Based on Jambor H et al. — “Ten Simple Rules for Creating Effective Graphical Abstracts” (PLOS Computational Biology, 2022) and community best practices.
Example: one key message per figure
Design for a specific reader — fellow researchers, students, or a broader public audience. The level of detail and abstraction should match their expertise.
Example: single focused message vs. overloaded figure
Every illustration should communicate a single main idea. If you need to convey multiple points, split them into separate panels or figures.
Example: consistent icon set across panels
Adopt a coherent set of icons, colors, and shapes. Use recognized symbol sets like BioIcons or NIH BioArt so readers can decode your figure without a legend.
Example: semantic annotation vs. decoration
Every visual element should carry information. Avoid purely decorative graphics. Link elements to Gene Ontology terms or UniProt IDs to make your figure machine-readable.
Example: clear labeling with appropriate font size
Use readable font sizes (≥ 8 pt in print). Place labels close to the element they describe. Avoid abbreviations without a legend or first-mention expansion.
Example: colorblind-friendly palette comparison
Use color to encode categories, not just for aesthetics. Ensure sufficient contrast and consider colorblind-friendly palettes (avoid red-green only distinctions).
Example: arrow types for activation vs. inhibition
Use arrows with clear heads to indicate activation, inhibition (flat heads), or transport. Label relation types (phosphorylates, transcribes, etc.) when the interaction matters.
Example: cellular compartments with labeled boundaries
Show compartmentalization — membranes, organelles, extracellular space. Spatial layout helps readers understand where biological processes occur.
Example: SVG scalability vs. raster pixelation
Vector graphics scale to any resolution, allow semantic annotation of individual elements, and enable programmatic search and reuse by the community.
Example: Creative Commons license badge
Use CC0 or CC BY licenses so other researchers can legally reuse and adapt your illustrations. Science advances fastest when figures can be shared and remixed.
Figures uploaded to Figures.Bio are checked against these guidelines during peer review. Following them improves the chances of a smooth review and maximizes the impact and reusability of your work.