# Multi-panel figure maker for journals

> Make a multi-panel figure for a journal: images in a grid or mixed layout at Nature, Cell, PNAS or Elsevier width, panel letters, 300–1200 dpi PNG. Free.

URL: https://www.labcanvas.com/tools/figure-panel-maker

Add your images, choose a layout (2 × 2, 1 × 3, five panels as 2 + 3, a large panel with two small ones and more), set the journal column width and the panel letters, and export the multi-panel figure as a PNG at 300, 600 or 1200 dpi that records its resolution. Everything happens in your browser.

## Quick answer

- **What it does:** Combines your images into a multi-panel figure at a journal column width (Nature, Cell, PNAS, Elsevier) with panel letters, exported as a 300, 600 or 1200 dpi PNG.
- **Formula:** Panel width = (figure width − gaps) ÷ columns; panel height = panel width ÷ aspect ratio; pixels = mm ÷ 25.4 × DPI.
- **Example:** A 183 mm Nature figure with a 2 × 2 layout, 4:3 panels and 2 mm gaps has 90.5 × 67.9 mm panels, a 183 × 138 mm figure and 2161 × 1627 px at 300 dpi.

Free, in the browser, no account needed. Updated 2026-11-08.

## Features

- 13 layouts, including 5-panel and mixed sizes
- Journal column widths (Nature, Cell, PNAS, Elsevier)
- Panel letters a/A/(a)/(A) at a set point size
- Fit whole images or fill and crop
- 300, 600 or 1200 dpi PNG with DPI recorded

## How to use it

1. **Add images**: Drop your panels in the order they should appear; reorder them with the arrows.
2. **Choose a layout and size**: Pick a layout, the panel shape and a journal width (or a custom width in millimetres) and the gap between panels.
3. **Label and export**: Choose the letter style and size, then download the PNG at the resolution the journal asks for.

## At a glance

| | |
| --- | --- |
| Input | Your panel images |
| Layouts | 13, including 5-panel and mixed sizes |
| Widths | Journal column widths (Nature, Cell, PNAS, Elsevier) |
| Panel letters | a, A, (a) or (A) at a set point size |
| Output | PNG at 300, 600 or 1200 dpi with the DPI recorded; a 183 mm figure at 300 dpi is 2,161 pixels wide |

## How it works

The figure is laid out in millimetres: the width comes from the journal preset, each panel’s height from the panel shape, and the gaps are added between them. On export the layout is drawn at \(\mathrm{DPI} \div 25.4\) pixels per millimetre, so a 183 mm figure at 300 dpi is 2,161 pixels wide. Panel letters are sized in points (\(1\ \mathrm{pt} = 1/72\) inch) so they print at the size journals specify, typically 8–12 pt.

## Worked examples: journal figure sizes in millimetres and pixels

**Nature, double column.** A 183 mm figure with a 2 × 2 layout, 4:3 panels and 2 mm gaps has panels 90.5 mm wide and 67.9 mm high, so the figure is 183 × 138 mm; at 300 dpi that is 2,161 × 1,627 px.

**Cell Press, single column.** An 85 mm figure with three square panels in a row and 2 mm gaps: each panel is \((85 - 2 \times 2) / 3 = 27\ \mathrm{mm}\), so the figure is 85 × 27 mm. At 600 dpi (for line art and text) that is \(85 / 25.4 \times 600 = 2{,}008\) px by \(27 / 25.4 \times 600 = 638\) px.

**By hand:**

$$\text{panel width} = \frac{\begin{array}{c} \text{figure width} \\ -\ \text{gaps between columns} \end{array}}{\text{columns}}$$

$$\text{panel height} = \frac{\text{panel width}}{\text{aspect ratio}}$$

$$\text{pixels} = \frac{\text{millimetres}}{25.4} \times \mathrm{DPI}$$

Set the export to the journal width before you add text, so the font sizes you choose are the printed sizes.

## Questions

### How do I combine images into one figure for a paper?

Choose the journal’s column width, a grid (for example 2 × 2) and the panel shape, drop your images into the panels, add panel letters, and export at 300 dpi for photos or 600 dpi for line art. Keep every panel at the same scale and crop rather than stretch images.

### How many pixels is a 300 dpi figure?

\(\text{Pixels} = \text{millimetres} / 25.4 \times \mathrm{DPI}\). An 89 mm single-column figure is 1,051 px wide at 300 dpi and 2,102 px at 600 dpi; a 183 mm double-column figure is 2,161 px at 300 dpi.

### What size should a journal figure be?

Use the journal’s column width: for example Nature 89 mm (single) or 183 mm (double), Cell Press 85, 114 or 174 mm, Elsevier 90, 140 or 190 mm. Check the author guidelines for the maximum height; our <a href="/blog/journal-figure-size-guide">journal figure size guide</a> lists 38 journals.

### What resolution do journals need?

Typically 300 dpi for photographs, 600 dpi for combinations of images and text, and 1,000–1,200 dpi for line art, all at the final printed size.

### Should panel letters be uppercase or lowercase?

It depends on the journal: Nature journals use bold lowercase (a, b, c), Cell Press and many others use uppercase (A, B, C). Choose the style in the panel letters menu.

### How do I make a 5-panel figure?

Choose the “2 above + 3 below” or “3 above + 2 below” layout and add five images in panel order. Every panel keeps the panel shape you choose, so the row of two has larger panels than the row of three, and the letters a to e follow the style you pick.

### Are my images uploaded?

No. They are combined in your browser and never sent to a server.

### Can I edit the figure further?

Yes. For text, arrows, scale bars and editable vector panels, use the LabCanvas figure editor (free to start; downloads are part of LabCanvas Pro) and export TIFF, PDF or SVG at the journal’s size.