Listed below is a production schedule* for printing and mailing
section newsletters:
From final articles to completed layout by designer: 10 days (add 2 days per additional edit)
From VSB to Printer: 1 days
Printing and Binding: 7–10 days (may take 1–2 days
longer if special features are involved)
From Printer to Mailing House: 1–2 days
Through Mail to Membership: 3–10 days
*schedule indicates business days
Spring newsletters to be received by members by
post before the Annual Meeting need to be submitted, designed and
ready to print, by May 1st.
This
style guide offers general information on writing, punctuation, word usage, and
a number of other issues particular to the VSB that come up as we
read and edit copy submitted to us for publication. It is intended
to assist our section newsletter editors as they edit submitted
articles. Please also read the Content Policy, which can always be found as part of the Chairs Handbook.
The costs associated with production of a newsletter are design,
printing and binding, mailing house services, and postage.
Design
Some sections have their newsletter produced at the newsletter
editor’s office, by law-school students or by an outside vendor. For
those sections without the resources to produce a newsletter
themselves, the VSB can provide the name of a freelance designer who
is available to produce section newsletters. For more information,
contact the VSB Publications Department.
Printing and Binding
All newsletters are sent to a professional printing company. Costs
for the production of your newsletter are based on the number of
pages it contains, the quantity printed, how the newsletter is
delivered, use of color, paper quality and type of binding.
1. Make your newsletter smaller by printing
summaries and an index to the contents with links to downloadable
information online.
2. Print and mail fewer issues of the newsletter each year
3. Go digital: For those sections that produce a completely digital
newsletter, the costs of paper, printing and postage are
eliminated.
Lighting
Natural, diffused lighting makes for better photographs than direct
light, over-head interior light, or flash. Those type of lights tend
to cause reflections, wash-out subjects, or put their features in
shadow. Additionally, make sure your light source (like the sun or a
lamp) is behind the camera and not behind your subject, as your
subject will appear in shadow.
Distance
Shoot photos within six feet of your subject whenever possible,
leaving enough space around your subject for a designer to crop to any
shape. For head shot portraits, shoot photos from no more than four
feet away.
Composition
When composing your photograph, check in your viewfinder to make
certain that there are no statues or potted plants growing directly
out of your subjects’ heads.
Identify your subjects
Please make a note of the names, and titles, if appropriate, of the
subjects in the photograph.
Digital Photo Delivery
When providing digital photos, please send only high-resolution files
(300 ppi/dpi at a size no smaller than 3” X 4”) in jpeg, tiff or eps
formats. Digital photographs are preferred. Please do not embed the
files in a Word document as the print quality will be poor.
Printed Photo Delivery
Photos printed from negatives scan well. However, digital photos
printed from a computer printer do not scan as well, so it is always
better to send a digital photo file rather than its print.