Journal Figure Requirements Cheat Sheet (2025 Edition)
Submitting a paper is stressful enough without having to worry about your figures getting rejected for incorrect DPI or font sizes. We've compiled the figure requirements for the top scientific journals into one easy-to-use cheat sheet.
💡 Quick Tip
Plotivy automatically handles these requirements. Just select your target journal from the export menu, and we'll adjust the DPI, dimensions, and fonts for you.
The "Golden Rules" of Scientific Figures
While every journal has specific quirks, these three rules apply to 99% of submissions:
- Resolution: Always aim for 300 DPI for color images and 600-1200 DPI for line art/graphs.
- Fonts: Stick to standard sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica. Avoid Times New Roman for figures unless specifically requested.
- Color Mode: Use RGB for online publication and CMYK if you know it will be printed in color.
Journal-Specific Requirements
| Journal Family | File Formats | Resolution (DPI) | Key Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | EPS, PDF, TIFF, JPEG | 300 (Color), 1200 (Line) | Max width: 89mm (1 col) or 183mm (2 col). Font: Arial/Helvetica. |
| Science | PDF, PS, EPS, TIFF | 300+ | Avoid transparency in vector files. Font size: 8-12pt. |
| Cell Press | TIFF, EPS, PDF | 300 (Color), 500 (Gray) | Fonts embedded. No LZW compression for TIFF. |
| PLOS | TIFF, EPS | 300-600 | LZW compression recommended. Arial font preferred. |
| IEEE | EPS, PS, TIFF, PDF | 300 (Color), 600 (Mono) | Times New Roman often accepted/preferred for text. |
| ACS | TIFF, EPS, PDF | 300 (Color), 1200 (Line) | Single column width: 3.25 inches. Arial/Helvetica. |
Pre-Submission Checklist
- ✓Dimensions: Does the figure fit within the column width (usually ~85mm) or full page width (~180mm)?
- ✓Font Legibility: Is the smallest text at least 6-8pt when printed at actual size?
- ✓Color Mode: Is the file RGB (for web) or CMYK (for print)? Have you checked for colorblind accessibility?
- ✓Resolution: Is the image at least 300 DPI? (Zoom in 300% on screen; if it's pixelated, it's too low).
- ✓File Format: Are you using a lossless format like TIFF or vector format like EPS/PDF? Avoid JPEGs for final submission if possible.
How to Export Correctly in Plotivy
Plotivy simplifies this entire process. When you are ready to export your figure:
- Go to the Export tab.
- Select your target journal from the "Journal Preset" dropdown.
- Plotivy will automatically set the correct Width, DPI, and Font Family.
- Click Download High-Res.
Stop Guessing. Start Exporting.
Plotivy has journal presets built-in for Nature, Science, Cell, IEEE, and more. One click sets all the right parameters.
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