Best Practices for Using Production Notes in Editorial

Within each editorial section and article, your opportunity to communicate directly with the designer is via the production notes box in the Content Tab. The designer will consider these notes when reviewing your content and designing your magazine each month. Refer to the tips below for how production notes can be utilized in each section.

Cover

Specifying teaser placement (cannot be placed in the bottom left corner).
If multiple cover images are uploaded, stating a preference for what to be used in the first proof.
Asking to use a certain color for the masthead text (only white or black are allowed).
Clarifying the placement and zoom of an image if it’s not saving in ARC appropriately.
Requesting to have a subject be pulled in front of the magazine name. Typically this is reserved for a person where the magazine name is covering their face.
Requesting an image from an evergreen or national content article to be used for the cover.
Requesting a stock image to be used on the cover by providing the stock ID number. Please do not upload a watermarked image to the cover.

Lifestyle Letter

Noting if you would like to use a previously provided signature.
Noting if you would like to use a previously provided headshot.

Noting which articles to cut in the event there isn’t enough room for all of your content.
Noting which evergreen or previous national content to use to fill space if there is extra room.
Which image you would like used for an article entry if there is an ARC issue selecting it.

City Scene, Business Monthly, and Events

If additional entries are submitted, specify which are to be prioritized in print and which could be included if there is extra page space.
Leaving notes for cutting a specific department first in case of negative page availability, including which entries can be cut.
Stating preference to cut pages in the event of low page availability or expand pages (up to 5 max) in the event of extra pages.
If you would like to use an overall caption for City Scene instead of individual captions, you can include that caption in the production notes.

Articles

Including preference for a specific article to expand in the event of extra pages (including extra photos is helpful for this case).
Stating if a specific article needs to stay at the assigned number of pages based on image number, copy flow, etc.
Identifying a specific article to avoid placing fractional ads on the pages (this cannot be requested for every article).
If using custom content, requesting a different recipe layout from previous years that is not selectable within the month’s standard recipe layouts. Note which recipe to use [month] [year] [categorical name].
Calling out which copy applies to the sidebar.
Asking for a different background color if the selected layout has a color background that you don’t prefer.
Explaining how you envision your content to be used for a custom content article.
Stating which flex pages you would like used in place of the standard recipe pages.
Giving the specific order of pages from the recipe if you don’t want them in the order shown in the PDF.
Communicate which recipe pages you would like repeated instead of the pages shown in the PDF.

Do Not Use Production Notes For:

Putting copy that needs to be included in the article (any text in the production notes box will not get pushed to the online articles, and all copy included in the article text box gets pushed online).
Talking about adjustments to contracts.
Expressing frustrations or concerns (those items should be addressed with your Publisher directly).
Asking for a recipe to look different from the layout if it isn’t custom.
Requesting City List categories that are not available in the drop-down (City List categories must be requested via National Support).
Putting in stock photo numbers instead of using the designated spot in the photos section.