Solaris Editor
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 06:37:07 PM CDT, Gopa-swami dasa <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Hanumatpresaka Swami maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I trust this will find you well and under the care of Krsna.
My name is Gopa-swami dasa, disciple of H. H. Guru Prasad Swami. Thanks to the service rendered by your disciples in Mexico—especially of M. Asta Sakhi devi dasi—I learned you were writing some books and about your *Solaris* journal, both addressed to the academic public; i. e., researchers, teaching staff, and graduate/undergraduate students.
I studied Architecture, Biblical Sciences and Religion Philosophy, and I’m an experienced editor and orthotypographer (orthotypography is the “orthography” of the composition of all typographic elements and the space). I got in contact with M. Asta Sakhi devi dasi to humbly offer you my small abilities to serve your print preaching works.
P. Abhirama Thakura dasa sent me a WhatsApp message last week. After having a telephone conversation, he kindly sent me some files for *Solaris* to work with.
I worked during the past days in developing an editorial design proposal—please see the attached files. The service he has done is immense! I found several opportunity areas. Following is my proposal. (I am copying P. Abhirama Thakura dasa for his knowledge and consideration too.)
I. COVER
Every publication requires the language to be in tune with the message. In the same way, graphical elements and illustration must have the appropriate mood (“talante,” in Spanish). An inadequate mood result in a feeling or perception of imposture: “Hmm, this does not seem to be what it claims to be.” In this regard, I’m suggesting a more sober logo with an articulated message (please see “Solaris proposal - cover.pdf”). Additionally, the proposed design has the intention to be read as a predicate:
(a) “Solar is Intercultural journal.”
(b) “Solar is Contributions for a new culture.”
(c) “Solar is Revista intercultural.”
(d) “Solar is Contribuciones para una nueva cultura.”
“Solar is” are not two words; it is only one, Solaris, but very subtly separated by a thin space and a different colour tone. The current issue number has also been added to stand out for quick identification.
To have a cleanly articulated message, other texts have been placed at the bottom, where the information can be unobtrusively consulted.
I also suggest the Spanish word “aportes” to be substituted with “contribuciones”, because:
(a) it is used only in the region (“aportaciones” is more common internationally);
(b) but “contribuciones” is a more direct and proper word for “contributions,” and to describe what the reader will find inside: contributions, papers, opinion articles.
(The image in the cover serves as an example. It is a diagram out of many by Ramon Llull, elaborated in the Middle Ages for helping memorize theological and philosophical concepts. The “S” in the center is in perfect tune with the journal mood.)
II. CONTENT
1. General design
(a) Every article would have its own cover. It is common practice photocopying articles. Therefore, the following pages also show in its feet relevant data of article, author, and source, even if it is only partially copied. (Please see “Solaris proposal - content a.pdf” and “Solaris proposal - content b.pdf”, in two pages view.)
(b) A Creative Commons notice has also been added, to specify that the article can be shared but not commercially, always mentioning authorship.
(c) Good layout practices establish incremental margins—instead of constant—following the order inside-upper-outside-bottom.
(d) The first page of the article—always on ODD number page—should present the abstract and keywords in both Spanish and English, as well as the Creative Commons Copyright.
2. Colour
I would not suggest using four inks for interiors: it is more expensive and it is not justified. In my opinion, it is even detrimental to the mood of the journal to add photos at the beginning of each article—often with no reference to its content. For just a few four-colour pages, the whole sheet must be printed in four colours! ($$$).
To reduce costs and improve the overall appearance, I would suggest instead:
(a) using just two colours for interiors: black (in different shadings) for the main text, and sepia to emphasize citations and to pleasantly distinguish them from the body text (see attached files).
(b) avoiding illustrations other than those offered or required by the contributor, one colour or duotones.
3. Fonts and size
I would strongly suggest using only one font for the articles and in the same size. I suggest to use the font “Noto,” both in its serif and sans-serif type faces, because:
(a) It has an excellent readability.
(b) It is a professional font, with an amazing range of typographical characteristics and glyphs. It can render all diacritics needed to transliterate Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and every language of the world.
(c) It has an unparalleled range of weights: from “very thin” to “extra black,” which should address any typographical need. (Please see a small sample of the Noto font in “Solaris proposal - lettering.pdf”)
(d) It is FREE. I have no knowledge of another font so complete and well designed.
There are of course, many other details that should be specified to produce orthotypographically correct publishings, but I would like to hear first if this proposal is acceptable to you and the editorial committee, so I could proceed to elaborate editorial guidelines.
I would also feel greatly blessed if I could elaborate one of your books. My spiritual master, H. H. Guru Prasad Swami, often asks us, His disciples, to participate with preaching spirit in keeping in its highest potency the work of Srila Prabhupada.
Additionally, I could also contribute with theological and hermeneutical essays.
Please consider if these editorial suggestions may be useful, and let me know how to proceed.
Your humble servant,
—
Gopa-swami dasa [GPS]
HpS - ASA - Most of these suggestions you have to work out with Abhirama thakura Das and Prof. Miguel Polo who is our general editor. They are of course super experienced in academic publications as you also.
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