Could the time-honored tradition of red pen marks on galleys be usurped by something else entirely? That's what HWA Test and Data Management, a publishing services company, is hoping for with the launch of new software than in their words, "would revolutionise editing and proofreading of books and journals" and "enables completely electronic workflow from manuscript delivery to PDF to printer".

Publishing News reports that said software makes use of Acrobat Reader and standard Acrobat PDF files, with embedded British Standard proof correction symbols. "The activation software, which will be made available free to publishers, prepares the PDF and Acrobat Reader plug-in software as a single file, ready to be emailed to an author or proofreader, or made available by FTP. The reader opens the packaged file to install the plug-in and open the PDF. When corrections are completed, the reader saves the file and returns it to the publisher."

So will it work? The jury, of course, is still out. But Barbara Horn, a member of the Society of Freelance Editors and Proofreaders, told PN that even if readers using the new system are likely to print out the PDF, proofread, and transfer the marks to the file, "The delivery time is still saved, the loss of proofs in transit is precluded, and there is always a copy of the marked proofs."