Publishing Figures: Eight Tips for Achieving High-Quality Results

1. Publishing Figures:Eight Tips for Achieving High-Quality Results A training resource of the ISMTE

3. An accompanying comprehensive supplemental guide will provide you with additional details and information. This video will provide you with the basics of good figure design and publication.

4. Tip 1: Acceptable File Types

5. Make life easy: Ensure that you receive figures in an acceptable file type.

6. Acceptable file types include: • EPS • JPEG • TIFF

7. If you plan on editing the figures you receive, you’ll want authors to submit them in the EPS format.

8. Tip 2: Clear, Data-Focused Graphics with No Visual Distractions

9. Authors often overemphasize key points using distracting elements. Graphics should be clear, with well-presented data.

10. What Are Distracting Elements? • Italics • Toomanycolors • Underlining • Boldface • Multiple fonts Extra boxes

11. Ask your reviewers and editors: Keep an eye out for distracting elements and provide feedback to authors when necessary.

12. Example of visually distracting figure Figure 1

13. Example of visually clear figure

14. Tip 3: Proper Resolution Additional information on resolution is included in the supplemental guide.

15. What is Resolution? • The higher the resolution, the crisper the image. Resolution is the number of points of information, also known as pixels, used to display an image.

16. Resolution for Print vs. Screen Viewing at least 300 ppi • Resolution needed for screen = 100 ppi Resolution needed for print =

17. 100 ppi 300 ppi Print View

18. Tip 4: Preferred Color Modes Additional information on color modes is included in the supplemental guide.

19. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)

20. RGB vs. CMYK Unpredictable results when printed Predictable results when printed RGB: Used by computer monitors, video screens, digital cameras, and other technologies through which light is emitted CMYK: Simulates the four-color printing process used by commercial printers

21. Our recommendation: Always use CMYK for print; RGB is fine for online-only figures.

22. Tip 5: Font Legibility

23. Authors often use tiny font sizes to pack data into figures. Require font size to be at least 6 points or greater.

24. Font is appropriately sized Font is too small

25. Tip 6: Consistent Style Across All Figures Additional information on figure style is included in the supplemental guide.

26. How to Ensure aConsistent Style • Develop a style internally and include the style points in your instructions to authors. Use uniform labels, line weights, fonts, scientific notation, and other style elements across all figures.

27. Example of style that is not visually cohesive Manuscript 2 Manuscript 1

28. Example of style that is visually cohesive Manuscript 2 Manuscript 1

29. Tip 7: Proper Page Composition

30. Space around figures should be efficiently used. Figures should be appropriately sized—not too large or too small.

31. Proper Composition Results in: • A professional look • Efficient use of space

32. Unused space

33. How to Achieve Proper Page Composition • Resize all figures internally prior to submitting them for production. Review all article proofs and ask your designer or compositor to make adjustments when necessary.

34. Tip 8: Good Communication With Your Authors Additional information on communicating with authors is included in the supplemental guide.

35. Set expectations. Communicate your guidelines early and often.

36. Information for Authors Manuscript Tracking Systems Decision Letters

37. Thank you for watching.Be sure to read the accompanying supplemental guide. Sarah L. Williamson, MA, and Lindsey M. Brounstein contributed significant expertise to the development of this video. Erin C. Dubnansky managed the project, edited the content, and recorded the audio. The 2010-2011 ISMTE Training Committee (Erin Dubnansky, Chair, Kathy Brister, Maggie Haworth, Glenn Landis, and Maru Tapia) conceived of, contributed expertise to, and oversaw the project. Ms. Williamson is the Senior Medical Illustrator at the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) in Bethesda, Maryland. She has a master of arts in medical illustration from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a background in biology and fine art. She has been producing medical illustrations and scientific graphics since 1999. Ms. Brounstein is the Publications and Graphics Coordinator at the AGA. She oversees the figure redraw process for Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and works with authors to provide high-quality images for their publications. She has worked for the AGA since 2007. Ms. Dubnansky is the Senior Director of Scholarly Publishing at the AGA. She oversees the financial operations; editorial processes, development, and review; marketing; and implementation of new initiatives for the AGA’s scholarly periodicals.