New Image Requirements (effective from April 20, 2025 submissions)

2025-04-20

To enhance and ensure the quality of article images, the editorial board has introduced specific formatting requirements for all new submissions (effective from April 2025). The detailed guidelines are as follows (please refer to the Figures and Tables of AUTHOR GUIDELINES section for more information):

 

Image Requirements (effective from April 20, 2025 submissions):

  1. Image Type: Images must be submitted in PNG, JPG, or SVG formats.
  2. Resolution: Grayscale and color illustrations should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, while line drawings (e.g., curve diagrams, scatter plots) must achieve a minimum resolution of 600 dpi.
  3. Text: The thickness of lines and font sizes across different illustrations should be consistent whenever feasible, with sizes ranging from 6 to 11 pt. Text should maintain vector characteristics where possible. The designated font for text within images is Times New Roman, ensuring clarity and readability.
  4. Subfigures: Multiple subfigures should be consolidated into a single image file for submission unless specific requirements dictate otherwise.
  5. Abbreviations: All abbreviations or symbols used in the figure must be clearly defined in the legend unless they are already explained in the main text.
  6. Image Size: Image file sizes should not exceed 10MB; larger files may lead to loading or download failures when generating the final PDF version on the web page.
  7. Aesthetics: Images should exhibit appropriate brightness and contrast to enhance overall quality and visual appeal.
  8. Copyright: Diagrams that reference external sources must include permission from the copyright holder and be properly cited with source information. The editorial board reserves the right to reject any diagram that may raise copyright concerns.

 

Note: Non-compliance with these guidelines may significantly impact both the quality and readability of images submitted for publication. The editorial board retains the authority to return images to authors for revision or outright rejection if necessary.