eLife Figure Preparation Guide

Overview

This guide provides the complete specifications for preparing figures for submission to eLife. eLife is known for its open-access model, figure supplement system, striking image requirements, and a strict image screening policy where selective enhancement of scientific images is treated as research misconduct.

Official reference: https://elife-rp.msubmit.net/html/elife-rp_author_instructions.html

Resolution Requirements

from PIL import Image

def check_elife_resolution(image_path, is_striking=False):
    """Check if image meets eLife resolution requirements.

    Args:
        is_striking: True for striking/graphical abstract images
    """
    img = Image.open(image_path)
    w, h = img.size
    dpi = img.info.get('dpi', (72, 72))

    print(f"Dimensions: {w} x {h} px")
    print(f"DPI: {dpi[0]} x {dpi[1]}")

    if is_striking:
        if w >= 1800 and h >= 900:
            print("PASS: Meets striking image minimum (1800x900 px)")
            return True
        else:
            print(f"FAIL: Striking image needs 1800x900 px, got {w}x{h}")
            return False
    else:
        if dpi[0] >= 300:
            print("PASS: Resolution meets standard (300+ DPI)")
        else:
            print(f"NOTE: DPI is {dpi[0]}; 300+ DPI recommended")
        return True

File Format

Regular Figures

Striking Images

Figure Size and Dimensions

Striking Images (Graphical Abstract)

• Minimum: 1800 x 900 pixels
• Format: Landscape orientation
• Composed of 1-2 panels maximum
• No labels or text should be included

Regular Figures

• Each figure uploaded as an individual file
• No specific column width requirements published

Color Mode

• No explicit RGB/CMYK mandate in published guidelines
• Follow standard practice: RGB for digital submission

Font Requirements

Striking Images

• No labels or text should be included in striking images

Regular Figures

• No strict font specifications published
• Follow standard scientific figure conventions (sans-serif, 6-8 pt)

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

def set_elife_fonts():
    """Configure Matplotlib with standard settings for eLife."""
    plt.rcParams.update({
        'font.family': 'sans-serif',
        'font.sans-serif': ['Helvetica', 'Arial'],
        'font.size': 7,
        'axes.labelsize': 7,
        'axes.titlesize': 8,
        'xtick.labelsize': 6,
        'ytick.labelsize': 6,
        'legend.fontsize': 6,
    })

Labeling Conventions

Figure Supplements (eLife-Specific System)

eLife uses a unique figure supplement system instead of traditional supplementary figures:

• Format: Figure 1--Figure Supplement 1, Figure 1--Figure Supplement 2, etc.
• Each supplement should have a short title and an optional legend
• Supplements are linked to their parent figure in the publication

Striking Images

• Must NOT contain any labels or text
• Limited to 1-2 panels

def generate_elife_supplement_names(main_figure_num, n_supplements):
    """Generate eLife figure supplement naming.

    Args:
        main_figure_num: The main figure number (1, 2, 3, ...)
        n_supplements: Number of supplements for this figure

    Returns:
        List of supplement name strings
    """
    names = []
    for i in range(1, n_supplements + 1):
        names.append(f"Figure {main_figure_num}--Figure Supplement {i}")
    return names

# Example
supplements = generate_elife_supplement_names(3, 4)
for s in supplements:
    print(s)
# Output:
# Figure 3--Figure Supplement 1
# Figure 3--Figure Supplement 2
# Figure 3--Figure Supplement 3
# Figure 3--Figure Supplement 4

Image Integrity and Manipulation Policy

CRITICAL: eLife Screens Images Routinely

eLife routinely screens submitted images for inappropriate digital processing. This is not a random check — it is a systematic process.

PROHIBITED

• Enhancing, obscuring, moving, removing, or introducing any specific feature within an image
• Selective enhancement constitutes research misconduct
  • Example: Adjusting the intensity of a single band in a blot = misconduct

PERMITTED

• Brightness, contrast, and color balance adjustments applied equally across the entire image
• Adjustments must NOT obscure or eliminate information present in the original

Consequences

• Inappropriate image manipulation may result in:
  • Manuscript rejection
  • Investigation by the author's institution
  • Public correction or retraction of published articles

Python Quick Start: Full Validation

from PIL import Image
import os

def validate_elife_figure(image_path, is_striking=False):
    """Full validation of a figure against eLife requirements."""
    img = Image.open(image_path)
    issues = []
    w, h = img.size

    # 1. Striking image checks
    if is_striking:
        if w < 1800 or h < 900:
            issues.append(f"Striking image: {w}x{h} px below 1800x900 minimum")
        if w < h:
            issues.append("Striking image should be landscape orientation")

    # 2. Resolution check (standard recommendation)
    dpi = img.info.get('dpi', (72, 72))
    if not is_striking and dpi[0] < 300:
        issues.append(f"Resolution {dpi[0]} DPI; 300+ DPI recommended")

    # 3. Format check
    fmt = img.format
    accepted = ['TIFF', 'JPEG', 'PNG', 'EPS', 'PDF', 'GIF']
    if fmt and fmt.upper() not in accepted:
        issues.append(f"Format '{fmt}' may not be standard")

    if is_striking:
        striking_formats = ['PNG', 'TIFF', 'JPEG']
        if fmt and fmt.upper() not in striking_formats:
            issues.append(f"Striking image: prefer PNG, TIFF, or JPEG (got {fmt})")

    # Report
    print(f"=== eLife Figure Validation {'(Striking)' if is_striking else ''} ===")
    print(f"Dimensions: {w} x {h} px")
    print(f"DPI: {dpi[0]} x {dpi[1]}")
    print(f"Color mode: {img.mode}")
    print(f"Format: {fmt}")

    if issues:
        print(f"\nISSUES FOUND ({len(issues)}):")
        for issue in issues:
            print(f"  - {issue}")
    else:
        print("\nAll checks PASSED")

    print("\nWARNING: eLife routinely screens images for manipulation")
    print("Selective enhancement (e.g., single band intensity) = MISCONDUCT")

    return len(issues) == 0

Key Concepts

Figure Supplement System

eLife replaces traditional supplementary figures with a linked figure supplement system. Supplements are named "Figure X--Figure Supplement Y" and are directly associated with their parent figure in the publication. Each supplement requires a short title and optional legend. This system improves discoverability compared to buried supplementary files.

Striking Image Requirements

eLife requires a striking image (graphical abstract) with specific constraints: minimum 1800 x 900 pixels, landscape orientation, 1-2 panels maximum, and no labels or text. This image appears prominently in article listings and social media. It must be a standalone visual that conveys the paper's main finding.

Routine Image Screening Policy

eLife routinely screens all submitted images for inappropriate digital processing. This is systematic, not random. Selective enhancement of any part of a scientific image (e.g., adjusting intensity of a single band in a blot) is treated as research misc