Camera-ready copy (CRC) refers to the final version of a document or manuscript that is ready to be printed or published. It has been edited, formatted, and reviewed for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with the publisher’s guidelines.

The term “camera ready” originally referred to the use of photographic film to create printing plates, but today it typically means a digital file that can be directly used for printing or online publication.

If you are not comfortable with writing a research manuscript, you can refer to my blog post on Writing an Effective Research Paper with 11 Major Sections.

It is generally not recommended to significantly increase or decrease the number of pages in a camera-ready copy (CRC) compared to the original manuscript that was submitted for review. This is because the reviewers and editors have already assessed and approved the content and length of the original manuscript, and significant changes to the length could impact the quality and readability of the final published version.

However, there are some cases where it may be necessary to slightly adjust the length of the camera-ready copy(CRC), for example:

• If the publisher or conference organizer has specific guidelines or page limits that must be adhered to, and the original manuscript exceeded or fell short of these limits.
• If there were specific changes made during the editing or review process that impacted the length of the manuscript, such as the addition or removal of entire sections or paragraphs.

In these cases, it is important to carefully review the content and make necessary adjustments to ensure that the overall quality and readability of the manuscript is not compromised.

For example, let’s say a research paper was originally submitted at 10 pages and was accepted with minor revisions, which included the addition of a few paragraphs of text. The revised manuscript ended up being 12 pages, which is over the page limit for the conference proceedings.

In this case, the author may need to carefully review the manuscript to see if there are any sections that can be shortened or if there is unnecessary or redundant information that can be removed. By doing so, the author may be able to reduce the length of the CRC to 10-11 pages while still maintaining the quality and coherence of the paper.

Similarly, let’s say another research paper was originally submitted at 8 pages and was accepted with major revisions, which included the addition of a new section and an expansion of the conclusion. The revised manuscript ended up being 10 pages, which is under the page limit for the conference proceedings.

In this case, the author may need to carefully review the manuscript to see if there are any other areas where more information can be added, without compromising the quality of the paper. By doing so, the author may be able to expand the length of the CRC to 9-10 pages, which could improve the overall depth and impact of the paper.

In general, the camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper is not typically sent for peer review again. This is because the CRC represents the final version of the paper that has been accepted for publication after any necessary revisions have been made based on feedback from the peer review process.

Instead, the CRC is typically reviewed by the editorial staff of the journal or conference proceedings in which the paper will be published. This review is primarily focused on ensuring that the CRC meets the formatting and style requirements of the publication, as well as verifying that any necessary permissions and disclosures have been included in the paper.

However, it is worth noting that some publications may have specific requirements or procedures for the review of the CRC. For example, some journals may require authors to submit a copy of the final, revised manuscript for a final review by the reviewers or editor before publication. Additionally, some conferences or workshops may require authors to present their papers in person for a final round of review by attendees or moderators.

In any case, it is important for authors to carefully review the guidelines and requirements of the publication or conference in which they are submitting their paper, to ensure that they are following the correct procedures and submitting the correct version of their paper. If in doubt, authors should feel free to contact the editorial staff or program committee for clarification or guidance on the submission process.

There is a difference between the camera-ready copy (CRC) and the manuscript of a research paper. The manuscript is the initial version of the paper that is submitted for peer review, while the CRC is the final version of the paper that has been accepted for publication, after any necessary revisions have been made based on feedback from the peer review process.

The manuscript typically contains the full text of the paper, including any figures, tables, and references, but may not be formatted according to the guidelines of the target journal or conference. Manuscripts are generally submitted as Word or PDF documents, with separate files for figures and tables.

Once the manuscript has been accepted for publication, the authors are typically asked to prepare a CRC that meets the formatting and style requirements of the target publication. This may involve reformatting the text, figures, and tables to fit the journal or conference’s specific style, as well as addressing any minor issues identified by the reviewers or editor.

The CRC should be a final version of the paper that is free from any major errors or issues, and is ready to be published. It is typically submitted as a PDF file that includes all elements of the paper, including the text, figures, tables, and references, in their final form.

For example, if a researcher submits a manuscript to a journal and receives feedback from peer reviewers that suggests some changes to the formatting or text, they would make those revisions and submit a CRC that reflects those changes. The CRC should be a polished and error-free version of the paper that is ready for publication.

Here is a table that summarizes the differences between the manuscript and the camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper, along with examples:

Adding a new co-author to a camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper after it has been accepted for publication can be a complex issue. In most cases, it is not recommended to add a new co-author to a CRC, as the process of peer review and revisions has already been completed, and any substantial changes to the content or authorship of the paper may need to be reviewed again.

If a new co-author needs to be added to the paper, it is important to discuss this with the journal or conference editor as soon as possible to determine the best course of action. The editor may require that the new co-author’s contribution to the paper be substantial enough to warrant inclusion, or they may recommend that the paper be resubmitted with a new title and abstract to reflect the changes in authorship.

In general, it is best to ensure that all authors are included in the submission process from the outset and that any changes to authorship are discussed and agreed upon by all authors before the paper is accepted for publication. This can help to avoid any issues that may arise from making changes to the authorship of a paper after it has already been accepted.

If you discover an error in your camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper after it has been submitted, it is important to act quickly to rectify the situation. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Contact the journal or conference editor: If you notice an error in your CRC, contact the editor as soon as possible to let them know about the issue. Explain the error and ask if it is possible to make corrections to the CRC before publication.
2. Provide corrected material: If the editor agrees to accept the corrections, provide them with the corrected material as soon as possible. This may involve making changes to the manuscript, figures, or tables.
3. Follow the publisher’s guidelines: Ensure that any corrections you make to the CRC are consistent with the publisher’s guidelines for formatting, style, and content.
4. Proofread the CRC again: Before submitting the corrected CRC, proofread it carefully to ensure that there are no further errors or mistakes.
5. Communicate with co-authors: If you have co-authors, keep them informed about any changes to the CRC and ensure that they are in agreement with the changes.
6. Be aware of any deadlines: If the publisher has a deadline for submitting the CRC, make sure that you meet this deadline.

It is important to remember that errors in a CRC can cause delays in publication, so it is important to take steps to avoid them. Carefully proofreading and reviewing the CRC before submission can help to prevent errors from occurring in the first place.

It is generally not recommended to make major changes to figures and tables in a camera-ready copy (CRC) after a paper has been accepted for publication, as this can cause formatting issues and delays in the publication process. However, if changes to the figures and tables are necessary, it is important to follow the publisher’s guidelines for making these changes.

If you need to make changes to figures or tables in your CRC, here are some general guidelines to follow:

1. Notify the editor: Before making any changes to figures or tables, it is important to notify the editor and obtain their approval. The editor can advise you on whether the changes are permissible and how to make them.
2. Make changes carefully: If the editor approves the changes, make them carefully and accurately, taking care to ensure that the formatting and layout of the figure or table remain consistent with the rest of the CRC.
3. Check for errors: Once you have made the changes, carefully check the figures and tables to ensure that there are no errors or mistakes. This may involve checking for typographical errors, ensuring that the data is correct, and ensuring that the formatting is consistent.
4. Update the caption and citation: If you make changes to a figure or table, be sure to update the caption and citation to reflect the changes.

It is important to note that making major changes to figures and tables in a CRC can be time-consuming and may require significant effort on the part of the author. As such, it is important to carefully consider whether changes are necessary and to seek guidance from the editor if necessary.