Clear Presentation
Figures and tables should support the scholarly argument, not decorate the manuscript. Every visual item must be necessary, readable, numbered and cited in the text.
Author Guidance & Rights Transparency
Figure, Table and Permission Guidelines
Official guidance from UnivColl Publications for preparing accurate, ethical, permission-ready and publication-quality figures, tables, captions, source notes and supplementary visual material.
Policy Purpose
Clear Visual Evidence, Responsible Reuse and Permission-Ready Publishing
Figures and tables are part of the scholarly record. They should help readers understand evidence, interpretation, methods, results, concepts or data without confusion, copyright risk or misleading presentation.
These guidelines apply to manuscripts, journal articles, book chapters, edited volumes, conference proceedings and supplementary material submitted to or published through UnivColl Publications.
At a Glance
- Page Type Author Guidance
- Applies To Figures, Tables, Images & Permissions
- Publisher UnivColl Publications
- Last Updated 27 June 2026
Rights Transparency
Authors must confirm whether each figure or table is original, adapted, reproduced, licensed, public domain or used with permission.
Image Integrity
Images must not be manipulated in a misleading way. Adjustments should be applied carefully and should not alter the interpretation of data or evidence.
Publication Readiness
Captions, source notes, permissions, file names, resolution and supplementary information should be complete before editorial processing begins.
Scope of the Guidelines
Applicable Across Journals, Books, Chapters and Proceedings
The same core principles apply whether a visual item is part of an original research article, review article, conceptual paper, academic book chapter, edited volume or conference proceeding.
Research Articles
Charts, graphs, maps, photographs, micrographs, clinical images, conceptual models, diagrams and tables submitted with journal manuscripts.
Book Chapters
Tables, illustrations, screenshots, educational diagrams, flow charts and adapted content used in scholarly chapters or edited volumes.
Conference Proceedings
Visual abstracts, technical tables, experimental images, survey summaries and presentation-derived figures prepared for proceedings publication.
Supplementary Material
Appendices, data tables, extended figures, questionnaires, instruments and files that support the published record.
Figure Preparation
Figures Must Be Accurate, Readable and Publication-Ready
A figure may present evidence, analysis, comparison, process, model, map, photograph, chart, diagram or conceptual framework. It must be clear enough for editorial review, peer review, production and long-term reader use.
Numbering and Citation
Number figures sequentially as Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and so on. Each figure must be mentioned in the main text in the same logical order.
Caption Quality
Write a concise caption that explains what the figure shows. Define abbreviations, symbols, scale bars, group labels and image panels where applicable.
File Quality
Submit clear, high-resolution files. Avoid blurred, pixelated, stretched, compressed or screenshot-based figures unless a screenshot is the object of analysis.
Panel Labels
For multi-panel figures, label panels consistently as A, B, C or a similar system, and explain each panel in the caption.
Colour and Accessibility
Use colour responsibly. Ensure charts, maps and diagrams remain understandable when printed, viewed on different screens or read by colour-blind readers.
Source and Permission
If a figure is reproduced, adapted or redrawn from another source, include a source note and confirm permission or licence status before submission.
Table Preparation
Tables Should Be Clear, Editable and Verifiable
Tables help readers review data, comparison, classification, results or evidence efficiently. They should be simple, accurate and consistent with the manuscript text.
Editable Tables
Prepare tables as editable text/table objects whenever possible. Do not submit tables as images unless the journal or publisher specifically allows it.
Simple Structure
Use clear rows and columns. Avoid unnecessary shading, decorative borders, merged cells, excessive decimal places and complex formatting that reduces readability.
Numbering and Title
Number tables sequentially as Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and so on. Provide a short, descriptive title for each table.
Notes and Abbreviations
Explain abbreviations, symbols, units, statistical indicators and special conditions in table notes. Readers should understand the table without guessing.
Data Consistency
Ensure numbers, percentages, totals, units and labels match the main text, abstract, results section and supplementary data.
Large Tables
Very large tables may be moved to supplementary material if they interrupt reading flow. The main article should contain only essential tables.
