What is a Graphical Abstract and Why is it Important?

A graphical abstract is a single, concise, pictorial, and visual summary of the main findings of a paper. It can be a key figure from the article or a specially designed image that captures its essence at a glance. Graphical abstracts are increasingly required by journals. They allow readers to quickly grasp the main message of the paper, encourage browsing, promote interdisciplinarity, and help identify articles relevant to research interests more quickly. Studies have shown that articles with graphical abstracts receive more views and higher engagement on social media.

 

How to Create a Good Graphical Abstract?

 

1. Plan Ahead:

• Sketch out your idea. Think about the flow of information.
• Use different types of information flow, such as unidirectional (left to right, top to bottom), cyclic, Z-, M-, L-shaped, or fork-shaped flows. Choose directions that go from left to right or top to bottom.
• Get feedback. It is crucial to seek input from both experts in your field and non-technical audiences.
• Revise accordingly based on the received feedback.
• Dedicate at least one or two days to planning. Return to the design with a fresh mind to catch potential mistakes.

 

2. Less is More:

• The number of words in the graphical abstract should be fewer than inthe text abstract. A graphical abstract is not a place for extra details that didn’t fit into the abstract.
• It should be simple, clear, and convey the core message of the abstract.
• Avoid additional text, outlines, or summaries within the graphical abstract itself. Any text or labels should be integrated into the image file.

 

3. Color Contrast and Saturation:

• Use contrasting colors, such as complementary colors (red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow) to separate opposing concepts.
• Limit the use of saturated colors. The most important part of the story should have the strongest, most saturated color. Use color sparingly to make it an effective tool.
• Pay attention to color value (lightness or darkness). Ensure the image is legible in grayscale. Lack of value contrast is a common mistake. Many applications (including BioRender) offer a grayscale preview function.

 

4. Consistent Arrows, Lines, and Labels:

• Consistent use of these elements is crucial, especially in limited space.
• Different types of arrows can convey different meanings (e.g., a pointed arrow for activation, a flat-ended arrow for inhibition, a circular arrow for feedback loops). You can also color-code arrows to indicate actions.
• Dotted-end lines are useful for labeling while keeping lines parallel to the text.
• Dashed lines can indicate sections or changes over time (e.g., surgical incision, tumor shrinkage or growth).
• Arrow thickness can indicate differences in volume, concentration, or strength.
• Use 90-degree angle arrows to represent DNA transcription.
• Curved, fading arrows can indicate molecular movement.

 

5. Quick Gut Check:

• "Twitter" or "SMS" test: Try sending the graphical abstract image to a friend and ask them to describe what is happening. If they can understand the main story without much effort, that’s a good sign.
• A graphical abstract should be somewhat independent of the main abstract but still descriptive enough.

 

Useful Guides and Resources:

• Elsevier - Graphical Abstracts
• BioRender - Designing Graphical Abstracts
• BioRender - How to create a graphical abstract
• Animate Your Science - Graphical Abstract Tutorial