<h2><strong>Table of Contents</strong></h2>
<ol>
<li class="show"><a href="#GNR2">General Guidelines</a></li>
<li class="show"><a href="#FArc">File Formats</a></li>
<li class="show"><a href="#TaM">Size</a></li>
<li class="show"><a href="#Type1">Types of Image Use</a></li>
</ol>
<h3><a name="GNR2"></a>General Guidelines</h3>
<p data-sourcepos="5:1-5:356">Visual media are an essential part of scientific communication. They can help illustrate complex concepts, communicate data effectively, and make articles more visually engaging. By following the guidelines in this guide, you can ensure that your visual media are of high quality and effectively support your research.</p>
<p data-sourcepos="7:1-7:10"><strong>Guidelines</strong></p>
<ul data-sourcepos="9:1-19:0">
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="9:1-9:216"><strong>Purpose and clarity:</strong> Each visual medium must have a defined purpose. What do you want the reader to understand from the visual medium? Make sure the visual medium is clear, concise, and easy to understand.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="10:1-10:257"><strong>Quality and resolution:</strong> Visual media must be of high quality and resolution. Avoid blurry or pixelated images, as they may hinder interpretation. Make sure important details remain visible even when the image is enlarged.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="11:1-11:363"><strong>Titles and labels:</strong> Each visual medium must be accompanied by a clear and concise title explaining its content. In addition, provide labels, captions, or footnotes that offer additional context and relevant details. These labels should include information on units of measurement, scales, and any data manipulation performed.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="12:1-12:250"><strong>Consistency of style:</strong> Maintain consistency in the style and appearance of visual media throughout the article. Use the same typography and format for titles and labels, and make sure that colors and symbols are consistent.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="13:1-13:280"><strong>References and citations:</strong> If you are using previously published visual media, make sure to provide the appropriate references in the article’s reference section. If necessary, obtain the required permission to reproduce visual media from other sources.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="14:1-14:258"><strong>Scalability:</strong> Make sure that visual media are scalable and legible in different formats, from the printed version to the digital version. This is especially important to ensure an optimal experience in online publications.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="15:1-15:203"><strong>Accepted formats:</strong> Use standard and widely accepted file formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and SVG for vector graphics. Avoid uncommon formats that may make viewing difficult.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="16:1-16:253"><strong>Ethics and manipulation:</strong> Avoid misleading manipulation of visual media. If adjustments are necessary to highlight certain details, make sure these adjustments are clearly indicated and do not change the overall interpretation of the data.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="17:1-17:217"><strong>Copyright and licenses:</strong> Make sure you have the necessary rights to use and reproduce visual media in your article. Use appropriate licenses where necessary and cite sources properly.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Review and feedback:</strong> Request feedback from colleagues and reviewers regarding the clarity and effectiveness of visual media. Use their comments to improve the visual presentation of your article.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a name="FArc"></a>File Formats</h3>
<p>As authors, it is important to understand that different types of graphic works are used in the visual communication of knowledge, including images, charts, vectors, tables, and photographs. These graphic elements play an essential role in presenting data and results. Their use helps simplify complex concepts, summarize detailed information, and strengthen audience understanding. However, to achieve maximum impact, it is essential to understand the different formats available and how to use them properly and effectively. For this purpose, Table 1 has been prepared, which shows the types of files that may be used for our contributions. </p>
<p><em>Table 1. Types of file formats</em></p>
<table style="height: 330px;" border="1px solid black" width="657">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>ID </strong></td>
<td><strong>File extension</strong></td>
<td><strong>Description of use</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1.</td>
<td>TIFF</td>
<td>Used for print media: a) Color or grayscale photographs (halftones): 300 dpi, b) Bitmap line drawings: use a minimum of 1000 dpi, and c) Bitmap line/halftone combinations (color or grayscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>JPG, JPEG</td>
<td>Used for web pages: a) Color or grayscale photographs (halftones): 300 dpi, b) Bitmap line drawings: use a minimum of 1000 dpi, and c) Bitmap line/halftone combinations (color or grayscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>EPS</td>
<td>Recommended for vector images</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>PDF</td>
<td>Recommended for text, notes, documents, and vector-based images. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>DOC, DOCx</td>
<td>Recommended for text, notes, documents, and vector-based images. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>XLS, XLSx</td>
<td>Generally recommended for charts, images, and tables for documents</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>PPT, PPTx</td>
<td>Recommended for annotated images.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3><a name="TaM"></a>Size</h3>
<p>To provide uniformity in the journal’s visual presentation, a set of guidelines has been developed in this regard: </p>
<ul>
<li class="show">Font and text size within the image: 7 pt for titles and 6 pt for subscripts.</li>
<li class="show">All relevant details in the illustration, graph symbols (squares, triangles, circles, etc.), and a diagram key (explaining the symbols used) must be discernible.</li>
<li class="show">
<p class="gv4p8b0 _16jmeqb162 _16jmeqb163 _16jmeqb16q">Image resolution, number of pixels, and print size are mathematically related by the following equation: Pixels = Resolution (DPI) × Print size (in inches). Therefore, it is necessary to maintain this standard: 300 DPI for halftone images (photographs, images, etc.); 500 DPI for combination art (diagrams + images); 1000 DPI for line art (diagrams).</p>
</li>
<li class="show">
<p class="gv4p8b0 _16jmeqb162 _16jmeqb163 _16jmeqb16q">For a one-column image, the image width is 90 mm. For an image centered at half the page, the width is 140 mm. For an image spanning the full page width, the width is 190 mm. </p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><a name="Type1"></a>Types of Image Use</h3>
<h4>File uses</h4>
<ul data-sourcepos="5:1-10:0">
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="5:1-5:149">EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is the preferred format for vector graphics, such as tables, charts, technical drawings, and annotated images.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="6:1-6:247">PDF (Portable Document Format) is an increasingly common file format used for distributing files intended mainly for printing. It can also be used to submit any type of artwork to Elsevier.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="7:1-7:193">TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the recommended file format for bitmap images, such as line art, grayscale, and color halftones that use pixels only.</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="8:1-8:173">JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is an accepted file format for grayscale images and color halftones (photographs, micrographs, etc.).</li>
<li class="show" data-sourcepos="9:1-10:0">MS Office files (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Font type for information within images</h4>
<p>To achieve uniformity in both the printed and digital versions, it is recommended that the font used in visual media be <em>Times or Times New Roman</em>. Failure to comply with this requirement will lead the editorial committee to request correction, which will delay the typesetting process of your contribution. </p>
<h4>File naming</h4>
<p>To allow file identification, it is necessary to name each file separately according to the corresponding order in the text sequence of the contribution. The type, number, and file extension must be identified: </p>
<ol>
<li class="show">FIG1.TIFF = Figure 1 in TIFF format</li>
<li class="show">SCH6.JPEG = Scheme 6 in JPEG format</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
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