This is the checklist that saves resubmission cycles. Run every figure through it before you submit. Most figure-related revision requests from reviewers and production editors can be traced to items on this list.
1. Dimensions and layout
- Figure width matches the journal's column specification exactly
- Nature: 89 mm (single) or 183 mm (full)
- Cell Press: 85 mm (single) or 170 mm (full)
- Science: 90 mm (single) or 185 mm (full)
- Custom: set to your journal's specification
- Figure height does not exceed the journal maximum (typically 225–250 mm)
- Panel spacing is consistent throughout (2–4 mm between panels)
- All panels are aligned — no offset panels within a row or column
2. Resolution
- Photographs, gel images, and microscopy: ≥300 DPI at print size
- Graphs, charts, and line art: ≥600 DPI (1000 DPI for Nature/Cell)
- Combination figures: ≥500 DPI
- Do NOT check "DPI" at screen size — check at the final print dimensions
- No upscaling (never resize a low-DPI image to meet the DPI requirement)
See best resolution for scientific figures.
3. File format
- Format is accepted by the journal (typically TIFF or EPS for production; PNG acceptable for some online-first journals)
- Not JPEG — JPEG is never appropriate for scientific figures with line art or text
- TIFF uses LZW compression (lossless)
- File size is within the journal's submission limit
- If EPS/PDF: all fonts are embedded
See TIFF vs PNG for journal submission.
4. Typography and labels
- All text is legible at the final print size — test by printing at 100% scale
- Minimum font size: 6–7 pt at print size (not at screen size)
- Font is sans-serif (Arial, Helvetica) throughout all panels
- Axis labels include units: "Time (h)" not just "Time"
- Axis titles are present on all axes
- Tick labels are present and correctly formatted
- Gene names are italicized (if required by nomenclature)
- Protein names are in correct capitalization (journal-specific)
5. Panel labels
- Every panel has a label (A, B, C — uppercase, bold)
- Panel labels are consistent in font, size, and position across all panels
- Labels are inside the figure boundary, top-left of each panel
- Panel letters match the order referenced in the figure legend and main text
6. Statistical annotations
- All statistical annotations are defined (ns, *, **, ***, **** — define in the legend)
- Error bars are defined in the figure legend (SD, SEM, or 95% CI)
- Error bars are appropriate for the data (SEM ≠ SD; CI ≠ SEM)
- P-values are stated for all comparisons shown (either exact value or threshold)
- The statistical test is named in the figure legend
- Sample sizes (n) are stated for all groups
- If a t-test was used: state whether it is paired or unpaired, one- or two-tailed
7. Color
- Color palette is distinguishable in grayscale (print the figure in grayscale to check)
- Color palette is colorblind-friendly — avoid red/green combinations
- Same color = same experimental group, consistently across all panels in all figures
- All colors have a legend or are defined in the figure legend
- Color scale bar is present and labeled for heatmaps
8. Multi-panel consistency
- Same color for the same experimental group across all panels
- Same font size for axis labels across all panels
- Same axis range for the same measurement across comparable panels
- Scale bars in all microscopy panels
- Consistent line weights across panels
See figure assembly best practices.
9. Microscopy and gel-specific checks
- Scale bar present in every image panel
- Scale bar value and units stated in the figure legend (not embedded in image text)
- If channels are pseudocolored: colors are defined in the legend
- If gel lanes were rearranged: a dividing line is shown and noted in the legend
- Fluorescence image contrast adjustments were applied equally to all comparable images
- No figures have been manipulated in ways that misrepresent the data
10. Figure legend
- Legend is in the manuscript file, not embedded in the figure
- Legend defines all abbreviations
- Legend names all statistical tests and adjustments used
- Legend specifies error bar type (SD, SEM, CI)
- Legend states n for each group
- Legend references each panel (A–F) and describes what it shows
11. Graphical abstract (if required)
- Included if required by the journal (Cell Press, eLife, and many others require it)
- Sized to journal specifications (typically 85–90 mm square or landscape)
- No text smaller than 7 pt
- Conveys the key finding, not just illustrates the methods
See how to make a graphical abstract.
12. Final review
- Proof-read all axis labels, titles, and panel labels for spelling and accuracy
- Verify all numerical values on the figure against the source data
- Figure numbers in the manuscript match submitted figure files
- All figures cited in the text are submitted; no submitted figures are uncited
Automate the technical parts
FigureGuild handles many of these checks automatically: it exports at the correct DPI for your journal, sets the correct dimensions, applies consistent typography across panels, and enforces color consistency within a figure. The checklist above still applies for content accuracy and statistical annotations.