Permission and Credit Lines
Authors Must Identify the Rights Status of Each Visual Item
Proper credit lines protect authors, readers, copyright holders and the publisher. A citation alone may not be enough when material is reproduced or adapted.
Original Material
State that the figure or table was created by the author(s), based on original research, analysis or interpretation.
Suggested note: Source: Author(s).
Adapted Material
Cite the original source and confirm whether the licence permits adaptation. If permission is required, obtain written permission before publication.
Suggested note: Adapted from [source], with permission/licence details.
Reproduced Material
Obtain permission from the copyright holder unless the source licence clearly allows reproduction for the intended use.
Suggested note: Reproduced from [source], with permission from [rights holder].
Creative Commons Material
Use only in accordance with the exact licence terms. Attribute the creator, source, licence and changes made where required.
Suggested note: © Creator, title/source, licence, changes if any.
Public Domain Material
Document the public domain status and cite the source. Public availability on the internet does not automatically mean public domain.
Suggested note: Source: [archive/website/database], public domain status verified.
Institutional or Government Material
Check the terms of use. Some government or institutional materials require attribution, permission or restrictions on commercial/open access reuse.
Suggested note: Source: [institution/department], used under stated terms/permission.
Image Integrity
Visual Material Must Not Mislead Readers or Reviewers
Authors are responsible for the integrity of images, graphs, charts, photographs and visual evidence. Visual adjustments must not change the meaning, measurement, interpretation or reliability of the scholarly record.
Editors may ask for original files, underlying data, image history or clarification where visual reliability is unclear.
Integrity Checklist
- ✓ Do not add, remove, move, duplicate, selectively enhance or conceal any feature in an image that changes the scholarly meaning.
- ✓ Do not splice images or combine panels in a way that hides the actual experimental, field, clinical or documentary context.
- ✓ Adjustments to brightness, contrast, colour balance or sharpness should be applied to the whole image and should not misrepresent the underlying evidence.
- ✓ Retain original image files and underlying data, because editors or reviewers may request them during assessment.
- ✓ For microscopy, radiology, clinical, forensic, field or laboratory images, include scale bars, labels and relevant method details where appropriate.
- ✓ Declare any software-based enhancement, AI-assisted image generation, AI-assisted editing or reconstruction where it materially affects the figure.
Privacy, Consent and Sensitive Material
Extra Care Is Required for People, Patients and Private Data
Authors must protect privacy and confidentiality when figures, screenshots, photographs, case material, interviews or tables contain identifiable or sensitive information.
Identifiable People
Photographs, case images, videos, interviews, scans or screenshots that identify a person may require written consent before publication.
Clinical and Sensitive Images
Remove unnecessary identifiers and include ethics approval or consent statements where required by law, institution, journal or research design.
Minors and Vulnerable Groups
Use additional caution for children, vulnerable participants, protected groups or sensitive community data. Consent and privacy protection must be carefully documented.
Screenshots and Social Media
Screenshots from websites, apps, social media, learning platforms or private communication may involve copyright, privacy and consent considerations.
Author Submission Checklist
Before Submission, Authors Should Confirm These Points
This checklist is intended to reduce editorial delays and prevent copyright, formatting, image-integrity or permission problems during review and production.
- ✓ Every figure and table is cited in the manuscript text in correct order.
- ✓ Captions and titles are complete, accurate and grammatically clear.
- ✓ Tables are editable and figures are high quality enough for publication.
- ✓ All borrowed, adapted, reproduced or redrawn material has source information.
- ✓ Required permission letters, licence records or public-domain evidence are available.
- ✓ Any identifiable person, patient, student, participant or private data has appropriate consent or anonymisation.
- ✓ Image adjustments do not mislead readers and original files can be supplied if requested.
- ✓ Supplementary files are named clearly and referenced from the manuscript where applicable.
Editorial and Production Review
How Figure, Table and Permission Issues May Be Checked
Figure and table review is not only a design matter. It is connected with research integrity, rights management, privacy protection and long-term metadata quality.
Initial Screening
The editorial office may check whether figures and tables are cited, numbered, readable and accompanied by captions and source notes.
