Artwork guidelines
The materials we publish are read by students and
teachers in early childhood centres, primary and secondary schools,
kura kaupapa, and wharekura.
For most of our materials, we commission freelancers to provide illustrations or photographs, and each job is commissioned individually.
We welcome submissions from illustrators and photographers. We are always interested in seeing new work. If you wish to be considered for commissions, you will need to send us a tear sheet with your work.
Note to commissioned illustrators and photographers
If you would like to submit your illustration, design or photography work to Learning Media please send us a "tearsheet" with your best examples.
Any other types of illustration that you feel comfortable doing, put them in there too, for example, technical diagrams, maps, wildlife, and plants. If you have a particular background or qualification in the relevant subject matter, such as medical training or a science degree, it’s good for us to know this – you might want to mention it in your covering letter.
And include other styles you feel confident in, including more artistic and expressive work if you wish. If you sometimes work in black and white, include some examples of this too.
Before sending us a design portfolio, you might want to look at our series guidelines to see the kind of work that we do. Experience in educational and/or children’s publishing is an advantage; your portfolio should have a strong emphasis on book design.
We work on Mac computers, so we need your system to be compatible. We also have certain requirements in terms of software and fonts. Contact us if you want more detail about our requirements, though they will vary from one job to the next.
Notes on what to include
Focus on quality rather
than quantity. Don’t send work that is not quite your best just
to demonstrate versatility, but focus on what you know your strengths are.
Don't send us pictures of other art forms that you may do, such as sculptures. We only need to see examples of your illustration, design, and/or photography.
Don't send us originals; colour reproductions are fine.
How to send it
Email: We welcome email
submissions. Send them to
illustrators@learningmedia.co.nz
Images should be sent as EPS files, TIF files, or JPEG files. They should be at screen resolution (72 dpi) and be saved as Macintosh versions. If you’re working on a PC, you can do this by Saving As or exporting.
CD: You may choose to send a CD with your tear sheet saved on. Make sure the CD is clearly labeled.
Post: If you want to post your work, address it to: The Production Assistant, Learning Media Limited, PO Box 3293, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand. Include your full contact details.
If you are looking for permanent design work, send your tear sheet and CV to Human Resources at the same address.
Tips for sending in your tear sheets
Tips for preparing and sending commissioned work
For most of our materials, we commission freelancers to provide illustrations or photographs, and each job is commissioned individually.
We welcome submissions from illustrators and photographers. We are always interested in seeing new work. If you wish to be considered for commissions, you will need to send us a tear sheet with your work.
Note to commissioned illustrators and photographers
Submitting your artwork to Learning Media:
If you would like to submit your illustration, design or photography work to Learning Media please send us a "tearsheet" with your best examples.
What is a tear sheet?
- A tearsheet is usually an A4 sheet with several reproductions of work on it for easy reference. It should also clearly state your name and complete contact details.
What to include on your tearsheet:
Illustration
We need to see at least some work in full colour. We need to see figurework, and it's a good idea if some of the people are kids or young people. It helps us if you include some sequential figurework so that we can see how you handle character consistency. And it's good if you show at least some of the figures interacting with a full background.
Any other types of illustration that you feel comfortable doing, put them in there too, for example, technical diagrams, maps, wildlife, and plants. If you have a particular background or qualification in the relevant subject matter, such as medical training or a science degree, it’s good for us to know this – you might want to mention it in your covering letter.
Photography
We need to see some work involving people and, if possible, some sequential narrative work, for example, covering an event or telling some sort of story. Other subjects you might consider are everyday objects, activities, or situations. If in doubt, have a look at some of our publications.And include other styles you feel confident in, including more artistic and expressive work if you wish. If you sometimes work in black and white, include some examples of this too.
Design
Most of our design work is done in-house, though we do use freelancers from time to time. We are interested in seeing work from freelance designers.Before sending us a design portfolio, you might want to look at our series guidelines to see the kind of work that we do. Experience in educational and/or children’s publishing is an advantage; your portfolio should have a strong emphasis on book design.
We work on Mac computers, so we need your system to be compatible. We also have certain requirements in terms of software and fonts. Contact us if you want more detail about our requirements, though they will vary from one job to the next.
Notes on what to include
Focus on quality rather
than quantity. Don’t send work that is not quite your best just
to demonstrate versatility, but focus on what you know your strengths are.Don't send us pictures of other art forms that you may do, such as sculptures. We only need to see examples of your illustration, design, and/or photography.
Format
Remember that your tear sheets will have to be passed from one art editor to another around the company.Don't send us originals; colour reproductions are fine.
How to send it
Email: We welcome email
submissions. Send them to
illustrators@learningmedia.co.nz Images should be sent as EPS files, TIF files, or JPEG files. They should be at screen resolution (72 dpi) and be saved as Macintosh versions. If you’re working on a PC, you can do this by Saving As or exporting.
CD: You may choose to send a CD with your tear sheet saved on. Make sure the CD is clearly labeled.
Post: If you want to post your work, address it to: The Production Assistant, Learning Media Limited, PO Box 3293, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand. Include your full contact details.
If you are looking for permanent design work, send your tear sheet and CV to Human Resources at the same address.
Tips for sending in your tear sheets
- If you are sending more than one type of work, such as design and photography, indicate in your covering letter what types of work you are looking for. If you’re looking for design work, indicate whether you are after permanent or freelance work.
- It’s not necessary to include a CV if you're sending in illustrations and/or photography, but you are welcome to do so if you wish.
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We look forward to seeing your work!
Commissioned illustrators and photographers
If an art editor decides your work is suitable, they will contact you with a brief for illustrations or photographs.Tips for preparing and sending commissioned work
- Before sending work to us, check it is in a preferred format
- You may find it helpful to read the series guidelines for the material you have been commissioned for.
- Learning Media deadlines for illustration are important. If for any reason you are going to be late supplying the artwork, it’s important to inform the art editor well before the deadline.
- If you use a courier, ask for a track number so that if artwork does go missing en route, it can be found.
- Avoid using fluorescent or metallic colours in your illustration. Our printer cannot reproduce these colours, so they can turn out looking muddy and dull.
- At least 3 mm of bleed is required around illustrations.
- For health and safety reasons, people illustrated in particular settings should be shown wearing the correct clothing and equipment. For example, if you’re illustrating people in a car, they should be wearing seatbelts; if you’re illustrating people in a boat, have them wearing life jackets. Someone on a skateboard should be wearing a helmet and protective pads. In the sun, people should be wearing sunhats. Think: “What could be dangerous about this setting, and what should my subjects be using or doing for their safety?” (If unsure, ask the art editor.)
- Keep continuity in mind. If all the action is supposed to be happening in one day, avoid changes of clothes. However, watch out for variations in the weather; for example, have people wearing raincoats if it’s raining. (On the other hand, if the action is happening over a long period, don’t have your subjects all wearing the same clothes throughout.) Don’t vary details intended to stay the same, such as a person’s hairstyle. Make sure that illustration details don’t contradict what the story or article is describing.
- Don’t include racial stereotypes in your illustrations.
- Don’t place pictures of people, and particularly of their heads, on the gutter lines of pages.
- Avoid cropping heads.
- If you are doing an illustration for an activity, it is usually recommended that you try the activity out yourself to get a better grasp of what you need to illustrate.