Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the processes and tools used by publishers and editors in the creation of science textbooks, particularly focusing on the generation of mathematical function graphs and formatting. It touches on the roles of art departments, author contributions, and specific software utilized in the publishing industry.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants mention that publishers have dedicated art departments for creating figures and graphs.
- There is a suggestion that authors can submit their own figures if they meet quality standards, otherwise, the art department collaborates with authors to produce visuals.
- One participant expresses a desire for more transparency on how mathematical function graphs are created, indicating their usefulness.
- Another participant points out that online tools like Wolfram Alpha can be used for plotting, though not for commercial distribution.
- A participant shares their experience in theoretical high-energy nuclear physics, noting that manuscripts are often submitted as LaTeX files and may undergo significant formatting changes by editors.
- Different types of graphics require different tools, and some books may list the software used for their creation.
- Several software and tools are mentioned, including LaTeX, GeoGebra, Desmos, Plotly, and Matplotlib, among others.
- One participant expresses curiosity specifically about the textbook creation processes of McGraw Hill and Nelson.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the specific processes or tools used by publishers, and multiple viewpoints regarding the roles of authors and art departments are presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact methods employed by different publishers.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the lack of specific examples from major publishers and the variability in practices across different fields of science and types of textbooks.