AMERICAN JOURNAL of PHYSICS
A Publication of the American Association of Physics Teachers

Online Color Figures

Beginning with the January 2003 issue of AJP (Vol. 71, No. 1), figures submitted in color have appeared in color online at no cost. However, all figures in the printed version of AJP will appear in black and white unless the author agrees to pay the extra costs for color reproduction.

I. Guidelines for authors submitting color figures (that will not appear in color in the print version)

If you choose not to pay the charges for color reproduction in the print verson of AJP (see below), you must observe the following guidelines with respect to any color figures as they will be converted to black and white for publication in the print version:

  1. Color figures must not depend on the use of color to convey their information correctly; after black and white (grayscale) conversion, they must still "read" well.
  2. There can be no references to color features in figures (for instance, "green dots" or "red lines") anywhere in the manuscript, except possibly to note in the caption that a figure appears "(in color online)."

II. Charges for color reproduction in the print version of AJP

Publishing figures in color is expensive. We suggest that you consider the use of color only if it is crucial in conveying information and ideas. Current charges are as follows:

Please let us know as early as possible if you intend to have your figures printed in color.

Updated 10 October 2007.