OPN Submission Guidelines

Manuscript Length & Format

Most articles run five to six magazine pages (approximately 2,500 words), with five graphic elements. We encourage authors to think creatively about how to present information in ways that are engaging and easily accessible to readers. Magazine readers often do not read long articles from start to finish in one sitting; instead, they prefer to have multiple points of access, so that they can revisit a story several times to glean relevant information. Consider using sidebars, bulleted lists, tables and boxes containing related information and resources. Also, please think about how your story could be enhanced in our online edition through the use of multi-media files or supplementary information.

Please submit articles by e-mail to opn@osa.org as Microsoft Word documents. Graphics should be sent as separate files. (See sections on "Visuals & Illustrations" for more information.) In addition to a working title, please provide a brief, two- to three-sentence "abstract" that draws readers into your article. Please provide the full name, title and affiliation of each author.

References & Resources

Since OPN is not a peer-reviewed journal, we do not include formal endnotes in our articles. Rather, we list relevant resources in a separate text box titled "References and Resources." Please suggest 2-5 book titles, journal or magazine articles and/or Web links that can serve as further reading for individuals who are interested in learning more about a topic. Please restrict references to 10 or fewer.

Visuals & Illustrations

The total number of visuals and tables should be limited to five. We prefer figures submitted electronically and saved as JPEG, EPS or TIFF (TIF) with a resolution NO LESS than 300 dpi. OPN reserves the right not to print images submitted below 300 dpi. We also accept original drawings, clean laser proofs or photographic prints. Electronic files should be accompanied by documentation that lists the program(s) in which the artwork was created. If you have any questions regarding acceptable formats, please e-mail opn@osa.org. Figure captions should define all abbreviations used in the figure. We welcome the submission of multi-media files that could be used on our Web site.

Each table should have a title. The material contained in tables should be understandable without reference to the text.

All figures, tables and photographs should be numbered in sequence, labeled with the author's name, and accompanied by a caption.

We encourage authors to submit a striking, high-resolution photo for the opening page of the article that could be considered for the magazine's cover. We prefer images that showcase the people behind the science rather than buildings or equipment. If possible, please send visuals of scientists at work instead of posed, static shots.

Deadlines & Galleys

All manuscripts are due 10 weeks prior to publication. If your article is scheduled for the April issue, for instance, it is due January 15. Magazine deadlines are critical and authors should contact the managing editor immediately if a problem arises.

Authors receive a set of galleys approximately three to four weeks before publication. Corrections must be returned to OPN within the specified timeframe, usually a week. The managing editor reserves the right to make non-substantive changes to articles after galleys are returned, to accommodate layout and format.

Call for Papers: Optics in 2008

Have you reported significant findings in a peer-reviewed journal over the course of the past year? If so, please consider submitting a summary of your published article in OPN's special December issue, Optics in 2008. This special issue highlights the most exciting optics research to emerge in the preceding 12 months. Optics in 2008 allows readers to access, in a single source, summaries of cutting-edge optics research reported in the peer-reviewed press. We strive to emphasize areas that created substantial interest in the optical community during the course of the year, and to represent the tremendous breadth of the field.

This year, for the first time, we are asking authors to submit their summaries and figures through OSA's online submission system (ADS). The system will be ready to accept submissions later this spring (date to be announced). The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2008.

Submissions are judged on the basis of the following criteria:

• The accomplishments described must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal after July 2007.

• The work should be illustrated in a clear, concise manner that is readily accessible to the at-large optics community.

• The authors should describe the topical area as a whole and then discuss the importance of their work in that context.

• Summaries must be no longer than 500 words and contain no more than five references, with only one camera-ready figure or image. Longer summaries may be disqualified from consideration.

OPN makes every effort to ensure that achievements in all optics subfields are recognized. For this reason, we may not accept multiple submissions from one research group in a single, concentrated area of focus. OPN strives to ensure that engineering, basic science and technology are all well represented.

Reprints

OPN offers high-quality, custom reprints to fit your marketing or educational needs. Reprints are available from two pages and up, in increments of 100, and may be ordered as black-and-white or four-color. For prompt service, submit your order directly to Sheridan Press using the Sheridan Electronic Order Center. Single copies of OPN are also available for $15/issue. Please contact customer service to place a single copy order.

Please send manuscripts to:

Christina Folz, OPN Managing Editor
The Optical Society of America
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036