Nature journals have among the strictest and most precisely specified figure requirements in science. Getting them wrong causes desk rejection, revision requests, or production delays. This guide covers the exact specifications for Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Communications, Nature Medicine, and related Nature Portfolio journals.
Why Nature figure requirements are strict
Nature is one of the world's highest-impact journals, printed in full color with precise typographic standards. Their production team reformats figures for print at specific column widths, which means your figure must be built at the correct dimensions from the start — not scaled at submission.
Nature figure dimensions
Nature uses a two-column layout with three permitted figure widths:
| Figure type | Width |
|---|---|
| Single-column (portrait/narrow) | 89 mm |
| 1.5-column | 120 mm |
| Full-width (landscape) | 183 mm |
| Maximum figure height | 247 mm |
Key rule: Build your figure canvas at one of these widths in mm, at your target DPI, before you start designing. Do not draw at screen size and resize later.
Resolution requirements
| Content type | Minimum DPI |
|---|---|
| Photographs and images | 300 DPI |
| Combination figures (image + line art) | 500 DPI |
| Line art only (graphs, diagrams) | 1000 DPI |
Nature recommends submitting at the highest achievable resolution. TIFF files at 600–1200 DPI are standard for final production.
Accepted file formats
- TIFF — preferred for final production, all figure types
- EPS — acceptable for vector/line-art figures
- PDF — accepted for online-first supplementary figures
- PNG and JPG — accepted at initial submission only; production will request TIFF
Avoid JPEG for any figure containing text, line art, or statistical charts — JPEG compression creates artefacts around fine lines and labels.
Color specifications
- Color mode: RGB (specifically sRGB) for online publication; CMYK for print reproduction
- Nature encourages open-access color — there is no charge for color figures in most Nature journals
- For figures that must also appear in print in color, ensure CMYK conversion does not shift your palette significantly
- Use color-blind-friendly palettes: avoid red/green combinations. Nature explicitly recommends consideration of color-blind readers
Typography requirements
- Minimum font size: 5–7 pt (at final printed size, not submission size)
- Recommended fonts: Helvetica, Arial (sans-serif), or Times New Roman (for equations/text)
- Panel labels: Bold uppercase letters (A, B, C), minimum 8 pt, positioned at the top-left of each panel
- Scale bars: Required for microscopy images; label with value and unit
Important: Type must be editable in your submitted files — do not flatten or rasterize text in AI/EPS files.
Panel and figure structure
- Panel spacing: 2–3 mm between panels
- Panel letters: A, B, C (not a, b, c) — upper case bold
- Composite figures: Must be submitted as a single file, not individual panels
- Figure legends: Submitted separately in the manuscript, not embedded in the figure
Nature Methods specific requirements
Nature Methods has additional requirements for method workflow figures and data visualization:
- Flowcharts and workflow diagrams must use Nature Methods' standard symbols where applicable
- Raw data must be deposited and linked
- Statistical reporting must follow their statistics checklist — specify test, n, exact p-value
See also Cell Press figure guidelines if you are comparing Nature vs Cell submission requirements.
Nature Communications vs Nature
Nature Communications is a broader journal with slightly more flexible requirements but follows the same core figure specifications. Key differences:
- Accepts figures at initial submission in lower resolution (will request high-res later)
- Figures for supplementary are required at the same resolution as main figures
- Open access by default — all color figures are included
Checklist: Is your Nature figure ready?
- Width is 89 mm, 120 mm, or 183 mm
- Height does not exceed 247 mm
- Line art is at ≥1000 DPI; photographs at ≥300 DPI
- File format is TIFF or EPS (not JPEG)
- All fonts are sans-serif, ≥7 pt at print size
- Panel letters are uppercase bold
- Scale bars present on all microscopy images
- Color is color-blind friendly
- No white space larger than 3 mm between panels
- Figure submitted as a single file (not individual panels)
How FigureGuild handles Nature formatting
FigureGuild's Figure Assembler includes journal presets. Select "Nature (single-column)" or "Nature (full-width)" and the canvas is set to the correct mm dimensions automatically. Export at 300 or 1200 DPI directly from the assembler. The Graph Builder applies consistent typography across all panels.
Build your Nature figure now →
FAQ
Can I submit color figures to Nature for free? Yes. Most Nature Portfolio journals, including Nature, Nature Communications, and Nature Methods, do not charge for color figures in online publication.
What happens if I submit at the wrong dimensions? Nature's production team will reformat the figure, but this can distort text sizes and panel proportions. It is strongly recommended to submit at the correct dimensions from the start.
Does Nature accept vector (EPS) files? Yes. EPS is preferred for pure line-art figures such as graphs and diagrams, as it is resolution-independent.
What is the difference between Nature and Nature Communications requirements? The core figure specifications are the same. Nature Communications is open-access with slightly more flexible initial submission requirements, but the same standards apply for final published figures.
How do I check my figure DPI? In most image editing software: Image → Image Size → uncheck "Resample" → change width to 89 mm (or your target) and read the resulting DPI. If it falls below the minimum, the figure needs to be recreated at a higher resolution, not upscaled.