How to cite Scientific Figure

Summary

Most journals now ask authors to say when and how AI tools took part in preparing a manuscript, and figures are no exception. The wording below is what we suggest. Copy the line that matches how you used the tool, fill in the placeholders, and keep the last sentence of each: the scientific content of a figure is the authors' responsibility, not the tool's, and reviewers read that sentence.

Nothing here is required by our terms. You may publish a figure made here with or without a credit. The credit line is a courtesy that also tells readers what to check and where the figure came from.

Figure legend credit

One sentence at the end of the legend. Pick the one that fits.

Figure generated from a description, no further editing

Figure created with Scientific Figure (https://scientificfigure.com). Scientific content and labels were reviewed by the authors.

Figure generated, then edited in the canvas or in another program

Figure created with Scientific Figure (https://scientificfigure.com) and edited by the authors. Scientific content and labels were reviewed by the authors.

Figure that carries a publication license

Created with scientificfigure.com (License SF-2026-XXXXXX).

The license number is printed on the certificate issued at export. Anyone can confirm a number at scientificfigure.com/verify; see the publication license page for what the certificate covers.

Chart or plot drawn from the authors' data

Plot prepared with Scientific Figure (https://scientificfigure.com) from the authors' data. Values and axes were checked against the source data by the authors.

Methods statement

For the methods or materials section, where a journal asks how the figures were produced:

Schematic figures (Figs. X–Y) were generated with Scientific Figure (https://scientificfigure.com), an AI figure tool that renders a written description as a scientific illustration. The authors wrote the descriptions, reviewed every label, arrow and structure against the literature, and corrected the output where needed. No experimental data, images or results were generated by the tool.

Cut the last sentence if a plot was drawn from your data, and say instead which figures used your dataset as input.

AI disclosure statement

Many publishers want a separate disclosure, usually at the end of the manuscript or in the cover letter. A line that satisfies the common policies:

During the preparation of this work the authors used Scientific Figure (https://scientificfigure.com) to generate the schematic illustrations in Figures X–Y from written descriptions. The authors reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.

Policies differ on whether an AI tool may be listed as an author (none allow it), whether generated images are allowed at all (a few journals refuse them), and where the disclosure goes. Our survey of the policies, journal by journal, is kept current here: AI-generated figures and journal policy.

Acknowledgements

If you would rather credit the tool once than per figure:

Schematic figures were prepared with Scientific Figure (scientificfigure.com).

Citing the software

For a reference-list entry, in the form the APA and most science journals use for software:

Scientific Figure. (2026). Scientific Figure: AI scientific figure generator [Computer software]. https://scientificfigure.com

BibTeX:

@software{scientificfigure2026,
  title  = {Scientific Figure: AI scientific figure generator},
  author = {{Scientific Figure}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://scientificfigure.com}
}

Use the year you made the figure. There is no version number to cite; the tool is a web service, and the date of access carries that information where a style asks for it.

What not to write

• Do not describe a generated schematic as original data, microscopy or a photograph. It is an illustration.
• Do not list the tool, or the AI model behind it, as an author. No journal permits that.
• Do not quote a claim as checked by the tool. The tool draws what it is told; checking is the authors' job, which is why every line above says so.

Questions

Write to support@scientificfigure.com if a journal asks for wording not covered here, and we will add it.