Q: How do I write a paper for IEEE Transactions on Image Processing such that it gets accepted faster?

It’s great that you have already identified a journal for your paper. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing is a monthly peer-reviewed journal “focusing on signal-processing aspects of image processing, imaging systems, and image scanning, display, and printing.” Based on the information you have provided, the journal does seem to be a good fit for your planned paper.

So, in order to accelerate the publishing, we would suggest doing the following.

• Go through all the necessary journal, author, and submission information properly. This will ensure preparedness for submission once you have completed your manuscript. This includes:
  • Knowing well its aims and scope.
  • Going through its recent and popular published papers to know the kind of papers it is likely to publish.
  • Understanding its submission guidelines.
  • Knowing useful additional information.
• Consider sending a presubmission inquiry. While you are yet to write the paper, you no doubt have the idea for the paper. Therefore, before starting the paper and to check whether the journal would be interested in your paper, you may send a presubmission inquiry. This will help you save valuable time and effort and perhaps even provide improved focus and direction for your paper. Before sending the inquiry, ensure you have gone through all the necessary submission information discussed above. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and preparedness to the editor. For help with how to send a presubmission inquiry, refer to this resource: How to write a presubmission inquiry
• Write a quality first draft. Here is a great resource to help you write a quality first draft of your manuscript: Tips for writing the perfect IMRAD manuscript
• Consider using an editing service: A manuscript editing service (such as the one we offer) can help improve the paper in terms of both the writing and the science, in turn, improving its chances of being sent for peer review and perhaps even being accepted.
• Consider recommending a peer reviewer(s): If the journal allows you to do so, you may make recommendations for the peer reviewer(s). You may also do this, or at least check for this, during the presubmission inquiry.
• Go through its author tools before submission: The journal has various author tools to help make your article submission-ready. This would be especially necessary for the image files, as a paper on image processing has several images throughout.
• Make the revisions appropriately: If the journal sends your article for peer review, ensure you make the revisions accurately and within the timeline. Here are some tips on how to respond to peer review comments: Do's and don'ts for responding to peer reviewers' comments

If you keep the above points in mind, you are likely to increase your chances of being accepted faster by the journal.

Do keep in mind though that there might be several factors on the journal side that may cause a delay in publication or perhaps even a rejection. These may be beyond your control. However, in such a case, you may need to wait for a while to be published or consider submitting to another publication in your field.

All the same, here’s the best for speedy writing and publication!