Can AI Save Time When Preparing Figures and Graphical Abstracts?
Blog Highlights
- AI tools can improve efficiency when designing graphical abstracts by simplifying the process of conceptualization and visualization.
- AI tools are great for creating initial layouts and templates before beginning the designing of figures and graphical abstracts.
- Use artificial intelligence only as assistants in illustration work rather than relying completely on images generated by gen AI tools.
Introduction
Gone are the days when only graphic designers were experts in creating artwork! Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reshaped how researchers utilize tools to ease various research-related tasks, one of which is preparing scientific figures for research papers and graphical abstracts for research promotion. We’ve previously explored how to create graphical abstracts using AI tools. This blog delineates in what areas AI tools are truly useful when preparing figures, illustrations, and graphical abstracts while providing insights into several useful AI design tools.
Where Gen AI Fails: Common Drawbacks
Editage’s AI-assisted Graphical Abstract Creation Service
Conclusion: Should You or Should You Not Use AI Tools
AI Tools for Figure Creation
Research papers are incomplete without visual elements. From elaborate experimental setups to concise graphs that capture data, illustrations have always been crucial for reporting scientific research. That’s why several designing tools were developed to simplify the figure creation process for students, authors, and researchers.
Mind the Graph
Known for over 300 pre-designed templates, Mind the Graph is a practical tool for preparing science figures, graphical abstracts, infographics, or even posters.
- The database offers 75,000+ scientifically accurate illustrations for various fields. The tool allows you to choose your subject area and provides custom recommendations.
- You can select the layout/template of your choice and manually design figures. The icons, images, illustrations, and graphics are divided into specific categories like cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics etc. to ease the selection process.
- AI image generation is also one of the features in Mind the Graph, giving you the freedom to bring your idea to life with minimal manual interference.
- Offers both FREE and paid plans to suit individual needs.
SciDraw AI
SciDraw does both scientific illustrations and data visualizations like charts & graphs from input data. With reasonably priced plans, it covers diverse subject areas and allows users to
- Convert text to images by taking descriptive user inputs and rendering AI-generated design output
- Sketch (or edit) images, wherein you can upload a rough sketch and AI converts it into appealing visuals
- Prepare smart data charts by taking user-uploaded excel/CSV files and converting them into submission-equivalent visualizations
FigPad
FigPad uses GPT to expedite the figure preparation workflow. It allows users to obtain final designs in one of four ways:
- Text to image: Use the FigPad workspace to write a detailed prompt describing the workflow, mechanism, or concept to generate your desired image.
- Sketch to image: If you upload rough, hand-drawn sketches or even layouts, the tool coverts them into usable scientific visuals that can be further refined.
- Image to image: The tool also allows you to upload reference figures and graphical abstracts to create a similar but modified version by adapting to your content.
- Raster to vector image: If you need vector images, you can upload raster images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF) and transform them into cleaner formats before exporting as SVG or PPT files.
Other Designing Tools
Apart from these, general designing tools like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape are also highly effective in refining figures. These tools also incorporate gen AI features to make the image creation process user-friendly. However, these tools are not specifically built for scientific illustration creation and are more suited for general designing tasks like logo creation, marketing poster development, etc.
How AI Saves Time
We’ve established that AI tools can indeed expedite the figure preparation workflow. But how exactly is this done? What are the areas that they contribute to? Let’s dive in.
Drafting Concepts
When preparing graphical abstracts or scientific figures, you often have a vague visual concept in mind. As researchers, you may write down the flow of the diagram, say from right to left or from top to bottom and prepare a rough sketch. While this is a time-consuming activity, AI can support you with this first step to draft concepts faster.
You can brainstorm design ideas, replace one visual with another, or compare multiple visuals before finalizing the initial draft. Why is this important? Your first draft of the concept forms the foundation for your entire graphical abstract. In fact, this is the approach followed by expert designers as well: prepare a strong initial concept before beginning the designing process.
Turning Idea to Visuals
Once you have your concept ready, the next step is to turn it into appealing visuals. Earlier, you would have to use tools like Microsoft PowerPoint to manually bring picture to life. Now, AI tools can do the visualization for you!
Feeding the right prompts to gen AI design tools or even general chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini can give you high-quality images. However, whether they are publication ready must be evaluated by you.
Vector Exports
Exporting vector graphics in the format you need is simplified with AI tools. In SVG, PDF, and EPS formats, your image files can be resized without compromising quality and improved for color palettes, text font, font size, and other visual elements in the illustration.
Data to Visual Conversion
As mentioned earlier, AI tools can help transform raw data from spreadsheets and tables into impactful visuals. Tools like Julius AI and SciDraw AI are increasingly preferred by researchers to analyze datasets and identify patterns and trends to then draw data-based conclusions and insights effectively.
Where Gen AI Fails: Common Drawbacks
Despite their strengths, AI design tools are not entirely reliable! Here’s a snapshot of several common drawbacks:
- Generative AI tools output results based on what their large language models (LLMs) are trained on. So, if there is an issue in their training datasets, it often reflects in the design output.
- There have been instances in the past where AI-generated images have failed quite miserably! From disproportionate rat genitalia [1] to incorrect virtual staining of transparent tissues in digital pathology [2], the unchecked use of AI tools has raised concerns in the research community.
- Several AI tools output visually impressive images. However, a more detailed examination leads you to realize that they are not scientifically accurate. Errors like inaccurate neural pathways, weird molecular structures, incorrectly spelled terminology, and distorted organs and organelles stand out like a sore thumb, which can be quite alarming especially for medical research.
With such ambiguity, it is natural to feel unsure about using AI design tools. But what if the use of AI was combined with human expertise? This is where AI-assisted services become key.
Editage’s AI-assisted Graphical Abstract Creation Service
As authors, you may not have the time to identify which AI tools serve your purpose best without compromising on research integrity. Besides, expert human review of your graphical abstracts and figures can help you submit with confidence.
Editage’s Graphical Abstract Creation Service combines the best of both and lets you choose the service plan that suits your needs.
AI-assisted Graphical Abstract
- Once you submit your manuscript details, AI is used to develop a visual concept quickly
- Our experts will review the AI-generated concept before initiating the design
- A submission-ready graphical abstract design is developed and delivered within 2 to 3 business days
- Editable vector files are included as part of the files delivered
- Pricing: $80 (Revisions start from $16)
Expert-designed Graphical Abstract
- You will need to share the details of your research and the target journal of your choice along with a customized questionnaire highlighting your design requirements
- Our experts prepare the initial concept, which is shared with you for approval
- Once you approve, our designers begin finalizing the graphical abstract to make it journal ready
- The final files in required formats are shared with you within 4 business days
- Pricing: $149 (unlimited FREE revisions until you are satisfied with the outcome)
Conclusion: Should You or Should You Not Use AI Tools
AI tools are wonderful assistants. And when used in the right way, they can significantly simplify complex research workflows saving valuable time for researchers and authors. The trick is to know how to use AI without losing academic integrity to avoid being criticized for following unethical practices. So, when you do use AI tools for preparing figures, illustrations, graphical abstracts, and other scientific artwork, be mindful of maintaining the balance between AI assistance and human supervision.
References
1. Scientific journal publishes AI-generated rat with gigantic penis in worrying incident https://www.vice.com/en/article/scientific-journal-frontiers-publishes-ai-generated-rat-with-gigantic-penis-in-worrying-incident/
2. AI watching AI: Dangerous errors in digital pathology caught by UCLA system https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/dangerous-AI-errors-digital-pathology-caught-ucla-artificial-intelligence
