PaperFig research toolkit

Scientific figure tools for research papers

Choose the right starting point for your scientific figure. Generate a first draft from text, a photo, sketch, or reference image, then use research-focused tools to shape graphical abstracts, prompts, and journal-ready requirements.

Start with a figure

Create or improve a scientific figure

These tools are designed for the first complete visual draft: explain your research, provide a useful source image, and review every scientific detail before publication.

Core generator

Text to Scientific Figure

Describe a mechanism, workflow, method, or research system in plain language and start a structured scientific figure draft.

Describe a figure

Image input

Photo to Scientific Figure

Use a lab, device, sample, or experiment photo as the starting point for a clearer methods or mechanism diagram.

Upload a photo

Image input

Sketch to Scientific Figure

Turn a hand-drawn layout, notebook sketch, or whiteboard photo into a more readable scientific figure draft.

Upload a sketch

Image input

Reference Image to Scientific Figure

Use a reference for structure or visual hierarchy while developing a new figure grounded in your own research story.

Use a reference

Revision tool

Scientific Figure Enhancer

Upload an existing draft and explore improvements to labels, spacing, hierarchy, arrows, and overall scientific readability.

Improve a figure

Research figure preparation tools

Use these focused pages to plan a graphical abstract, structure a prompt, or check your figure against the requirements of a target journal.

Research workflow

Graphical Abstract Maker

Plan one clear visual message, organize the reading order, and develop a graphical abstract draft for a research paper.

Make a graphical abstract

Planning tool

Scientific Figure Prompt Generator

Turn a research topic into a structured prompt that names the mechanism, panels, labels, relationships, and visual constraints.

Build a figure prompt

Requirements checker

Journal Figure Checker

Review resolution, dimensions, color, typography, file format, and other figure requirements for a target journal.

Check journal requirements

From first draft to submission

A good figure workflow combines generation with review. Browse real examples, check the target journal, compare alternative tools, and keep the scientific record in control.

Browse scientific figure examples Check journal figure requirements Compare BioRender alternatives See plans and credits

Scientific figure tools FAQ

Which PaperFig tool should I start with?

Start with Text to Scientific Figure when you have a written mechanism or workflow. Choose Photo, Sketch, or Reference Image when an image already contains important structure. Use Figure Enhancer when you have an existing draft that needs clearer communication.

Can these tools create publication-ready figures automatically?

They create useful drafts and help you move faster, but no AI draft should bypass scientific review. Verify labels, arrows, values, controls, permissions, and the target journal's requirements before submission.

Do I need to upload confidential research data?

No. Use a non-confidential description or a sanitized source image whenever possible. Do not submit personal information, protected participant data, unpublished sensitive results, or intellectual property that you are not authorized to share.

Can I use the tools without learning design software first?

Yes. Start with the scientific story you already understand, then use the generated draft to discuss structure and reading order. You can still move to a specialist editor when you need precise manual control.

Have a research idea ready?

Start with a description or source image, then refine the figure in the PaperFig workspace after you review the first direction.