Review References and Accessibility

Review, references, and accessibility

FigureLoom includes review tools for catching layout problems, collecting sources, documenting changes, and making figures easier to understand.

Comments

Comments can be attached to a page or object.

Use comments for:

• Requested changes
• Questions about data or labels
• Missing source information
• Layout decisions
• Coauthor review
• Final checks before submission

A comment can be resolved when the issue is addressed and reopened if it needs more work.

Navigating comments

The review workspace can move to the page or object associated with a comment.

Use descriptive comment text. Fix this is less useful than Increase the y-axis label size and add the unit.

Persistent collaboration comments

In a shared cloud project, authorized users can create persistent encrypted review comments.

Role permissions affect who can comment and who can edit. See Accounts, cloud projects, and collaboration.

References

Reference records can include:

• DOI
• Creator
• Title or source
• URL
• License
• Attribution text
• Notes

References can be added manually or collected from inserted artwork when metadata is available.

Automatic reference collection

When a used asset contains source metadata, FigureLoom can add it to the project reference list.

Automatic collection helps, but it is not a substitute for checking the source. Confirm that:

• The creator is correct.
• The license applies to the version used.
• The required attribution wording is present.
• A stable source URL is included.
• The final publication format satisfies the license.

Downloading references

Use the reference export action to download the collected list.

The output can be used as a starting point for:

• Figure attribution
• Supplementary methods
• Acknowledgements
• Internal asset records

Format the final citations according to the journal or institution.

Named checkpoints

A named checkpoint records a deliberate project state.

Useful names include:

• Before reviewer changes
• Data corrected
• Journal resize
• Final labels
• Submission version

Change highlighting

Comparison tools can highlight added or changed objects between checkpoints.

This is useful for visual review, but it is not a formal version-control system. Keep separate project backups for important milestones.

Overall alt text

Alt text gives a short description of the figure's purpose and main information.

A useful alt text usually answers:

• What kind of figure is this?
• What is being compared or shown?
• What is the main conclusion or structure?

Avoid listing every decorative detail.

Long description

A long description can explain complex structure that does not fit into short alt text.

It can include:

• Panel order
• Axes and variables
• Important trends
• Pathway direction
• Legend meaning
• Spatial arrangement
• Key values

Automatic description draft

FigureLoom can create a starting description from page layers and labels.

Treat it as a draft. Check scientific meaning, reading order, abbreviations, and conclusions manually.

Layer names and accessibility

Descriptive layer names improve the automatic draft and make project review easier.

Use Treatment group label rather than Text 14 when possible.

Contrast check

The contrast check looks for text and color combinations that may be difficult to read.

A warning does not always mean the design is unusable, and a pass does not guarantee accessibility. Inspect the final export at the real display or print size.

Small-text check

Small text can become unreadable after a figure is reduced.

Run the check after choosing the final page dimensions. A font size only has meaning relative to the physical output size.

Grayscale preview

Grayscale preview shows whether groups remain distinguishable without color.

Use it to identify:

• Similar brightness values
• Legends that depend only on hue
• Lines that disappear
• Backgrounds that reduce contrast

Color-vision previews

Available previews can include:

• Protanopia
• Deuteranopia
• Tritanopia

Use these as design aids. Add marker shapes, line styles, labels, or pattern differences when color distinctions become unclear.

Publication readiness check

The readiness check can warn about:

• Unresolved comments
• Missing alt text
• Off-canvas objects
• Small print text
• Broken connectors
• External images
• Incomplete references
• Other export or project issues

The report is not journal certification. Always verify current submission rules.

Downloadable readiness report

Download the report when you need a record of the checks performed or want to share outstanding issues with a collaborator.

Resolve warnings where appropriate, then rerun the check.

Panel labels

Use consistent panel labels such as A, B, C, and D.

Check:

• Position
• Font
• Size
• Capitalization
• Reading order

Panel labels should not rely on color alone.

Legends

A legend should explain symbols, lines, colors, patterns, and abbreviations that are not obvious.

Keep it close enough to the related content and large enough to read at final size.

Scale bars

A scale bar must match the source image and analysis.

FigureLoom can draw and label the bar, but it does not calculate a scientifically valid scale from an image automatically. Use the correct calibration from the original software.

Review workflow

A practical review sequence is:

1. Create a named checkpoint.
2. Run publication checks.
3. Add or collect references.
4. Draft alt text and a long description.
5. Invite reviewers or share an export.
6. Resolve comments.
7. Compare the revised project with the checkpoint.
8. Download a fresh .figureloom backup.
9. Export the final files.
10. Inspect the files outside FigureLoom.

Accessibility checklist

Before final export:

• Text is readable at final size.
• Contrast is sufficient.
• Color is not the only distinction.
• Reading order is logical.
• Alt text explains the purpose.
• Long description covers complex details.
• Legends define symbols and abbreviations.
• Links and references are complete.
• Decorative content does not distract from data.
• The exported file is checked in its final viewer.