Manuscript Preparation

III. FINAL MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

PREPARING ILLUSTRATIONS
 Figures
 Tables
 Accessibility Requirements
FINAL MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
 Checklist 
 Deadlines

PREPARING ILLUSTRATIONS

Aztlán accepts illustrations—figures and charts (and other line art)—that are submitted in electronic format. Submit each illustration as a separate file. 

Illustrations appear in black and white in the print edition. Illustrations submitted in color appear in color in the online edition. 

Numbering: All figures must be numbered, and they must be "called out" in the manuscript by inserting the words "Figure 1 about here" after the paragraph in which the illustration is first mentioned. Tables are numbered and called out in the same way.

Files: Label files with the name of the lead author and the figure or table number; join the two with an underscore. For example: Smith_fig_01; Smith_table_01.  

Permissions: Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce photographs (art photography, photographs of artworks, documentary photos) and charts (and other types of line art). For more information, go to I. All Submissions, Permissions. 

Allow sufficient time for securing permissions. CSRC Press will postpone or refuse publication of any article if all permissions have not been secured by the time the copyediting phase of production is complete.

Authors are responsible for all fees.

For sample letters that can be adapted to request permission, go to V. Forms and Style Sheets (below).

FIGURES

Reproductions of photographs (art photography, photographs of artwork, and documentary photos) and reproductions of charts (graphs) are considered figures for the purpose of identifying them in the manuscript. 

Check image size and resolution before submitting a file.

Never use the “Save as” command to duplicate an image file—it degrades the image. Always use the “Save a copy” command.  

Photographs: Submit photographs in JPEG or TIF format and in color if possible. Dimensions should be no smaller than 8 inches on the longest side; resolution should be no lower than 300 ppi.  

Image files with resolution lower than 300 ppi or images that are of poor quality may not be accepted for publication. Poor scans, poor snapshots, photographs shot from books, and scanned photocopies will not be accepted. 

Charts: Charts should be submitted only if necessary. They should be simple and clear. Line art that is overly complex or poorly executed will be returned to the author for revision. Charts must be able to stand alone: they must not rely on the text for interpretation. 

Author’s charts (graphs) may be prepared with drawing (e.g., Illustrator) or spreadsheet (e.g., Excel) software. It is the author's responsibility to ensure that charts can be edited by the editor and/or the designer: all links must be broken with the source spreadsheet OR the spreadsheet (containing all the graph’s data) must be included. Charts that cannot be edited may be dropped. 

Charts obtained from printed or online sources must be of reproducible quality.

Captions: Every figure must have a caption. List captions by figure number at the end of the manuscript under the heading “Captions.” Illustrated manuscripts that do not include a caption list will be returned for revision.

Captions for photographs of artwork must include the creator's name, title of the artwork, the date; medium and dimensions; credit line. Additional information may follow. 

Captions for other types of photography should describe the content of the photograph. List names of known figures. Include date, location, credit line.

Captions for charts may explain content and/or provide context. Source information, if needed, should be author-date format.

For examples, see Aztlán Style Sheet (below).

TABLES

Tables should be submitted only when necessary to summarize a large amount of data. Tables take up space, and text may be more reader-friendly. If submitted, tables should be simple and clear without extra formatting. Colors, shading, and so forth are stripped out before the editor and designer can work with them. 

Tables that are overly complex or poorly executed will be returned to the author for revision. 

Prepare tables in MS Word, placing each table in a separate file. Tables will be reformatted for publication. Number tables according to their order of appearance in the manuscript.

Tables are numbered in the order in which they appear. Give each table a title of no more than twelve words. Place the source (in author-date format) and any notes below the table.

For a comprehensive set of guidelines on setting up a table, see The Chicago Manual of Style, sections 3.48–3.81.

ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Beginning with the Spring 2026 issue, University of California Press will require alternative text, or alt text, for all figures and tables. Alt text describes visual content, and screen-reading software reads the text aloud for visually impaired readers. 

Alt text does not replace captions; it is additional description that will increase access to the scholarship published in Aztlán. For more information, see Accessibility Requirements for UCP Journals Authors (below).
 

FINAL MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION

After a manuscript is approved for publication, the author must confirm that it meets Aztlán style requirements before sending the final version to Aztlán editorial staff. Manuscripts that do not follow style, particularly in regard to notes and documentation, will be returned to the author for emendation. CSRC Press reserves the right to refuse publication of articles that, upon repeated resubmission, do not meet style standards. For style guides and examples of Aztlán style, see Aztlán Style Sheet.

All figures and tables, plus all necessary statements of permission, must accompany the final manuscript. Publication may be deferred to another issue if illustrations or permissions are incomplete. For downloadable forms, go to V. Forms and Style Sheets (below). 

CHECKLIST

Final essay manuscripts must be accompanied by an Aztlán Essay Submission Checklist or, if the final manuscript is a resubmitted manuscript, an Aztlán Essay Resubmission Checklist. 

Each final Dossier article must be accompanied by a Aztlán Dossier Submission Checklist. 

For checklist forms, go to V. Forms and Style Sheets.

DEADLINES

Final manuscripts (including revisions, if applicable) must be received by July 1 to be considered for the spring issue and by January 1 for the fall issue. Deadlines for author review of the edited manuscript and proof are set by the managing editor. For more information, go to IV. Production.

IV. PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION PROCESS
 Copy Editing
 Author Agreement
 Proofreading
MANUFACTURING AND FULFILLMENT

PRODUCTION PROCESS

After a manuscript has been accepted for publication and the author has submitted the final version, the manuscript is transferred to CSRC Press’s production staff. The production process comprises three phases—copy editing, proofreading, and manufacturing—which are overseen by a CSRC Press production editor. 

Production follows a strict schedule and has tight deadlines that are determined by the managing editor. Failure on the part of the author to meet deadlines at any point in the production process may jeopardize publication of the article.

COPY EDITING

The final manuscript is edited electronically by a professional copy editor and sent to the author for review. Instructions for responding to the editing and to the copy editor's queries are sent with the copy edited manuscript.

Authors generally have a week to review the editing. The manuscript then returns to the production editor, and the copy editor does a second pass (cleanup edit), resolving author responses and checking any new writing. 

The second edit occasionally generates new queries for the author. 

AUTHOR AGREEMENT

University of California Press will not accept an article for publication without a signed Author Agreement. The production editor will send the agreement form to the author (or, for co-authored articles, the lead author) with the copyedited manuscript, and it must be returned with the manuscript after author review. For more information, go to I. All Submissions, Copyright.

PROOFREADING

After the editing cycle is finished, the issue goes to design for layout, and authors’ proofs (PDFs) are produced.

Authors generally have a week to proofread and submit final corrections to the production editor. Proofreading instructions are sent with the PDF. 

The lead author of co-authored articles is responsible for compiling all corrections and submitting a single list of changes to the production editor. 

Proofreading often generates new follow-up queries for the author.  

MANUFACTURING AND FULFILLMENT

Aztlán is printed and bound in Michigan and shipped to subscribers and contributors by the manufacturer. 

V. FORMS AND STYLE SHEETS

Forms and style sheets are listed below under "Related Materials." Questions about forms and style sheets may be directed to submissions@chicano.ucla.edu.