Design for immediate understanding
The official guide emphasizes a single panel, a clear start-to-finish reading order, restrained color, and legible labels. It lists a 5.5-inch square submission at 300 dpi, Arial at 12–16 points, and TIFF, PDF, or JPG as preferred file types. Confirm these details with the target journal before submission.
Purpose and scope
The image should help readers identify the paper's main message quickly and should be distinct from a figure copied out of the manuscript. It is a visual overview, not a collection of every result.
Cell Press journals can have journal-specific workflows and current policies. Treat this page as a preparation checklist rather than a substitute for the journal's author instructions or editorial communication.
Technical requirements in the official guide
The published guide specifies a 5.5-inch square at 300 dpi, with Arial text generally between 12 and 16 points. It names TIFF, PDF, and JPG as preferred file types and asks for one single panel.
Graphical Abstract Lab provides PNG concept drafts, so a final submission may need to be resized, rebuilt, or converted according to the current target-journal requirements. Always inspect the converted file at final size.
Clarity, sequence, and color
Build a clear beginning and end, keep related elements grouped, and avoid unnecessary visual complexity. The official guidance encourages color that directs attention while cautioning against distracting, heavily saturated primary colors.
Scientific accuracy remains the authors' responsibility. Verify structures, labels, causal direction, comparative emphasis, third-party rights, and any current disclosure requirement for AI-assisted work.
Four details to carry into the design
These values summarize the official guide linked below; re-check the target journal before submitting.
One single-panel image with a clear visual sequence.
5.5 inches square at 300 dpi in the published guide.
Arial, generally 12–16 points so labels remain legible online.
TIFF, PDF, or JPG are named in the published guide.
Cell Press graphical abstract checklist
Use this with the latest instructions for the specific Cell Press journal handling the paper.
Verify before you submit
Requirements can change. These Cell Press resources were reviewed on September 13, 2026; the target journal's live instructions remain authoritative.