Writing Manual for Scientific Papers

3. Preparation of Figures (Illustrations) for Publication

© Copyright Peter J. Large, 1996.


Illustrations in journal papers and theses include both line-drawings (diagrams) and photographs. Different principles apply to these two groups. You are strongly recommended to read the book Preparing Scientific Illustrations by Mary Helen Briscoe. (Second edition, Springer-Verlag, 1995)

Line-drawings

  1. If you are preparing a diagram for a scientific journal, start by reading the Instructions to Authors . Look at a copy of the journal. Diagrams for journals with single column format need to be aranged differently from figures for journals with a double column format. Read Chapter 7 'The Journal Figure' in Briscoe.
  2. Authors are tending more and more to submit graphics prepared by one or other computer graph-drawing package. Some of these packages are not suitable for scientific work, because they are not flexible enough. Moreover authors seem to think that any old default setting for things like line thickness will be acceptable. In fact, because of the need to reduce drawings in size for printing (to usually 40 to 70% of the original size) line thicknesses and symbol sizes often need to be somewhat bigger than might be expected. Read Chapter 6 'Graphs and Software' in Briscoe. A number of principles need to be born in mind.
  3. Be SELECTIVE in the illustrations. Most authors want to present more figures than editors are prepared to accept. Even if you are writing a thesis you should not necessarily attempt to present all your data for the reader to wade through.
  4. Broken and dotted lines should be avoided unless they improve the clarity of the Figure.
  5. Axis scales should be carefully considered. If a very wide range of values is spanned, a logarithmic scale may be appropriate.
  6. Lettering should be parallel to the axes. Sans-serif typefaces are always preferable.
  7. Numbers, on the other hand, should read horizontally, whether on the ordinate (y axis) or abscissa (x axis).
  8. Line thickness should be 2 or 3 points in thickness, NEVER 1 point. Spidery lines will not show up on reduction.
  9. Symbols should be open or solid rather than shaded. They should be slightly larger than may look elegant to allow for reduction. However they shopuld not be excessively large.
  10. In papers for publication each figure must carry a pencilled label identifying it and the paper of which it is a part.
  11. Use multiple ordinates where you can without causing undue overcrowding.
  12. Be consistent. Symbols representing the same quantity should be the same in eacg diagram.

 

Photographs

  1. All photomicrographs should contain a size bar (see below).
  2. Photographs should be well contrasted prints. Any irrelevant margins and areas of no interest should be cut off.

 

Legends

The legend is the explanatory text usually printed below the figure.

  1. It is often helpful if not only photomicrographs, but also other diagrams or photographs of equipment have a size bar. The size of the bar should be clearly indicated in the legend to the figure.
  2. For papers for publication in a journal, all legends should be on a separate sheet. For theses on the other hand, the legend should wherever possible be on the same page as the Figure or on the facing page.

 

This page was prepared by Peter J. Large and last revised 18 February, 1998. Click my name for an E-mail link, or if your browser does not support E-mail, E-mail me at p.j.large@hull.ac.uk

Back to Writing Manual Top Page.

Back to Previous Page (References)