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.

Run your next figure through FigureGuild →