The article does not need to be very innovative, but it should have practical meaning. This is the first time to submit to a SCI journal. It got accepted after a minor revision. Final Preproduction Review 14 December 2020; Final Manuscript Decision 14 December 2020; Author Revision 01 December 2020; Preproduction Review 30 November 2020; First Manuscript Decision 30 November 2020; Rate Reviewers 30 November 2020; Peer Review 06 November 2020; Assign Editor 06 November 2020; Quality Check 06 November 2020; Resubmit Manuscript 05 November 2020; Quality Check 04 November 2020; Submit Manuscript 02 November 2020.

(14) Thank | wang410

The article was finally accepted yesterday. It was the first SCI article submitted. Here to share my experience! As a long-established film journal, Thin Solid Films has a very good reputation, and the self-citation is only 6.6%, which is much lower than that of journals in Q1 and Q2. However, the review speed is too slow, which may also be the reason why the impact factor cannot be increased. It was the boss’s request to submit, I have no choice but submit. The article was submitted in November last year, and it has been 8 months and a half for now. During the period, it took a month for the major revision. The funny thing is that I submitted articles separately to another two SCI journals in Q3 in January and April this year, and both of the articles, which have been accepted. Thin Solid Films was the first journal I submitted to but the last one gave results. In general, it is really not difficult. There were nearly 20 questions raised by two reviewers. Some were relatively professional and some were amateurs. The article can basically be accepted if you answer the questions well. However, the process took a long time. The following is the review process: 10/30/2019, submitted; 11/05/2019, with editor; 11/24/2019, under review; 01/27/2020, major revision; 03/17/2020, submitted; 04/17/2020, under review (second review, it took one month before being sent for review); 06/01/2020, minor revision (revised for 3 hours, it took half a month before being processed); 06/13/2020, accepted (accepted on Saturday, shocked). It is definitely not recommended for people in a hurry to graduate! Unless you submit in the first year of school.

(5) Thank | 不死小强

The biggest advantage of Applied Optics is the fast speed of review! It took 2 months for this review, and the article was accepted directly. During the period, there were about 3 weeks waiting for reviewers to accept the review, otherwise, it would be faster. The main process is as follows: Published, 2020.03.31; Published, 2020.04.01; First manuscript decision, 2020.02.26; Manuscript accepted, 2020.02.26; Peer review, 2020.01.07; Peer review complete, 2020.02.26; Quality check, 2019.12.31; Quality check passed, 2020.01.01; Submitted manuscript, 2019.12.23; Submission completed, 2019.12.31. What’s more, as a reviewer, I also reviewed the manuscript for Applied Optics. I feel that the editor is very good, as he gave the major revision even what the author wrote was not so good.

(5) Thank | 不死小强

Production 16 December 2019; Final Preproduction Review 15 December 2019; 16 December 2019 Production; Final Manuscript Decision 15 December 2019; 15 December 2019 Manuscript Accepted; Author Revision 28 November 2019; 15 December 2019 Author Revisions Complete; Preproduction Review 27 November 2019; 28 November 2019 Author Revision; First Manuscript Decision 27 November 2019; 27 November 2019 Major Revisions Required; Rate Reviewers 27 November 2019; 27 November 2019 Reviewer Rating Completed; Peer Review 11 October 2019; 27 November 2019 Peer Review Complete.

(0) Thank | Marion

From my personal experience as well as some of my colleagues’ experiences, it takes about two months from submission to receiving your first reviews. Some other folks said that it took much longer to receive their reviews, so I suspect that the review period is variable – probably depends on the reviewers. I personally do not feel that this journal is difficult to publish in. It takes about 7 weeks in total. I recommend providing a list of specific reviewers to the editor… this may speed up the review period if you know that they are fast and dependable.

(1) Thank | Anonymous

I want to ask if there is a dual-column Word template for ao. I can't find it on the official website.

(0) Thank | wcxwcr

Do you have a two-column Word template for AO?

(0) Thank | wcxwcr

I want to ask the original poster, how long did you end up waiting in the end? Feeling anxious +1

(0) Thank | Jin_li

The major revision given on the thirtieth of the year was quickly accepted after reevaluation. The entire submission process went quite smoothly.

(1) Thank | 不老河里洗过澡

Hmm, thank you thank you, this is my first submission to AO. Is this "last call" an editor's action? I thought it was an automatic reply from the system when the time is up.

(0) Thank | 冰镇椰奶

Just wait, I think we will have the results soon. It's not normal to have LAST CALL so quickly. The editor must be working hard (with two reviewers already, you probably won't have to wait much longer).

(0) Thank | Jin_li

Invited three reviewers, all three agreed, but the third one did not respond to the review even after the deadline passed, and it seems the editor has not invited new reviewers yet... What should we do in this situation, just wait?

(0) Thank | 冰镇椰奶

After accepting the manuscript, the editor informed that there can only be one corresponding author, so we contacted the editor to change it to co-first authors.

(0) Thank | 你是电你是光

I have never rushed the manuscript. It all depends on the speed of the reviewers. The previous delay was mainly due to no one taking on the review. The revised manuscript was sent for a second review by the editor immediately after it was fixed yesterday. The reviewer completed the second review the same evening and it has already been accepted. Very fast.

(0) Thank | daocha

Thank you for sharing, wish you a smooth reception! Can I also ask if you have been following up with the editorial department throughout the process, or have you been waiting the whole time?

(0) Thank | Jin_li

Yes, in the end only one reviewer made the decision. There are 25 major revisions that have just been made, and we have not received any feedback yet.

(0) Thank | daocha

Could I ask if the final feedback received by the OP was from just one person?

(0) Thank | Jin_li

May I know how did you find out that this journal does not allow co-corresponding authors? Could you please let me know for convenience?

(0) Thank | 冰镇椰奶

I submitted mine at 11.20, a little later than the OP. It entered Peer Review at the end of November. So far, only 8 reviewers have been contacted and received one opinion. The editor has not found new reviewers yet, and it hasn't entered the RRC. I am already in tears.

(0) Thank | Jin_li

When I submitted it before, I submitted it in September, and the revisions were not received until December.

(0) Thank | LYX_525

It's really slow. Others can get their editing and RRC done on the same day, but I have to wait for a week. I sent out PR to more than 18 reviewers two months ago, but only one has completed the review. The editor couldn't stand it and went directly to RRC.

(0) Thank | daocha

Can I just clarify if it's a sure thing once the manuscript is accepted? I've been waiting for 4 days at the Final Preproduction Review stage and still haven't heard anything. How long does the Final Preproduction Review usually take?

(0) Thank | LYX_525

Do you need to remind the editor?

(0) Thank | zzzz78

Do we need to remind the editor at this time?

(0) Thank | zzzz78

The review status has been in "Final manuscript decision" for over a week now, I see others receiving a decision within two to three days, feeling anxious.

(0) Thank | zzzz78