Frequently asked questions
On this page
Author reprints
- What is a reprint?
A reprint is a copy of an article or advertisement. They are available exactly as originally printed, on 70# glossy paper, in multiples of 100 up to a total number of 500. Reprints can be ordered in black and white or full color, and can be customized with additional typesetting, logos and covers.
- Can I add a cover to my reprint?
Title page covers are included. These covers include the journal's logo, article title, author name(s) and citation information printed on plain white paper. Alternatively, the issue cover of the desired journal can be added for an additional fee.
- Can I add supplementary information to my reprint?
Reprints can be customized with additional typesetting (including supplementary information published online), product codes or logos, as well as info about your project or organization, a CV/résumé, biography or advertisement. Additional fees may apply.
- Can I reprint my color article in black and white?
Yes, color graphics can be converted to grayscale for printing in black and white.
- Can I reprint an older article?
Generally articles published within the last three years are available. Please e-mail author-reprints@nature.com for availability of older material.
- Can I see a proof of my reprint?
Proofs are not standard, however you can request a proof.
- Can I order more than 500 reprints?
Author reprints are not available in quantities of greater than 500. After that commercial rates apply. Commercial reprints can be ordered online or by contacting your regional sales representative.
- How are reprints shipped?
UPS Ground or International shipment is included, and faster shipment is available at extra cost. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
- Can my order be mailed to more than one address?
Split-shipment is available at no extra charge. Please contact author-reprints@nature.com for more information.
- Can I post a PDF reprint on my website?
Watermarked PDFs can be purchased for electronic distribution on a limited-time basis. For more information, please see our E-Print FAQ.
- What forms of payment are accepted?
Payment may be made by purchase order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), personal check, money order and bank wire transfer. Please include an additional $25 fee for wire transfers (e-mail author-reprints@nature.com for details). Government and Institutional Purchase cards are also accepted.
Commercial reprints
- How are articles reprinted?
Reprints are available exactly as originally printed, on 70# glossy paper, in multiples of 100. They can be ordered in black and white or full color and can be customized with additional typesetting, logos and covers.
- Can I add a cover to my reprint?
Title page covers are included. These covers include the journal's logo, article title, author name(s) and citation information. Alternatively, the issue cover of the desired journal can be added for an additional fee.
- Can I add supplementary information to my reprint?
Reprints can be customized with additional typesetting, product codes or logos, as well as info about your project or organization, or advertisement. Additional fees may apply.
- Can I reprint my color article in black and white?
Yes, color graphics can be converted to grayscale for printing in black and white.
- Can I reprint an older article?
Generally articles published within the last 3 years are readily available and can be ordered online. Please contact your regional sales representative for availability of older material.
- Can I reprint an issue?
Yes, generally it is possible to reprint entire issues in large quantities. Please contact your regional sales representative for availability and pricing.
- Can I reprint an entire supplement?
Please contact the Commercial Projects Executive for availability and pricing
- Can I combine various articles into one reprint?
Yes, please contact your regional sales representative to discuss options.
- Can I see a proof of my reprint?
A proof will be sent to you by e-mail.
- Can I request shrink-wrap?
Shrink-wrapping is available for a small additional fee. This can be ordered online, or contact your regional sales representative.
- Can my order be mailed to more than one address?
Please contact your regional sales representative for more information.
- How long does it take for delivery of my reprints?
Reprints are normally dispatched within 15 working days from confirmation of order. We also offer an express service, where reprints are delivered within 10 working days. For prices please contact your regional sales representative.
- How are reprints shipped?
UPS Ground or International shipment is included in the quoted price, and you should allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Expedited shipment is available at extra cost.
- Can I post a PDF reprint on my website?
Watermarked PDFs can be purchased for electronic distribution on a limited-time basis. For more information, please see our E-Print FAQ.
- How much do reprints cost?
The price of reprints depends on the number of pages in the article, the number of reprints ordered, whether the reprints contain color, and whether you require any 'custom' options such as the addition of your product information or logo.
- What forms of payment are accepted?
Payment may be made in regional currencies via purchase order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), personal check, money order and bank wire transfer. Please contact your regional sales representative for bank details. Government and Institutional Purchase cards are also accepted.
- Can I translate the article?
