Q: Can I put a figure or a photo from other published papers into my manuscript?
Sometimes we need to put a figure from a published material into our manuscript. Can we do that? If yes, what should we do before publishing the manuscript?
It is acceptable to use figures or photos from published manuscripts so long as you 1) cite the source in your paper and 2) obtain the necessary permissions, if required. As a rule all figures, tables, and photos must be cited. In terms of getting permissions, this usually depends on the policies of the journal in which the paper containing the figure/photo is published. Some journals require that authors seek permission before using images from studies they have published, so before using the figure in question, I suggest checking with the journal (that has published the figure) whether you need to acquire their permission.
You may find the following resources useful:
- Is journal permission required for reproducing a figure?
- When citing a figure, can I remove the unnecessary part?
- Tips on effective use of tables and figures in research papers
All the best with your submission!
