For style, spelling, grammar, etc., the Chicago Manual of Style and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary are used, with the following customizations for Envato based on the conventions used in the Photoshop help documents.

Summary

1. PS Menus and Palettes—Prefer capitalization to any kind of formatting (bold, italics; em, strong, b tags, etc.), as it will probably be removed later by the editors.
2. Italics—(1) Use if you are referring to a word as a word or letter as a letter (see Summary item #4 for an example). (2) If you want to emphasize a word.
3. Spelling—Use American spellings if you can. This is something we’ll correct for you, however, so don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the conventions of American grammar and spelling.
4. Keyboard Shortcuts—use a + between commands but a hyphen if using the word click, as in Ctrl-click. Shortcuts should be spelled as they are written on your keyboard keys.

See the full style guide below for a couple more items and examples of the above items.

Style Guide for Spelling and Formatting—Items and Examples

Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Keyboard shortcuts are capitalized and spelled Ctrl, Shift, Command, Alt, Enter.
2. Use the + key to separate shortcut commands but a hyphen with the word click.
3. Capitalize the keyboard letters you refer to.

Examples:

• “Now press Ctrl+Shift+I to inverse your selection.”
• “Ctrl-click the handle layer to select its pixels, go to Select > Modify > Expand, and use a value of 1px. Then in a layer below the handle layer, fill your selection with white. Then press Ctrl+D to deselect and then press the right arrow twice to move it to the right. This is just to give our handle a bit of a thin white highlight.

Photoshop Menus, Palettes, and File Paths

1. ONLY capitalize (no bold, italics or other emphasis) when you’re speaking directly about the PS menu/palette settings, but lowercase if you’re speaking generally: Opacity/opacity.
2. Put the keyboard shortcut in parentheses following the capitalized menu/palette name: Pen Tool (P).

Examples:

• “We’re using two types of Inner Shadow (one using Inner Shadow and one using Inner Glow). Also we have a subtle Gradient Overlay and a Drop Shadow and a bit of Satin. I’ve chosen these to try to make the object look 3D by using shadows at the edges curving away and a radial gradient to make it look like light is hitting the middle. The satin is just to add a bit of extra something!”
• “Choose File > Automate > Crop and Straighten Photos.”

Capitalization

DO capitalize:

1. Photoshop, PSDTUTS, and acronyms like CSS, OK, PSD
2. Web, Web site, Internet
3. Font names

DON’T capitalize:

1. Colors
2. The word e-mail.

Numbers

1. Spell out numbers from one to ten.
2. Use numerals for all PS settings and instructions.

Examples:

• “Use the Rounded Rectangle Tool (Shift + U) in shape-layer mode, enter a Radius of 10px.”
• “In fact, there are three gradients drawn in and three 1-pixel lines used.”

Discussing Type: Speaking of Words and Letters

When you’re referring to a word or letter as a word or letter, use italics rather than bold or other emphasis.

• “Draw a big L-shape in the top left. Then write the word love.“

Naming Layers and Files

1. Use double quotes, not single quotes for layer names.
2. Capitalization is up to you.
3. Periods go inside the quote marks.

Examples:

• Name this layer “Smoke.”

Part of an editor’s job is to guide authors through the complexities of transforming their idea into a printed and designed masterpiece.

CREATE > Books or articles start as an idea or theory. But how should the idea be presented? What should you lead off with, and who is it for?

CULTIVATE > You’ve already written your book or article, but it is it consistent throughout? Does it follow a tight and well-planned outline? Do you use expressions and language your readers will understand? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? Is the usage appropriate?

CAPTIVATE > The words sing and are written in the right tone for your audience and prospective publisher, but what is the final presentation going to be? If you’re submitting the article to a journal or publishing house, you might be ready to captivate them with your polished manuscript at this point. But if you’re going to self-publish, do you need your Word document made into a professionally designed book template? Do you need the text imported into the template and laid out in final format? Do you need someone who understands design and publishing to work with the self-publisher or printer and guide the manuscript through the final printing?

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