ACS Graphical Abstract (TOC Graphic) Guidelines: Size & DPI

TL;DR

ACS journals want a Table of Contents (TOC) / abstract graphic sized about 82 × 44 mm (roughly 3.25 × 1.75 in) at 300 DPI in RGB, submitted as TIFF or EPS. This is the same graphic ACS calls a "TOC graphic." Always confirm against the ACS abstract graphics guidelines and your specific ACS journal before you submit.

ACS graphical abstract specs at a glance

Requirement	ACS value
Name	TOC / abstract graphic
Working size	~82 × 44 mm (3.25 × 1.75 in)
Resolution	300 DPI (minimum)
Color space	RGB
File formats	TIFF or EPS
Text	Minimal — legible at small size

These reflect ACS's published guidance at the time of writing. Some ACS journals add their own rules, so treat this as a working reference and check your target journal's instructions.

Before you submit — read ACS's AI rule for the TOC graphic specifically. ACS states its position separately for cover art, for figures inside the manuscript, and for the Table of Contents graphic, and those are not the same rule. As of 30 July 2026, the ACS AI policy for authors stated: "AI-generated images should not be used within Table of Contents (ToC) graphics, as they do not have captions immediately adjacent to the image where the use of AI can be transparently explained." Separately, the ToC/Abstract Graphics guidelines require the graphic to be "entirely original, unpublished artwork created by one of the coauthors." Policies do get revised, so check both pages yourself before submitting. Abfig is useful here for drafting a composition and getting the 82 × 44 mm at 300 DPI geometry right — produce the artwork you actually submit in a way that complies with the rules above.

What ACS wants in the figure

The ACS TOC graphic appears small in the contents list and search results, so clarity beats detail:

• One concept. Show the key transformation, structure, or result — not every panel.
• Compact, horizontal layout. The canvas is small and slightly landscape; keep the composition simple.
• Chemical clarity. If you show structures, make bonds and labels crisp at final size.
• Minimal text. A short phrase or none — the image should carry the message.

How Abfig helps you prepare an ACS graphic

If you don't want to redraw everything in ChemDraw or Illustrator, you can generate the figure from your paper. With Abfig the flow is:

1. Paste your abstract — optionally let the AI condense it into a tight visual brief — or upload a rough sketch.
2. Generate the figure. Abfig's AI produces a clean graphic from that input.
3. Export sized for ACS. Pick ACS as the target and export at the small TOC dimensions and 300 DPI ACS expects.

Because the ACS graphical abstract requirements are built in as a preset, you get the right canvas and resolution without measuring by hand. Abfig exports at submission resolution as TIFF or PNG; use TIFF for an ACS submission (ACS also accepts EPS if you have a vector file).

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too much detail for the size. The TOC graphic is tiny — crowded figures become unreadable in the contents list.
• Wrong dimensions. A large landscape banner sized for another publisher won't meet ACS's compact spec.
• Low resolution. Start at target pixel dimensions; don't upscale a screenshot.
• Skipping the journal check. Confirm your specific ACS title hasn't set its own rules.

Conclusion

For an ACS submission, aim for a compact ~82 × 44 mm graphic at 300 DPI in RGB, exported as TIFF, with one clear idea and minimal text — then verify the live ACS abstract graphics guidelines. If you'd rather not build it by hand, Abfig turns your abstract or sketch into an ACS-sized graphic in a few minutes — a correctly sized draft to finalize against the ACS rules above, not an auto-approved submission.

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Related guides

• How to make a graphical abstract
• Graphical abstract size & DPI requirements