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Nature research figure guide (beta)

Image Integrity

Table of contents

Preparing images

The final image must correctly represent the original data and conform to community standards.

Images gathered at different times or from different samples should not be combined into a single image.

If juxtaposing images is essential, the borders should be clearly demarcated in the figure, labelled and described in the legend.

Any elements added to images, such as insets, should be clearly indicated. The use of touch-up tools, such as cloning and healing tools in Photoshop, or any feature that deliberately obscures image data, is to be avoided. The use of any sort of generative AI in figures is not permitted. This includes content-aware editing tools in Photoshop.

Photoshop

Do not use these tools in Photoshop on image data:

  • Spot Healing Brush Tool
    • Remove Tool
    • Healing Brush Tool
    • Patch Tool
    • Content-Aware Move Tool
  • Eraser Tool
    • Background Eraser Tool
    • Magic Eraser Tool
  • Clone Stamp Tool
  • Generative Fill

Adjustments, such as changes to contrast, should be applied to the entire image, and applied equally to controls.

Please check for image duplication within your figures. If a panel is intentionally duplicated then it must be clearly labelled to indicate that.

If you notice any errors or duplicate images within your figures at any time, please let us know so that the error can be corrected.

Example Western blot with multiple panels. Two of the panels have been outlined.
Check for duplicated panels. In this example we have highlighted panels that have been accidentally duplicated.

Gels

Please provide original uncropped data for all of the gels used in your final figures. Contrast, exposure, and dimensions in these should match the gels in your figure as closely as possible.

Please order the raw gels in the same way that they appear in the figure, and label each gel as clearly as possible.

Images of raw, uncropped gels should be provided that accurately represent the intensity and contrast of bands in the figure.

More than one raw gel image can be provided to show varying exposures, and to show how the image was processed.

  • Example Western blot analysis results for three cell lines with overlapping arrows pointing to the raw gel image.
    Avoid: raw gels that are not clearly arranged and labelled and do not represent the gels in the figure accurately.
  • The same example Western blot analysis as previously shown. Now the example gel has been edited to match the figure. The overlapping lines have been removed.
    Recommended: clearly labelled raw gels arranged in the same order they appear in the figure.

If lanes of a gel are spliced together vertically this must be clearly marked with separation or a line.

  • Example Western blot with four lanes of protein samples. There are distinct bands in each lane. The left pair of lanes shows lighter bands and the right pair shows darker bands.
    Avoid: splicing of gels that is not clearly labelled.
  • The same example Western blot as previously shown. Now white lines have been added between the lanes to make the figure easier to read.
    Recommended: white or black lines added between gels to indicate splicing.

Avoid horizontal splicing within a single gel panel; the parts should be separated and the weights clearly labelled.

Do not mask any elements within your gel or use any tools to remove or add data.

Do not adjust contrast in a way that removes any bands or information. Do not increase contrast on your gel images so that background details are lost.

  • A close-up of a Western blot with two visible lanes showing protein bands at the same approximate height. The contrast has been increased so that the bands sit on a white background.
    Avoid: adjusting contrast so that information is lost.
  • The same close-up of a Western blot as previously shown. Now the contrast has been restored so that much more information is visible. The bands sit on grey backgrounds and there is a third lane, faintly visible.
    Recommended: present the image showing all data.

Do not adjust contrast to individual bands or parts of a gel in a way that alters their intensity relative to other bands in the same gel.

Please note that your gels could be checked for any signs of improper manipulation or duplication across figures.

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