Multi-panel figure maker
Add your images, choose a layout (2 × 2, 1 × 3, a large panel with two small ones and more), set the journal column width and the panel letters, and export a PNG at 300, 600 or 1200 dpi that records its resolution. Everything happens in your browser.
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What it does
How to use the figure panel maker
- Add imagesDrop your panels in the order they should appear; reorder them with the arrows.
- Choose a layout and sizePick a layout, the panel shape and a journal width (or a custom width in millimetres) and the gap between panels.
- Label and exportChoose the letter style and size, then download the PNG at the resolution the journal asks for.
How it works
The figure is laid out in millimetres: the width comes from the journal preset, each panel’s height from the panel shape, and the gaps are added between them. On export the layout is drawn at DPI ÷ 25.4 pixels per millimetre, so a 183 mm figure at 300 dpi is 2,161 pixels wide. Panel letters are sized in points (1 pt = 1/72 inch) so they print at the size journals specify, typically 8–12 pt.
Worked example
A Nature double-column figure (183 mm) with a 2 × 2 layout, 4:3 panels and 2 mm gaps has panels 90.5 mm wide and 67.9 mm high, so the figure is 183 × 138 mm; at 300 dpi that is 2,161 × 1,627 px.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a journal figure be?
Use the journal’s column width: for example Nature 89 mm (single) or 183 mm (double), Cell Press 85, 114 or 174 mm, Elsevier 90, 140 or 190 mm. Check the author guidelines for the maximum height.
What resolution do journals need?
Typically 300 dpi for photographs, 600 dpi for combinations of images and text, and 1,000–1,200 dpi for line art, all at the final printed size.
Should panel letters be uppercase or lowercase?
It depends on the journal: Nature journals use bold lowercase (a, b, c), Cell Press and many others use uppercase (A, B, C). Choose the style in the panel letters menu.
Are my images uploaded?
No. They are combined in your browser and never sent to a server.
Can I edit the figure further?
Yes. For text, arrows, scale bars and editable vector panels, open the free LabCanvas figure editor and export TIFF, PDF or SVG at the journal’s size.
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