Professional Engraving List for Finale

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Moderators: Peter Thomsen, miker

SamGroude1
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:57 pm
Finale Version: 26
Operating System: Mac

Post by SamGroude1 » Wed Aug 08, 2018 9:08 pm

I’d like to work on improving the appearance of my Finale scores and parts to make them look more “professionally engraved.” Does anyone know if a list of suggested layout settings for Finale exists? I realize that these decisions are subjective, but I would be grateful for a list, or descriptions of layout standards that have been acceptable to a publisher. I am referring to things like recommended page scalings, preferred music spacings, fonts, maximum and minimum distance between staves, etc. A list of Finale settings, or templates, that have been acceptable to a publisher would be really helpful. Does something like this exist? Many thanks for any suggestions! Meanwhile, back to Gould.

Finale 25 on Mac


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miker
Posts: 5993
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:28 pm
Finale Version: Finale 27.4
Operating System: Mac

Post by miker » Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:29 am

The best advice is to find a score you like the look of, and try to duplicate it. As you said, it’s completely subjective. Each publishing house has their own specifications, so, unless you are working for them, it’s not likely that you will get them.
Finale 27 | SmartScorePro 64
Mac OS 13.2.1 Ventura
Copyist for Barbershop Harmony Society

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N Grossingink
Posts: 1786
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:50 pm
Finale Version: 27.3
Operating System: Mac

Post by N Grossingink » Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:22 am

Out of curiosity, what kind of music (instrumentation) do you engrave most often?

N.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link


Mac Mini 2014 2.6 Ghz, 8Gb RAM
OSX 10.15.7
Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3

SamGroude1
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:57 pm
Finale Version: 26
Operating System: Mac

Post by SamGroude1 » Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:49 am

Most often I am engraving choral music with accompaniments ranging from organ (and/or piano) to full orchestra.

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MikeHalloran
Posts: 706
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 2:56 am
Finale Version: 27
Operating System: Mac

Post by MikeHalloran » Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:36 pm

SamGroude1 wrote:Most often I am engraving choral music with accompaniments ranging from organ (and/or piano) to full orchestra.
Which goes to the question, What do I like?

You can also start with, What do I dislike? For me, with choral, I'm not a fan of the school that thinks 19th C. hymnals are the high point of readability. I also find Oxford University Press not as easy to read.
Mike Halloran

Finale 27.3, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
MacOS Ventura 13.2.1; 2017 iMac Pro 18 Core, 128G RAM, 4TB; 2021 MBAir M1
NotePerformer3, Dorico 4, Overture, Notion 6, DP 11, Logic Pro

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John Ruggero
Posts: 827
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 11:41 am
Finale Version: Finale 25.5
Operating System: Mac

Post by John Ruggero » Fri Aug 10, 2018 2:13 pm

Hi Sam,

Try http://notat.io/

There are numerous threads on Finale settings, fonts, layout. publisher styles etc. But you will have to look through the threads to find what you need.
2020 M1 Mac mini (OS 12.6) Finale 25.5, Dorico, Affinity Publisher, SmartScore 64 Pro, JW Plug-ins, TG Tools, Keyboard Maestro
www.cantilenapress.com

"The better the composer, the better the notation."

SamGroude1
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:57 pm
Finale Version: 26
Operating System: Mac

Post by SamGroude1 » Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:08 pm

Thanks for the link John. I really appreciate it and will definitely check it out.

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