Double-blind vs single-blind
Double-blind: reviewers do not know authors (editors do). NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, and some Chinese journals use it.
Single-blind: reviewers know authors. Many Chinese journals do; you may still suggest exclusions.
Pre-submit cleanup list
Check every item. One leak can look intentional.
- Strip names, headers, acknowledgments, and grant IDs for review
- Do not put author names in the filename
- Clean supplements, video credits, and license headers
- Use anonymous code mirrors—or omit identifying links
- Cite yourself in the third person; put concurrent unpublished work in an anonymized supplement
What about arXiv?
Most ML/vision flagships allow arXiv, but the review PDF must stay anonymous and you must not advertise “under review at X” during review.
A reviewer stumbling on a preprint is usually not an automatic conflict; still do not point the review PDF at the non-anonymous version. Read each CFP.
FAQ
- When do acknowledgments return?
- Usually at camera-ready. Keep them out of the review PDF.
- Chinese journals vs conferences?
- Same idea; some Chinese journals also police filenames and signed pledges. Follow the live instructions.