Journal Requirements/Science

Science Figure Requirements

Science is a premier multidisciplinary journal published by AAAS. Figures must meet strict standards for print and online reproduction.

Resolution
300 DPI
Color Mode
RGB preferred; CMYK accepted
Formats
TIFF, EPS, PDF, JPEG, PNG

Figure Dimensions

LayoutWidthHeight
Single Column84 mm200 mm
Double Column174 mm200 mm

Science single column: 84 mm (3.3 in); double column: 174 mm (6.85 in). Slightly narrower than Nature.

Resolution & Color

Resolution

Minimum: 300 DPI

Recommended: 300 DPI

300 DPI minimum for all figures. Line art should be 1200 DPI if submitted as raster.

Color Mode

RGB preferred; CMYK accepted

Science prefers RGB for online publication. CMYK is accepted for print.

Accepted File Formats

TIFFEPSPDFJPEGPNG

Maximum file size: 10 MB per figure

Submission Checklist

  • 1300 DPI minimum (1200 DPI for line art raster)
  • 2Single column: 84 mm; double column: 174 mm
  • 3Submit in TIFF, EPS, PDF, or high-quality JPEG
  • 4RGB preferred; CMYK accepted
  • 5Embed fonts in vector files
  • 6Use sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica) for text
  • 7Label panels with uppercase letters
  • 8Include scale bars on all images
  • 9Provide figure captions as separate text
  • 10Ensure text is ≥6 pt at final size
Build figures for Science in FigureGuild

Common Mistakes

✗Submitting at 72 DPI
✗Using serif fonts (Times New Roman) instead of sans-serif
✗Text smaller than 6 pt
✗Forgetting to embed fonts
✗Line art submitted at 300 DPI instead of 1200 DPI
✗Inconsistent panel label styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What font should I use for Science journal figures?

Science prefers sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica. Avoid serif fonts like Times New Roman, as they are less readable at small sizes in scientific figures.

What is the line art resolution for Science?

Line art (graphs, charts, diagrams) should be submitted at 1200 DPI if as raster, or as vector (EPS/PDF) for optimal quality. Photographs and microscopy at 300 DPI minimum.

Does Science prefer RGB or CMYK?

Science prefers RGB for online publication. CMYK is accepted for print. If submitting for print, convert to CMYK and verify color accuracy.

Official Guidelines

Always verify requirements on the journal's official author guidelines page before submission. Journal policies may change.

Science official author guidelines

Related Pages

Export at 300 DPITemplatesAI Publication Figure BuilderNature Figure ChecklistCell Figure Checklist

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