Reviewed 2026-10-10
Separate a conceptual diagram from a data figure
A workflow, apparatus overview or graphical summary can explain an idea without reporting a measurement. State that purpose in the brief and caption. List the relationships the reader should understand, such as the order of sample preparation, measurement and review.
A measured curve must come from the dataset and its analysis. Microscopy, gel bands and experimental observations must come from the actual experiment. Keep those source files and their processing history separate from the illustration. If exact dimensions or geometry carry scientific meaning, construct them in an appropriate drawing or plotting tool.
Write a structured scientific-figure prompt
Use this structure: purpose; entities or stages; allowed connections; exact labels; layout; styling; excluded content. For a four-stage workflow, place sample preparation, measurement, analysis and review in that order, with arrows only between adjacent stages. Ask for consistent shapes and room for a caption.
Define ambiguous relationships explicitly. State whether an arrow means sequence, transport, activation or inhibition, and use the convention accepted in your field. If the subject needs a legend, list its symbols and meanings. Ask for a clean conceptual draft without invented measurements, error bars or microscopic textures.
Audit every label and arrow manually
Create a label list from verified terminology before generating. Match each finished label against that list character by character, including Greek letters, superscripts, units and capitalization. Check that every arrow starts and ends at the intended entity and that its direction communicates the right relationship.
Then inspect for added structures, omitted steps and visual cues that imply unsupported scale or evidence. A subject expert should approve the content before style changes. Replace labels in an editable text layer and repeat the review at the planned print or slide size; a correct word that becomes unreadable still needs correction.
Combine real plots with an approved schematic
Export real-data plots from the analysis tool with clear axes, units and the appropriate uncertainty representation. Assemble them with the reviewed schematic in a layout tool, retaining each original source. Give panels stable letters and use the caption to state what each panel represents.
Keep line widths, colors and label sizes consistent without changing the meaning of data. Do not request a generated redraw of a plot that would alter points or error bars. For a presentation, inspect it from a normal reading distance; for a paper, inspect a proof at its final column width.
Retain an editable source and a review record
Save the brief, selected model, source references, illustration draft and final layout together. Note which labels were added manually and who reviewed the scientific relationships. Use a caption that identifies the conceptual role of the illustration rather than implying an observation.
Before submission, check the destination's current image and disclosure requirements. A generated draft is not automatically publication-ready. Sign in to generate with Nano Banana 2.1 and review the credit quote before submission.
Questions before you start
Can Nano Banana create real scientific data?
An image model cannot supply experimental observations. Use your actual data and validated analytical tools for measurements and plots; use this recipe for conceptual explanation.
How do I make scientific labels reliable?
Build a verified label list, compare every character, check units and arrow relationships, and typeset final labels manually in an editable layer. Have a subject expert review the completed figure.
Can I submit a generated schematic to a journal?
Check that journal's current requirements, verify the science and preserve the editable source and disclosure record. This guide does not guarantee acceptance or publication readiness.