Articles from any Nature Publishing Group journal can be translated into any language and produced as translated commercial reprints. This service is offered by Nature Publishing Group's sister company, Macmillan Medical Communications. Please visit the Macmillan Medical Communications website for further information.
Permission requests
- Why do I have to use Rightslink® to obtain my permission?
Where possible, all permissions for NPG material are now processed through Rightslink®. This allows the quickest turnaround for requestors and enables us to track all the requests we receive through a single system.
- Can I still fax a form from my publisher for you to sign?
No. NPG will no longer sign and return other publishers' standard permission forms, as these do not contain NPG's terms and conditions. A printable licence is available through Rightslink®.
- I have received free permission in the past. Why am I now being asked to pay?
While setting up the Rightslink® application, we reviewed our pricing for permissions. While reasonable amounts of material are still granted free to academics and various non-profit organizations, we have revised the policy on who we charge, in order to protect the value of what we publish.
- My publisher is an STM member, and yet I'm being asked to pay. Why?
NPG applies the STM policy on permissions only to those publishers who are actually signatories to the agreement [82k PDF].
- I am gaining a free permission. Why do I have to enter my credit card details on Rightslink®?
You don't. If you register to pay (even though you're not going to on this occasion) by invoice, your credit card details will not be required.
- The permission usage I require is not listed as an option on Rightslink®.
Are you sure? Please bear in mind that we are primarily concerned with WHY the material is being produced, as opposed to the medium in which the material will exist. So if, for example, you are producing a CD-Rom for CME training purposes, you should select 'Use in training materials' as your 'Type of Use'. The fact that you cannot actually enter 'CD-rom' does not matter to us.
If you are certain that your intended usage cannot be accommodated by Rightslink®, please contact the appropriate permissions manager for the journal.
- I need permission to re-use online material published as supplementary information to a paper. What do I do?
NPG does not have the right to grant permission for supplementary information. Please apply to the authors of the paper.
- I need permission to adapt NPG material. Will a licence from Rightslink® allow for this?
Yes. The terms and conditions generated when a permission is processed through Rightslink® allow for the material to be adapted without additional permission.
- I need permission to reproduce NPG material in print AND electronically. What do I do?
Permission granted free of charge through Rightslink® for material in print is also usually granted for any electronic version of that work, provided that the material is incidental to the work as a whole and that the electronic version is essentially equivalent to, or substitutes for, the print version.
Where print permission is granted for a fee, separate permission must be obtained for any additional, electronic re-use (unless, as in the case of a full paper, this has already been accounted for during your initial request in the calculation of a print run).
ePrint PDFs
- What is an e-print PDF?
E-prints are watermarked PDFs created for hosting on websites or other forms of electronic distribution. They are available exactly as originally printed in the journal, on a time-specific basis (eg. one year of unlimited views).
The final PDF will be sent directly to your email address for electronic distribution.
- Can I add a cover to my e-print?
Yes, there are 2 types of covers:
- Title page cover, which includes the journal's logo, article title, author name(s) and citation information, OR
- Issue cover of the desired journal.
- Can I add supplementary information to my e-print?
E-prints can be customized with additional typesetting (including supplementary information published online), product codes or logos, as well as info about your project or organization, a CV/Résumé, bio, or advertisement. Additional fees may apply.
- Can older articles be supplied as e-prints?
Yes, any article available in our digital archive can be made into an e-print PDF. The weekly journal nature is available back to 1869 and most other journals are available back to start date.
- Can I see a proof of my e-print?
Yes, while proofs are not standard, you can request a proof.
- How is the usage calculated? Can I keep track?
Since these PDFs are free of digital rights management software, we are not able to monitor the number of downloads for you.
Please feel free to call your sales representative to confirm time remaining on your PDF.
- What happens when the PDF uses run out?
You will be notified that your PDF license is about to expire. At that time you may renew your license.
- What version of Acrobat Reader do I need?
Acrobat 7.0 or higher is necessary for the PDF to be viewed, it will not display on lower versions.
- What forms of payment are accepted?
Payment may be made by purchase order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), check, money order and bank wire transfer. Please include an additional $25 fee for wire transfers (email author-reprints@nature.com for details). Government and Institutional Purchase cards are also accepted.
The appropriate contact details for e-prints may be found on the commercial reprints page.
