Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!pacbell.com!ucsd!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!bionet!ANCHOR.RUTGERS.EDU!SOFER From: SOFER@ANCHOR.RUTGERS.EDU (Bill Sofer) Newsgroups: bionet.general Subject: Publishing electronic images Message-ID: Date: 3 Dec 90 14:20:00 GMT Sender: daemon@genbank.bio.net Lines: 32 My lab uses a high resolution CCD camera to capture grey scale images for analysis. Mostly, we do desitometric scans of gel-based electrophoretic assays, but we also measure densities and positions off of ethidium bromide-stained gels, Southerns, etc. We can also capture the images and edit them with appropriate software. Lanes can be cut out, rearranged and marked, and the output can be sent to a service bureau for near-photographic output. My problem is that such output appears to be unacceptable to most journals. When we recently submitted images treated in the above manner to a journal we were told that only photographs are appropriate. I am told that digitized images when subjected to the processes that printers ordinarily use to put grey scale pictures into journals produce moire patterns. I have several questions. First of all, is it true that most (all?) journals adhere to this policy? Second, if so, are there any efforts being mounted to change it? In particular, in light of the increased talk of electronic publications and the fact that many journals take text electronically, isn't there a need for scientists and publishers to get together to work out ways to solve problems like this one? Finally, are there other people out there who have encountered similar problems and have solved them (without having to go back to photography, darkrooms, scissors and paste)? Bill Sofer Waksman Institute Rutgers University Sofer@Biovax.rutgers.edu Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com