How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

Necessary keys and guides
How to prepare effective photographs
Preparing the tables and figures

If you can’t crop down to the features of special interest, consider superimposing arrows or letters on the photographs, as shown in Figure 18.3. In this way, you can draw the reader’s attention to the significant features. Having arrows or letters to refer to can aid in writing clear, concise legends.

Unless your journal requests that photographs and other illustrations be embedded in the text, it is a good idea to indicate the preferred location for each illustration. In this way, you will be sure that all illustrations have been referred to in the text, in one-two-three order, and the designer will know how to weave the illustrations into the text so that each one is close to the text related to it.

With electron micrographs, put a micrometer marker directly on the micrograph. In this way, regardless of any reduction (or even enlargement) in the printing process, the magnification factor is clearly evident. The practice of putting the magnification in the legend (for example, × 50,000) is not advisable, and some journals no longer allow it, precisely because the size (and thus magnification) is likely to change in printing. And, usually, the author forgets to change the magnification at the proof stage.

Figure 18.1. Uncropped (top) and cropped versions of a photograph. (Courtesy of Media Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University)

Figure 18.2. Uncropped (top) and cropped versions of a photograph. In this case, publication of both versions may be warranted, to both show the tumor in context and display detail. (Courtesy of Media Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University)

In other photographs where the size of the object is important, likewise include a scale bar. Sometimes showing a familiar object, such as a paper clip, near the object can help readers discern an object’s size. Remember, though, that some objects (such as coins of given denominations) that are familiar to readers in one country might be unfamiliar to readers elsewhere.

Figure 18.3. An example of adding arrows to direct readers’ attention to structures of interest. (Courtesy of Media Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University)