University Communications

Working With Us 

A guide to getting your projects produced on time and within budget, from concept to delivery, and all the steps in between.

  1. When you’re ready to start a project
  2. Copy and file preparation
  3. Send us your files
  4. The proof stage
  5. The printing stage
  6. Delivery
  7. Image files
  8. Helpful Hints

Step One: Starting a project

As soon as you're ready to start a project, please contact Dena Matthews at (860) 685-2114 to set up a planning meeting or discuss the job over the phone. The sooner we get your job onto the schedule, the more likely it is that we will meet your schedule. Dena will provide a rough deadline for final text and an estimated delivery date. She will follow up with a detailed schedule, including time for editing, photos, design, and production.

Below is a table of typical projects and the estimated time for design, production, and printing. Please use this as a guide for ideas and scheduling.

 SamplesMin. Time
 
ADS ads 10 days
 
POSTERS posters 20 days
 
INVITATIONS invitations 20 days
 
POSTCARDS postcards 20 days
 
SCHEDULES,
NEWSLETTERS,
AND SMALL CALENDARS		 schedules, newsletters and calendars 30 days
 
SMALL BROCHURES small brochures 30 days
 
FANCY BROCHURES large brochures 35 days
 
SMALL CATALOGS,
INFO BOOKS		 small catalogs, information books 40 days
 
LARGE CATALOGS large catalogs 55 days
 
BRANDING PROJECTS branding projects Varies

Step Two: Copy and file preparation

Please follow the Wesleyan Style Guide when writing your copy. If you have any style questions that are not answered in the Wesleyan Style Guide, refer to the Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Edition. (Call Dena at 2114 if you have questions)

Formatting Dos
formatting dos
  1. Arrange your file as one flowing Word document with little or no formatting.
  2. Please place the information which will appear first in the completed piece first in your Word document.
  3. Please use one return only between paragraphs.
  4. Turn off the "fast save" option in Word
  5. Use only curly quotes (can be set up easily in Word).
  6. Use En and Em dashes where appropriate (see Wesleyan Style Guide).
  7. Check your class years (should read ’93, not ‘93).
  8. Use only one space between sentences.
Formatting Don’ts
formatting donts
  1. Do not double return.
  2. Do not double tab.
  3. Do not type in ALL CAPS.
  4. Do not use tables.
  5. Do not use columns.
  6. Do not auto-format your internet paths with hyperlinks (can be set up easily in Word).

Step Three: Send us your files

  • New Copy: E-mail to Dena (dmatthews@wesleyan.edu) as a Word or Text file. Please send hardcopy over as well.
  • Updated publication with changes: Request a comment-enabled PDF for markup. Instructions on how to use the markup tools can be found here. For best results, download the latest free version of Acrobat Reader
  • Updated publication with extensive changes: please email a Word doc and send over hardcopy with the changes highlighted. If you have a copy of your old version, please send it along.

Step Four: The proof stage

  • In general you will receive three pdf proofs. These include a preliminary proof (rough draft, may be in galley form), a revised proof (with a more finished feeling), and a final proof. You may also receive a concept proof for some new projects. Please make every effort to return the proofs to us promptly (see your production schedule). If proofs are held up in your office, your delivery date could be postponed and rush charges may be incurred at the print stage.
  • Although we proofread most documents, YOU are responsible for accuracy. Review your proofs carefully. Be sure to fact check all information (including dates, indicia information, spelling of names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, web addresses, and fax numbers).

Step Five: The printing stage

  • Once the proof stage is complete and you are 100% happy with the project, we will ask you to sign off on it and we will send it to the printer. It is best not to make any changes after this point.
  • When we receive a printer's proof, you will be asked to sign off on that.
  • Changes at the printer's proof stage can be costly and can hold up a project. We try our best to have everyone involved look at and return it immediately (same day) to avoid losing press time.
  • If you need to make changes to the printer's proof, use a red permanent marker and proofreader's marks.

Step Six: Delivery

Once printed, the job will be delivered to you or to the mail-house that you specify. If all goes according to plan, this will be on or before your projected delivery date. The delivery date on your production schedule does not take mailing (or time at the mailhouse) into account.

Image files

  • High res images are around 5x7" at 300 pixels per inch. That equals 1500 x 2100 pixels total. A good rule of thumb is by looking a the file size. High res images are usually 1 megabyte (Mb) or greater.
  • If you print the pictures out on regular paper, you can see their size and sharpness. If they aren't sharp, they aren't good candidates for enlargement.

Helpful Hints

  • Each job should have one contact person responsible for gathering and funneling all information and is responsible for signing off on proofs.
  • Incomplete copy, late copy and/or missing information can delay your project’s projected delivery date--try to have copy as close to complete as possible.
  • Files sometimes need a lot of clean up, which takes extra time. Please let us know in advance if you need help writing your copy.
  • We can help with images. We have a large and growing database of beautiful Wesleyan photos that can be used for many different publications. Sometimes, though, new images have to be shot. We can arrange a photographer, but if the shot includes students and/or faculty, it will be your responsibility to make those arrangements.
  • We will be happy to advise on format, style, and paper.