Design and editorial spread review
Introduction
This is the design and editorial checklist for the review of spreads.
First pass layouts
Design only:
| STYLE GUIDE | Check that the correct styling is used and that the template is being used correctly |
| BALANCE | Make sure that the general balance and look of the design is right |
| GRID | Confirm that elements are sitting in the grid (if used) and that no element sits too close to the trim or gutter |
| ALIGNMENT | Check everything aligns precisely |
| SPACING | Ensure everything is spaced correctly |
| CONTEXT | Ensure that any given spread works well visually with those around it |
Editorial only:
| VISUAL MESSAGE | Make sure that the images give the intended visual message |
| IMAGE SIZE | Check that the image sizes support their editorial importance |
| STYLE GUIDE | Check that the correct styling has been followed, such as the hierarchy of heading styles |
| ANNOTATION | Check that annotation has not been used as design filler and has an editorial function. Ensure that it is (or will be) appropriate and relevant, supports the intended story, and does not simply point out the obvious |
| CONTEXT | Ensure that the content of any given spread works well with those around it |
Joint design/editorial:
| IMPACT | Ensure that the layout is appealing and inviting. If not, how can designers give it more impact? And what can editors do? (e.g. suggest alternative picture subjects that would have more visual impact but make the same point just as well?) |
| STRUCTURE | Check that text elements and visual ideas read in the right order and with the intended editorial structure |
| HEADINGS AND CAPTION HEADS | Check that headings and caption heads are “live” or “working” and that they are placed correctly with respect to images. Is it obvious which caption relates to which image? |
| WORD/IMAGE BALANCE | Ensure that the balance of text (word count using lorem ipsum) and images is as intended |
| CROWDING | Confirm that all the information is successfully contained within the spread. If not, is more room needed or do you need to lose information? |
| REPETITION | Check that the subject matter or appearance of the visual material does not repeat anything elsewhere in the book |
| VISUAL INFORMATION | Confirm that images are easy to interpret (are they too small?) and are not cropped so that important visual information is missed. If an image runs through the gutter, check that no important information is lost in the book-binding |
| GLOBAL APPEAL | Ensure that images have global appeal and that they do not show any regional bias or narrow outlook that excludes readers in some countries. Check that a good balance of geographical regions is pictured |
| PRINTER POLITICS | Check that no visual material conflicts with the politics of the country of printing, and let print production know if it does. This is usually China |
| DIVERSITY | Make sure that a good balance of gender, races, and cultures is pictured. |
| READERSHIP | Check that images are suitable for intended readership. |
| ROOM FOR TRANSLATION | Check that enough room is allowed around every text element for translation |
| DESIGN CONSISTENCY | Ensure that the design style is consistent throughout |
| TEXT LAYER | Check that everything that should be on the text layer looks as if it is one-colour text black, including folios and elements on graphs and maps |
| IMAGE AVAILABILITY | Ensure that all the images will be available. This should be done even at low-res stage. That is, will rights be secured on all of them? Or do any images come from non-standard sources? |
| IMAGE QUALITY | If an image has been used very large on the page, confirm image size availability and quality by examining hi-res |
Second and subsequent pass layouts
Joint design/editorial:
| GENERAL POINTS | Review the spreads as in the previous pass |
| SPECIFIC POINTS | Check that all feedback has been taken in and, if not, reasons provided |
First edit
Design only:
| ANNO AND LEADER POSITIONING | Ensure that annos and leader lines have enough room and that they are positioned accurately, attractively, and in a way that maximizes ease of use for the reader |
| CROSSHEAD PLACEMENT | Ensure crossheads, if used, are not sitting in awkward places, nor less than 3 lines from the bottom or top of a column |
| TEXT SHAPE | Check that the live text is sitting well on the page |
| WRAPPING | Confirm that text wraps around images accurately and does not clash with images |
| SPACING | Ensure everything is spaced correctly and that images and text do not clash |
| ROOM FOR TRANSLATION | Check that the live headings have enough room for translation. If room and if colour not yet locked, space for two-line headings can be made to help co-eds, shifting other elements down the page |
Editorial only:
| TEXT ELEMENTS | Ensure that all text elements relate to one another in the way agreed during layout development |
| REPETITION | Check that there is no repetition (within the spread, or across the book – if spreads are prepared out-of-sequence, anticipate future clashes and repetition of content) |
