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What are "page charges" and "color charges," and are they negotiable?

My paper was accepted in a reputable society journal. Now they're asking for $100 per page for being over 12 pages, and $500 for color figures. Are these standard fees? Can I argue to have them waived, especially for the color charges?

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By Trisha Answered 1 month ago

These are legacy fees from the print era, still common in society and subscription journals. Page charges subsidize printing; color charges apply to the print version (online is often free). They are often negotiable. First, ask if color is essential for interpretation; if not, state figures will be in grayscale for print (free) and color online. Second, edit your manuscript aggressively to reduce page length. Third, check if your institution's library subscription includes a waiver for these charges. Fourth, contact the editor—they sometimes have discretionary waivers, especially for early-career researchers or invited papers. While APCs are now the dominant fee model, don't assume these ancillary charges are non-negotiable. Always inquire politely; the worst they can say is no.

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