Once your work has been accepted for publication, the Annals editorial team will invite you to submit an optional visual abstract. A visual abstract is a one-image teaser for your paper. The goal of a visual abstract is to convey the key takeaways of your work clearly and succinctly using visual imagery and concise texts.

This medium is increasingly used by scholars, and publishers as a gateway to research, allowing potential readers to browse and decide to take a deeper dive into your work. A quick look at #VisualAbstract on Twitter or at the Annals examples below will give you a feel for a range of approaches and disciplines adopting visual abstracts.

Once submitted, the Annals will review and make any necessary changes to meet our accesibility and visual standards. Final visual abstracts will be shared along with a link to your publication once the issue is available online. You and your team, as well as your institutions, are welcome to reuse the visual abstract on your personal and professional web and social media channels. A copy of the visual abstract may appear on the Annals website, including the home page. Questions? Please contact annfammed@umich.edu attn: Noa

How do I make a visual abstract for my work?

Visual abstracts can be created in Powerpoint, using Creative Commons-licensed icons from sources like The Noun Project or using tools like Adobe Illustrator or web-based graphic tools like Canva. Andrew Ibrahim also offers a free online primer with a video to get started. But we welcome your creative interpretations!

Image Specifications

Please submit both a working/editable version and a final image version of your visual abstract. For readability, your graphic should have a clear start and end, preferably "reading" from top to bottom or left to right. Try to reduce distracting and cluttering elements and extraneous text as much as possible.

Image Dimensions: The most Twitter-friendly dimensions is currently at least 1200 x 675 px, with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

File Type: For the working file, submit your Illustrator (.ai), Powerpoint (.ppt or .pptx), Canva (Shared URL), or other editable file. For final image, submit a high resolution (300 dpi) TIFF file if possible. PNG is okay too.