Graphical Abstract Size & DPI Requirements by Journal

There is no safe universal DPI, canvas, color-space, or file-format rule. The examples below come from official publisher or journal pages and deliberately keep journal-specific values separate.

Cited examples

Official example	Size	Resolution	File guidance or caveat
Cell Press (2018 guide)	1200 px square	300 dpi	TIFF, PDF, or JPG; verify the live title
Elsevier publisher guide	minimum 1328 × 531 px	minimum 300 dpi	TIFF, EPS, PDF, or MS Office preferred; exact journal may differ
ACS Catalysis	3.33 × 1.87 in	depends on artwork type	one journal example, not an ACS-wide preset
Nature Chemical Biology	90 × 50 mm	figure panels minimum 300 dpi	applies to this title, not all Nature Portfolio journals
Angewandte Chemie Notice 01/26	55 × 50 mm or 115 × 25 mm	300 dpi	separate official Graphics Guidelines currently say 110 mm wide; recheck before using the wide format

1. Resolution

Several examples specify 300 dpi for color artwork, but that is not a universal publisher rule. ACS Catalysis, for example, distinguishes black-and-white line art, grayscale art, and color art. Verify the artwork type as well as the journal.

2. Dimensions and aspect ratio

Build to the dimensions named by the exact journal. A single publisher portfolio can contain incompatible requirements: Nature Communications does not allow a graphical abstract, while Nature Chemical Biology specifies 90 × 50 mm.

3. Color space and file format

Use only the color mode and file types named by the exact journal guide. Abfig exports RGB PNG or TIFF; if another format or color space is required, use an appropriate production workflow and inspect the converted file.

Final workflow

1. Open the current instructions for the exact journal and article type.
2. Copy the size, resolution, color, and accepted file types.
3. Treat an Abfig preset or custom canvas only as a setup aid.
4. Inspect the final file before submission.

Check an exported file with the DPI checker →