LaTex Workflows

If you're working in TeX or LaTeX, please ask your Press editor's advice on the best way to proceed. There are 4 workflow options:

1. you send us your LaTeX files, we copy edit the text, correct the files and typeset the book according to our own chosen text design.
2. you send us your LaTeX files using a layout previously approved by your Press editor, we copy edit the text, correct the files and produce the final output in the agreed design (we can supply you with macros for our own suite of approved standard designs). See Submitting LaTeX files
3. we copy edit your initial LaTeX proofs (using a Cambridge macro or a design we have approved) and return them to you for correction, you then return corrected proofs and LaTeX files from which we create pdfs to print the book. See Submitting LaTeX files
4. we copy edit your initial postscript proofs (using a Cambridge macro or a design we have approved) and return them to you for correction, you then return corrected proofs and postscript files from which we create pdfs to print the book. See Submitting LaTeX files

LaTeX workflows are generally speedier than the XML or conventional equivalents, however it is important that we are able to test your files prior to the start of production. Please consult with your Press editor as early as possible.

Production stages for LaTeX workflows

• See LaTeX workflows 1 and 2
• See LaTeX workflows 3 and 4

LaTeX Workflows 3 and 4

• Technical evaluation
• Transmittal meeting
• Copy editing
• Indexing
• Design
• Proofreading
• The cover and/or jacket
• Final stages
• Advance copies, publication and publicity

Technical evaluation

When you submit your initial LaTeX proof (with files) and it has been approved by your editor, your book enters a technical evaluation stage.

Your manuscript is assessed by the Copy Editorial Controller who identifies any stylistic or copy-editorial quality issues.

At the same time your files are sent to the typesetter to identify any problems.

When the technical evaluation is complete, you may be contacted to discuss any issues which have arisen.

We allow approximately 2 weeks for this stage to be completed.

Transmittal meeting

When any issues which have arisen from the technical evaluation have been resolved, your book will be submitted to our transmittal meeting. This is where the strategy for your book is discussed and publication schedule planned. Your book formally passes into the production phase and a Production Editor is assigned.

The Production Editor will contact you and any co-authors to introduce him/herself and let you know the date that we require copy editing to finish.

Deadlines

It is vital that you meet the deadlines which you are given so that we can achieve the publication date agreed at the transmittal meeting. Failure to meet our planned publication date will jeopardise marketing plans, critical selling dates or conferences.

Please ensure you keep your Production Editor and copy editor informed of any changes to your contact details throughout production.

Copy editing

The Copy Editorial Controller allocates a copy editor to your book and sends your manuscript to them to begin the editing.

The copy editor will contact you to introduce themselves and you can discuss the most convenient method for you both to communicate - generally by email or telephone.

It may be 2-3 weeks before the copy editor sends any substantial queries. This is because they require some time to work through the manuscript and gather together their queries for you.

The level of copy editing will vary from book to book, but in general the copy editor makes minimal changes to effect internal consistency of style and usage, to remove ambiguity or contradiction and to ensure references are complete.

You are expected to respond promptly to all copy editorial queries. Please tell your Production Editor and copy editor if there will be times when you are not contactable.

LaTeX Indexing

You are responsible for compiling your index. The complete index should be submitted with your initial LaTex proof.

Your copy editor will edit your index manuscript at the same time as your text.

See Indexing downloads

Design

Your proofs will be checked by our designers to ensure it follows the design you and your Press editor have agreed.

Proofreading

On most books we also employ a separate professional proofreader who will check through the page proofs to catch any missed errors. The freelance proofreader performs a cold reading, ie, they read only the typeset pages, searching for typographical and grammatical errors and inconsistencies (they do not read the proofs against manuscript).

When a book contains a large amount of maths setting or is otherwise too technical for a cold reading, the author is the sole proofreader.

The copy editor incorporates the proofreader's comments onto the proofs which are returned to you.

The cover and/or jacket

Cover image

You may be asked to provide an image for the cover of your book. This might be a high resolution electronic file you already have or just some suggestion of what you would like to see on the cover. CUP branding and series design governs the look of the cover, so please consult your Press editor before you begin searching. Please also let us know if you feel you do not have a suitable image for the cover.

We welcome your ideas, but please note that the Design department will have the final say on cover design.

Your Press editor will send you a cover visual for comment.

Once your book is fully in production, your Production editor will email you a pdf proof of the front and back cover of your book. You will be asked to check this carefully and let your Production editor know if there are any problems.

If everything is correct, then simply email your approval to your Production editor. If you need to mark corrections, please print out the pdf and send a marked hardcopy back to your Production editor.

Your Production editor will send the pdf to all co-authors, but the main author will be asked to coordinate the comments so that only one response is provided back.

See images for the jacket or cover

Final stages

Once both copy editing and indexing are complete, the Production Editor will send your copy edited proof back to you to correct.

You will given from 3 to 4 weeks to take in the corrections and provide a final set of proofs (with final files) and return this with the copy-edited proofs to your Production Editor.

If subsequent problems/errors persist we will ask you to make these corrections. Our turnaround times at this stage will be very tight.

When we have completed all final checks on your proofs and we have the final LaTeX/postscript files from you, we will create pdf files and your book will go to press.

Advance copies, publication and publicity

Stock will come into our warehouse approximately 5 weeks after your book is sent to press. Copies will then be distributed to relevant areas of the world in batches. Your Press editor will send you your advance copies at this time.

The advertised publication date for your book may be up to 6 weeks after we receive copies from our printer. This allows time for stock to reach our warehouses and then be sent on to accounts who have purchased copies so they have stock in advance of the publication date. We need to allow a few weeks from stock date to publication date also so that we are able to cover any contingencies and unexpected delays and be well organised to promote your book on its publication date.

Your Press editor will have notified you about the price of your book and your Production Editor will keep you informed of the expected stock date. As the time of your book's projected publication date approaches, you will be sent an outline of the marketing plans for your book by your Marketing Controller.