Technical diagrams
Why you might need technical figures
Biomedical science can be highly technical and specialised. Often the best way to cut through the jargon quickly is to use a technical figure. Conversely, a poorly designed figure can leave your peers scratching their heads at unresolved ambiguities.
It is also important to try and present the science in a way that can be understood by non-specialists in your field as well as your peers. Technical figures allow the science to be presented in a clear and effective manner to the audience, including any potential collaborators and investors.
How can we help?
We help scientists translate their findings into clear figures that summarise the findings and remove ambiguity.
Sketching some ideas
Here at Vivid Biology, we understand the science underpinning technical figures. We’re also adept at creating great designs that intuitively guide readers through a process. We can transform as simple pencil sketch into a publication-ready figure that’s easy to edit if further details come to light.
Data redraws
We can redraw data plots and figures to journal guidelines, either from original data or tracing vector files from images. We can also take previously published figures that you’ve got permission to reproduce, and redraw them as publication-ready vector files.
Process diagrams
If you need a graphical abstract or table of contents figure to go with a manuscript, we can take a pencil sketch or powerpoint mock-up and create a crisp, uniformly styled schematic that will help you stand out.
Some technical figures we’ve created
Click the images for a full view with our Lightbox feature
How it works
We’ve created plenty of journal-spec figures before. This is our usual workflow.
We’ve also created technical figures for early stage biotech companies. If you need us to sign a confidentiality agreement or NDA then let us know.
We’ve also contracted for major medical communications agencies to redraw technical figures under tight turnarounds.
A starting sketch
First, we will ask you to send a rough mock up or sketch for us to work from. It can be a pencil sketch, PowerPoint or whichever format you feel comfortable with, we are able to work with many different methods.
A first draft, and then another
Once we create a first draft, we will send it to you for review. We expect there might be some minor errors. Usually clients will add comments to PDFs in Acrobat, others prefer the traditional approach of red pen on print-outs.
Checking the brief
Our team will then research the journal requirements for the size and format of the figure to ensure it meets the specifications.
The finished figure
We’ll continue this process of revision until you are completely happy with the final result. We’ll then format the file according to journal standards and hand it over.
Ballpark figures
Every brief is different but technical figures are usually fairly standardised. We usually price at the rates below.
Projects that require location-based work are billed by the day. Please contact us separately for details.
Service
Size
Dimensions (cm)
Price (£)
Redrawing data plots
Simple bar charts
Scatter plots
from 35
from 50
New manuscript figures
Table of contents (TOC) figure
Graphical abstract
Quarter page
Half page
Full page
11 x 2
14 x 9 (varies)
13 x 9
13 x 18.4
26 x 18.4
from 125
from 250
from 150
from 250
from 450
Redrawing existing figures
Low complexity
Medium complexity
High complexity
from 100
from 175
from 300