Rights Review
Where third-party material is used, authors may be asked to provide permission evidence, licence details or replacement original material.
Ethics Review
Images involving people, clinical material, sensitive data, institutional records or identifiable details may require additional ethics or consent information.
Production Review
Before publication, the production team may request separate figure files, revised captions, corrected table formatting or clearer credit lines.
Caption and Credit Line Templates
Sample Wording Authors May Adapt
These are general examples only. The final wording should match the journal, licence, permission letter, source terms and publication type.
Figure 1. Title of the figure. Source: Author(s).
Figure 2. Title of the adapted figure. Adapted from [Author/Organisation, Year], used under [licence/permission details].
Figure 3. Title of the reproduced figure. Reproduced from [source], with permission from [copyright holder].
Table 1. Title of the table. Note: Define abbreviations and units. Source: Author analysis / dataset / cited source.
Common Problems and Better Practice
Avoid These Frequent Figure, Table and Permission Issues
Many publication delays can be prevented when authors prepare visual material carefully before initial submission.
Using images copied from the internet without permission
Better practice: Use original visuals, licensed material, public-domain sources with evidence or obtain written permission from the rights holder.
Submitting screenshots of tables
Better practice: Recreate tables as editable text unless the screenshot itself is the research object and permission/privacy issues are resolved.
Missing source notes
Better practice: Add clear source information below each borrowed or adapted figure/table and include the source in the reference list where appropriate.
Low-resolution figures
Better practice: Upload separate high-quality figure files and avoid repeated compression, stretching or copying from presentation slides.
Inconsistent numbers between table and text
Better practice: Check all values, percentages, totals, sample sizes and units against the methods, results, abstract and conclusion.
Unclear adapted/reproduced status
Better practice: State whether the material is original, adapted, redrawn, reproduced, licensed or used with permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Figure, Table and Permission FAQ
Practical answers for authors preparing permission-ready scholarly manuscripts.
Do authors need permission for every figure or table?
Permission is not usually needed for fully original figures or tables created by the authors from their own work. Permission or licence verification may be required for reproduced, adapted, redrawn or third-party material.
Can authors use images from Google Images or websites?
Images found online are not automatically free to reuse. Authors should use original images, properly licensed material, public-domain material with evidence or written permission from the copyright holder.
Can a table from another article be rewritten and used?
If a table is substantially based on another source, authors should cite the source and check whether permission is required. Simple citation may not be enough for close reproduction or adaptation.
What happens if permission is missing?
The editorial or production team may ask the author to provide permission, replace the material, revise the caption or remove the figure/table before publication.
Can AI-generated images be used in a scholarly manuscript?
AI-generated or AI-edited images may be subject to journal, legal, ethical and disciplinary restrictions. Authors should disclose AI use, avoid misleading visuals and confirm that no rights, privacy or data-integrity issues are created.
Author Responsibility Notice
Permission and Accuracy Are Author Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for ensuring that figures, tables, images, screenshots, maps, diagrams, datasets, instruments and supplementary files do not infringe copyright, violate privacy, misrepresent evidence or create ethical concerns. UnivColl Publications may request clarification, revisions, permission evidence or replacement material before publication.
Resource Pathway
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This resource page is connected with the wider UnivColl Publications ecosystem so that authors, editors, reviewers, institutions, readers and conference organizers can move from guidance to official action without confusion.
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Author Support
Resource guidance is intended to help users prepare complete, accurate and policy-aware submissions.
Publication Ethics
Guidance is aligned with transparent scholarly publishing practice and responsible communication.
Metadata Ready
Users are encouraged to provide clear titles, identifiers, author details, references and supporting files.
No Guarantee Claims
Use of resources does not guarantee acceptance, indexing, DOI registration, citation, ranking or third-party database listing.
Responsible References
Use official scholarly identifiers and policy references carefully
External references are provided for general scholarly context. Third-party organizations independently control their own standards, services, records and platforms. UnivColl Publications does not claim automatic indexing, membership, endorsement or database inclusion.