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lrogers{at}ajroffice.org
But "a picture is worth a thousand words" surely isn't meant to imply that every picture is worth a thousand words. That is simply not true. Some pictures are worth more than others. Although some are highly prized (and priced) as works of art, others are recognized as mundane and are worth very little or nothing at all. We encounter the same varying quality of images in radiology: some are great and others are not so great, just as in life itself.
But when it comes to images accompanying articles in the scientific literature, our readers expect to find more of the great than the not-so-great; that is to say, readers expect to find higher quality, more informative images than they encounter in everyday practice. In a sense, readers like to see images that are indeed "worth a thousand words."
How do we accomplish that?
It begins with the authors; they must select the images that best depict the features described in their article. The maximum number of figures and figure parts allowed to appear in an AJR article varies with the type of article. These numbers are listed in the AJR Guidelines for Authors. The numbers given are recommendations, not absolutes. If authors believe that their article requires a greater number of figures or figure parts than recommended in the guidelines, the authors should explain in their cover letter why they found it necessary to exceed the recommended maximum. The AJR editors do not wish to compromise the message of an article by artificially and unduly restricting the number of images.
Authors must insist that the images they submit be properly photographed: sharply focused and of proper density to assure that the abnormalities will be clearly evident when the figure is published. Each figure part must be printed separately to assure the proper density of each component of the figure. Dark figures are particularly troublesome; if there is any question, err on the light side, not the dark. Also, figures must be printed with a white border surrounding the entire figure to facilitate processing for publication.
A compound print containing several figure parts will compromise the page layout by limiting the size and placement of figure parts. When it comes to the sizing of illustrations in the Journal, larger is definitely preferred to smaller because, obviously, findings are more evident on larger images. Composite prints, when minified for publication, may make the components so small that they become indecipherable. The use of composite prints is therefore discouraged except on rare occasions.
The photograph of an image should encompass an anatomic area large enough to allow the readers to orient themselves, and yet the image should be sufficiently cropped to assure that the structures in question can be readily identified and that the imaging features described in the accompanying figure legend can be fully appreciated.
On an image, extraneous wording relative to the patient or examination parameters should be cropped out or in some way obscured so as not to appear on the print. Other distractions on an image such as artifacts, grease pencil marks, and so forth should be assiduously avoided. If the original images are on film, clean the images before they are photographed.
After having gone to all the work to write and illustrate a scientific article, authors should make certain that readers are able to see precisely what is described in the figure legends. Be liberal with the use of labels: arrows, asterisks, dots, letters, and lines should be liberally applied to figures. Leave nothing to chance. If there is any doubt, add labels.
Remember that figures will be minified when published; therefore, use larger rather than smaller arrows and letters. Also, choose an arrow that contrasts with the background against which it is placed, white against black and vice versa. Arrows should be 2–3 or more millimeters from the edge of a finding to which you direct the reader's attention. Arrows placed on the edge of or within a structure tend to reduce the sharpness of that structure. Masses can be identified by a single asterisk or dot in the middle of the mass rather than with several arrows at the margins. Anatomic structures can be identified by a single letter: A for aorta, as opposed to using arrows.
The AJR requests that all labels be directly applied to figures. This requires press-on dry transfer labels such as those made by Letraset (www.letraset.com/us/default.asp). Such labels are commonly available at art or drafting supply stores. Press-on labels are applied by positioning the symbol on the print at the desired location and simply rubbing over, or burnishing, the symbol with a blunt, hard-surfaced instrument. Teflon burnishing tools are made specifically for this purpose but, in a pinch, a ballpoint pen will do.
Images are the coin of the radiologists' realm. In the text, authors may wax eloquent in describing their findings, and although this provides the reader a certain level of understanding, the reader's full appreciation and confidence in the authors' description only come with seeing the findings accurately displayed in an accompanying illustration.
As good as the authors' experience may have been, as good as their research was when performed, if what is described in an article is not shown convincingly in the images, then reviewers, editors, and, ultimately, readers will remain skeptical and unconvinced. All the authors' hard work will have gone for naught.
In radiology, the message is often in the images; images can be worth a thousand words. To maximize the likelihood of acceptance of articles for publication, to say nothing of informing the readers, authors are admonished to expend as much effort on their images as they do on their text.
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