| TEXT WORKING WITH IMAGES | Where text works together with an image, do the picture and text tell the same story? Does the text explain what is pictured and how it relates to the point being made, and to the rest of the spread? If not, should the text change or the picture? |
| ANNOTATION | Confirm that annotation supports the stories in the picture captions. |
| CLARITY | Does the text convey information simply and clearly in an easy-to-follow sequence? |
| ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE | Does the text assume the reader has prior knowledge? (It shouldn’t) |
| READING LEVEL | Reading level – is it suitable for the intended readership? Is it too technical? Is the reading age wrong? Are technical terms explained on first usage? Is it comprehensible? |
| BEING EXPLICIT | Is vital information missing, particularly information that links stages of an explanation? We cannot expect the reader to infer connections between statements, so must explanations be more explicit? Most stories should hold up on their own, but if they rely on information or definitions elsewhere in the book they may need to be cross-referenced |
| AMBIGUITY | Check that there are no ambiguous statements; can anything be misread? |
| ERRORS | Look for any factual errors |
| COPYRIGHT | Check there are no potential copyright issues. Has any text been plagiarized? (That is, do you recognize it, or is there a suspicious and abrupt change of style?) |
| LIBEL | Check there are no potential libel issues: Check there is no opinionated content (DK does not have an opinion), and that there are no allegations, insults, or judgements. |
| TONE | Confirm that the tone matches the intended book style. Is it too formal or informal? Is it lively and engaging enough? |
| WAFFLE | Make sure that there is no superfluous text. Ensure text is concise and that every word counts |
| SIMPLICITY | Check that there are no long, rambling, or over-complicated sentences. Look for any awkward constructions that could be more simple and elegant |
| ACTIVE | Make sure that sentences are active. If the book style permits passive voice, use it appropriately and sparingly |
| SENSITIVITY | Check that no text is insensitive culturally or with respect to gender, race, disability, religion, or sexuality |
| GLOBAL | Ensure that text is appropriate for the global market. Check that it is not regionally biased, nor does it exclude readers in some parts of the world |
| TRANSLATION | Check that room is allowed around every text element for translation |
| WORD COUNT | Check that the editing process has not increased the word count. An increased word count can lead to problems with co-edition partners, who have worked out their costs based on initial estimates |
| STYLE GUIDE | Ensure the text style conforms to the appropriate DK Style Guide and the book’s specific style guide |
| LITERALS | Check there are no literal spelling mistakes or inconsistencies |
| GOOD READ? | Ensure that it is an enjoyable read. |
Colour OK
Design only:
| CLASHES WITH REVISED TEXT | In some workflows, check a docucolour pdf with the latest text to ensure that no text revisions have had a knock-on effect on approving colour |
| COLOUR BALANCE | Check that colour balance of images is consistent and of appropriate quality |
| SHADOW QUALITY | Confirm that shadows are accurate, consistent, have no white halos due to pixelation, match style agreed during briefing, and are not cropped off by the picture box |
| RESOLUTION, SHARPNESS | Check image quality in terms of resolution and sharpness. Ensure all images have linked correctly |
| ELEMENTS | Ensure all key elements, including rules, are present |
| COLOUR KEYS | Check colour in maps and graphics match those in their keys |
| CUT-OUTS | Confirm that cut-outs are accurate and of appropriate quality |
| BLEED | Ensure any images that bleed off the page do so fully 4mm beyond the trim |
| TEXT LAYER | Make sure no text elements appear on the CMYK layer |
| FILE NAME | Check file name is correct |
| COLOUR CODING | Check any colour coding (specifying chapters, box types, or colour-specific graphics, for instance) is correct as agreed during briefing |
Second and subsequent edits
Design only:
| ALIGNMENT AND GRID | Check that text elements still align correctly and conform to the grid (if used) |
| SPACING | Ensure everything is spaced correctly and that images and text do not clash |
| TRACKING | Check that no excessive tracking has been used to fit text |
Editorial only:
| FEEDBACK | Ensure that first-pass feedback been taken in correctly |
| ISSUES | Make sure that feedback not taken in has been highlighted and an explanation given. Check that there are no outstanding issues |
Joint design/editorial:
| WRAPS | Confirm that text wraps are neat |
| TEXT SHAPE | Ensure that text has no ragged edges |
| STYLING | Check that text styling is consistent and correct |
| FOLIOS | Check folios are correct |
| WORD COUNT | Make sure that text elements have not lengthened during editing |
Proofreading
Proofreader will check the accuracy and consistency of terminology, spelling, punctuation, measurement-unit conversion, and text styling (including use of fonts, italics, upper and lowercase etc.)