Image Generation Module
Create and refine scientific figures from text, sketches, references, and existing drafts.
What This Module Does
Image Generation is where you create the figure. It helps turn a scientific idea into a visual draft, then gives you ways to revise that draft without starting over every time.
Use this module when you want to:
- create a figure from a written description;
- use a sketch or reference image to guide layout and style;
- improve an existing figure draft;
- correct labels or terminology;
- redraw one confusing area;
- make the image clearer before export or vectorization.
Starting Points
Text to Figure
Describe the scientific story, layout, labels, and intended use. This is the fastest way to create a new graphical abstract, mechanism diagram, or workflow.
Sketch to Figure
Use a rough drawing when the structure matters more than visual polish. A sketch can communicate panel order, arrows, and object placement.
Reference to Figure
Add examples, screenshots, or previous drafts when you want to preserve a visual direction, level of detail, or composition.
Figure Refinement
Start from an existing draft and ask FigRay to simplify, clean, relabel, or clarify it.
Best Fit
| Figure type | What to provide |
|---|---|
| Graphical abstract | Study summary, desired stage order, main labels. |
| Mechanism diagram | Key actors, interactions, arrows, labels, and direction. |
| Protocol schematic | Step list, order, grouping, and output format. |
| Slide figure | Main message, audience, and desired level of detail. |
| Existing draft cleanup | Current image plus what should stay and what should change. |
Basic Workflow
- Describe the figure goal in one or two sentences.
- Specify layout, panels, flow direction, and required labels.
- Add sketches or reference images when visual guidance matters.
- Generate the first draft.
- Review scientific accuracy, composition, and text.
- Use follow-up instructions for global revisions.
- Use focused edits for labels, local regions, clutter, and clarity.
- Export directly, or move to Vectorization when the figure is close to final.
Prompt Structure
Create a [figure type] about [scientific subject].
Use [layout] with [number of stages or panels].
Include labels: [required labels].
Style: [visual style and background].
Use case: [paper, review, slide, grant, poster, protocol].
Avoid: [unwanted details].Revision Strategy
After the first draft, make smaller requests. It is usually better to revise one kind of issue at a time.
| Goal | Better instruction |
|---|---|
| Preserve layout | "Keep the same three-panel layout, but make the icons cleaner." |
| Correct text | "Replace 'T cell activation' with 'T cell priming'." |
| Reduce clutter | "Remove decorative particles and keep only the pathway components." |
| Clarify flow | "Make arrows larger and ensure the sequence moves left to right." |
| Fix one area | "Redraw this receptor as a clean membrane receptor icon." |
When to Regenerate
Regenerate when the overall concept, composition, or scientific story is wrong. Revise when the figure is close but needs style, label, clarity, or local corrections. Move to Vectorization when the remaining work is precise cleanup, alignment, element movement, or export.
Review scientific accuracy
AI-generated figures can look polished even when a label, arrow, or relationship is wrong. Always review scientific accuracy before sharing.