

We cannot use the following file types under any circumstance: PrintShop, MS Publisher, WordPerfect, Lotus WordPro or any Lotus software for that matter. Please note that a scanned file is not the same as the electronic text. Please do not send a scanned file, send the text in the body of an email message instead.

Photos - The most important thing to understand with digital photos files is that the file size is directly related to the resolution and the number of pixels in the image, and that it is vital to ensure there is adequate data for sharp print reproduction. Rather than be concerned about resolution and pixels, just check the size of the file to ensure it is suitable to submit. A colour jpeg file between 1 and 3 MB (megabytes) will be ample for our use. If it's going to be a candidate for a cover photo it will need to be between 4 and 7 MB.

We prefer to receive colour photo files (we use colour pictures online and have special tecniques to make a black and white version print at its best). If in doubt just send the original file from the camera without any editing.

As for file formats please use the following file types for photographs in order of preference: .jpg, .png .tif, .bmp, .dng or .eps. Please don't send RAW, .gif or Windows metafiles and do not import graphics into a Word document and then send the Word file. We need graphics in a graphic file format Word is not a graphics file format. Keep text and graphics as seperate files. For RAW digital photo files we recommend converting to Adobe™ Digital Negative Format (.dng) but regardless we just need a .jpg or .png.

If you are keen on doing your own layout and would like to demonstrate a design concept you have created in MS Word or MS Publisher by all means do so and then fax or drop off a hardcopy of your work. But still submit the text in a word processing format and the graphics seperate in a graphics file format as listed above and we will type set your work as close to your concept as we are able. We can't open Publisher files or PrintShop.

Graphics Professionals - Please submit digital artwork for display advertisements as grayscale pdf, .ai or ,eps files between 200-300 dpi. Welcome to submit rgb versions of ad for internet editions but print edition is grayscale only. Submit as email attachments under 10 MB or for delivery options for larger files.