Visual Styles

Scientific illustration styles

Six styles for papers, covers and teaching. See which one fits your field and your journal, then make your figure in that style.

An electric car's battery pack in Clean 2D

Clean 2D

Flat vector shapes, soft colour, no texture

The look Cell Press asks for in graphical abstracts, and the most common style in Nature schematics. It stays clear when printed small.

Best for

  • Cell and molecular biology
  • Immunology and medicine
  • Mechanisms and pathways
  • Chemistry and materials

Journals

  • Cell
  • Cell Press
  • Nature
  • Nature Communications
  • Science
  • ACS
  • RSC

Use it for

  • Graphical abstract
  • Figure in the paper
  • Slides and posters
Try Clean 2D
An electric car's battery pack in Complex 2D

Complex 2D

Detailed 2D with shading and fine structure

Holds many parts in one figure without losing order, so it suits reviews and figures that explain a whole system.

Best for

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Multi-step mechanisms
  • Engineering systems
  • Review articles

Journals

  • Cell Reports
  • PNAS
  • Nature Reviews
  • Elsevier reviews
  • Frontiers

Use it for

  • Review figure
  • Figure in the paper
  • Textbook
Try Complex 2D
An electric car's battery pack in 3D Style

3D Style

Rendered depth, light and material

Depth and material make one idea stand out, which is what editors look for on a cover.

Best for

  • Structural biology
  • Nanomaterials
  • Energy devices
  • Biomedical engineering

Journals

  • Nature
  • Science
  • Cell
  • Advanced Materials
  • ACS Nano
  • Angewandte Chemie

Use it for

  • Journal cover
  • Graphical abstract
  • Hero image
Try 3D Style
An electric car's battery pack in Line Art

Line Art

Black ink lines and hatching, no colour

Prints in black and white without losing detail, and suits patents and journals that charge for colour.

Best for

  • Methods and apparatus
  • Botany and morphology
  • Geology
  • Mechanical engineering

Journals

  • IEEE
  • Journal of Morphology
  • Greyscale print journals
  • Patents

Use it for

  • Methods figure
  • Patent drawing
  • Textbook
Try Line Art
An electric car's battery pack in Digital Paint

Digital Paint

Painterly brushwork and light

Gives a scene mood and place, so it carries a story to readers outside the field.

Best for

  • Ecology and environment
  • Earth sciences
  • Evolution
  • Science stories

Journals

  • Journal covers
  • Scientific American
  • Science magazines
  • Book covers

Use it for

  • Journal cover
  • Editorial
  • Outreach
Try Digital Paint
An electric car's battery pack in Toon & Sketch

Toon & Sketch

Friendly outlines and simple colour

Approachable and quick to read, for readers who are not specialists.

Best for

  • Teaching
  • Public engagement
  • Isometric overviews
  • Grant summaries

Journals

  • Frontiers for Young Minds
  • Course material
  • Social media
  • Press releases

Use it for

  • Teaching
  • Outreach
  • Social post
Try Toon & Sketch

Try any style free

30 free credits when you join. Switch style at any time.