Graphics
Ensuring that the visual representation of the written word is not only accurate but effective...
Graphics should not overwhelm and should be consistent throughout a report, both in terms of size and colouring. They should include captions and copyright information, and most importantly, not misrepresent what is written in the report. Working closely with graphic designers on all types of communication materials has given me an eye for detail, along with a strong desire to ensure that the relationship between graphic and written content finds its just equilibrium. In other words, my job is to determine whether the graphics fit well with the overall message and whether they are consistent throughout the manuscript.
I have taken graphic design courses on the central relationship between editor and graphic designer. These courses focused on how the editor can guide the graphic designer so that he or she can effectively carry out the work. The comments that I provide to authors are designed to improve the visual representation of the text … whether through photos, graphs, tables, boxes or sidebars. In most cases, I am able to make the changes – recreating tables, boxes, sidebars – but in other cases, the graphic designer may need to intervene.
It is important to see the graphics as an integral part of the message of any publication. While some may insist that graphics should be reviewed through a stand-alone exercise, I think it is essential that both the written word and visual representation of the text be assessed simultaneously. In other words, editing should not be prioritized over graphics, nor vice versa. Together, they represent a symbiotic relationship between the penned word and the pictorial world.
The problem that comes immediately to mind is a case where a report was addressing a nuclear power plant in Hungary, and the graphic designer had inserted a photo of a plant in the Czech Republic. This is a particularly egregious example. Other, smaller problems may involve the simple focus of an image, the width of borders, the placement of wrap-around text or the consistency in the size and type of font used in tables or graphs.
Answering important questions...
Quantity and consistency
Are there enough visuals in the report? Are the size and the colouring of the images consistent? Are captions always included? Are the font style and size of captions consistent?
Quality
Do the graphics carry out their intended purpose? Are they on the correct page? Do the graphics add an essential visual element to the text, or are they overwhelming the reader?
Copyright
Does the author correctly cite the sources of the graphics? Has permission been granted to reproduce the images in the report? Has the author used the images elsewhere in a published or non-published work?