A “camera-ready copy” is a manuscript that is ready to be sent to a printer, with no further editing or typesetting required. This term is most often used in the publishing industry in reference to books.
The term “camera-ready” comes from the days when printing was done using a camera rather than a computer. In order to print a book, the pages of the manuscript would need to be photographed, and then the negative would be used to make the printing plates. This process was called “camera-ready copy.”
Nowadays, of course, books are printed using computers, so the term “camera-ready copy” is somewhat outdated. However, it is still used in the publishing industry, to refer to manuscripts that are ready to be sent to the printer.
A few things need to be done to a manuscript before it can be considered “camera-ready.” First, it must be edited and proofread. All the corrections must be made, and the manuscript must be in its final form.
Next, the manuscript must be formatted according to the publisher’s specifications. This includes things like margin sizes, page numbers, and chapter headings.
Finally, the manuscript must be typeset. This means that it must be converted into a format that can be printed on a printing press. Once the manuscript is in this format, it is ready to be sent to the printer.
The term “camera-ready copy” is a bit of a misnomer since books are no longer printed using cameras. However, it is still used in the publishing industry to refer to manuscripts ready to be sent to the printer. If you plan to publish a book, make sure your manuscript is in its final form, edited and proofread, and formatted and typeset according to the publisher’s specifications. Then, and only then, will it be considered “camera-ready.”