Tutorials

Complete tutorials

These tutorials use the normal FigureLoom editor and are written so they can be followed on desktop, tablet, or phone.

Before a large tutorial, create a new project and download a backup after the first major milestone.

Tutorial 1: Create an editable scientific pathway

This walkthrough builds a left-to-right signaling pathway with anchored connectors and a legend.

Plan the pathway

Write down:

• Starting signal
• Receptor or first process
• Intermediate stages
• Final response
• Activating relationships
• Inhibitory relationships
• Compartments

Keep the first version small. A six-stage pathway is easier to clean up than a twenty-stage pathway generated all at once.

Set up the page

1. Create a new project.
2. Name it Signaling pathway tutorial.
3. Choose a wide screen or presentation page.
4. Turn on the grid and snapping.
5. Choose a light background with strong text contrast.

Add compartments

1. Add a large rounded rectangle for the cell or system boundary.
2. Set a light fill and a subtle stroke.
3. Send it to the back.
4. Lock the layer.
5. Add a smaller region if the pathway needs a nucleus, membrane, reactor, or another compartment.

Add the pathway nodes

1. Open Illustrations.
2. Search for the main biological or environmental objects.
3. Insert the best matches.
4. Add rounded rectangles for concepts that do not need artwork.
5. Put the nodes in approximate left-to-right order.
6. Add short labels.

Use one visual language. Do not mix several unrelated illustration styles unless the scientific distinction needs it.

Connect the nodes

1. Choose an anchored connector.
2. Connect the first object to the second.
3. Repeat through the pathway.
4. Use arrowheads for direction.
5. Use a different line ending or style for inhibition.
6. Move two nodes to confirm that connectors follow them.

Align the layout

1. Select the main nodes.
2. Align their vertical centers.
3. Put the first and last nodes in the correct positions.
4. Distribute the nodes horizontally.
5. Adjust labels so they do not cross connectors.

Add a legend

Create a small legend explaining:

• Activation arrow
• Inhibition line
• Compartments
• Color meanings
• Abbreviations

Add references and alt text

1. Open Review and references.
2. Check automatically collected asset sources.
3. Add missing source details.
4. Write short alt text describing the pathway direction and conclusion.
5. Add a long description listing the major stages.

Check and export

1. Run contrast and small-text checks.
2. Check for broken connectors.
3. Download a .figureloom backup.
4. Export SVG.
5. Open the SVG in another browser.

Tutorial 2: Build a scientific poster

This walkthrough creates a large multi-section poster.

Choose the final size first

1. Create a new project.
2. Choose A0, A1, or the exact custom printer dimensions.
3. Choose portrait or landscape.
4. Confirm the printer's bleed and margin requirements separately.

Build the grid

1. Turn on the physical grid.
2. Set margins using guides or locked background objects.
3. Choose two, three, or four content columns.
4. Add equal-width section frames.
5. Lock the frames after alignment.

Add the header

Include:

• Poster title
• Author names
• Affiliations
• Contact or QR code if appropriate
• Institutional logos with correct permissions

Keep the title readable from a distance. Do not let logos dominate the research content.

Create section components

1. Build one section header with a title, background shape, and spacing.
2. Save it as a component.
3. Insert instances for Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References.
4. Update the component if the header style changes.

Add figures and charts

• Import validated images.
• Add scale bars from source calibration.
• Create editable charts from prepared data.
• Use consistent panel labels.
• Keep chart text large enough for the physical poster size.

Add body text

Use short paragraphs and bullets. A poster is not a manuscript page.

Check line length and spacing. Keep body text consistent across sections.

Add references and acknowledgements

Use a compact reference section and include required asset attribution.

Accessibility and print check

1. Preview in grayscale.
2. Preview common color-vision differences.
3. Check contrast.
4. Run the small-text warning.
5. Zoom out until the whole poster fits and check visual hierarchy.
6. Zoom in and inspect image quality.

Export the poster

1. Download a project backup.
2. Export physical-size SVG when the printer accepts it.
3. Export print PNG if a raster file is required.
4. Open the export in a separate application.
5. Confirm dimensions before sending it to the printer.

Tutorial 3: Make a chart from spreadsheet data

This walkthrough creates an editable chart from a small table.

Prepare the data

Use a table like this:

Group	Mean	SD
Control	4.2	0.8
Treatment A	6.1	1.0
Treatment B	7.4	0.9

Keep units out of numeric cells. Put units in headers or axis labels.

Insert the chart

1. Copy the spreadsheet cells.
2. Open Data or Add chart.
3. Paste the table.
4. Confirm the delimiter and headers.
5. Choose a bar chart.
6. Insert it.

Edit the chart

1. Add a clear y-axis title with units.
2. Set the group order.
3. Choose accessible colors.
4. Add error-bar meaning to the caption or legend.
5. Increase text size for the final figure dimensions.

Reopen the data

Double-click the chart and change one value. Confirm that the chart updates.

Undo the test or restore the correct value.

Add statistical annotation

Use a significance bracket only when the statistical comparison has been calculated elsewhere.

Add the exact adjusted p value when appropriate instead of relying only on stars.

Validate

Compare every displayed value with the source data. FigureLoom is drawing the chart, not validating the analysis.

Export

Download the project backup and export SVG or PNG. Inspect the axes and labels in the final file.

Tutorial 4: Prepare a multi-panel journal figure

This walkthrough creates a four-panel figure for manuscript submission.

Set the page size

1. Check the current journal instructions.
2. Choose a generic single-column or double-column preset close to the required size.
3. Enter exact custom dimensions when necessary.
4. Choose a white or transparent background according to the submission rules.

Create panel frames

1. Add four equal rectangles in a two-by-two arrangement.
2. Align the left and right columns.
3. Align the top and bottom rows.
4. Distribute spacing equally.
5. Lock the frames or use them as temporary guides.

Insert content

• Panel A: microscopy image
• Panel B: chart
• Panel C: pathway diagram
• Panel D: summary table or second chart

Keep internal margins consistent.

Add panel labels

1. Add A, B, C, and D.
2. Use the same font and size.
3. Put them in the same relative position.
4. Keep them above images and away from important content.

Standardize typography

Select labels and apply a project font. Use consistent sizes for axes, legends, annotations, and panel titles.

Standardize color

Use one shared palette. Check color-vision previews and grayscale.

Add metadata

• Alt text for the whole figure
• Long description for panel content
• Asset references
• Image-source notes
• Comments for unresolved issues

Run readiness checks

Resolve:

• Off-canvas objects
• Small text
• Missing alt text
• Broken connectors
• Unresolved comments
• Incomplete references

Export

1. Create a named checkpoint called Submission layout.
2. Download a project backup.
3. Export SVG and the required raster format.
4. Open the files outside FigureLoom.
5. Compare physical dimensions with the journal requirements.

Tutorial 5: Build a microscopy figure

Prepare source images

Complete scientific image processing in the correct analysis software. Keep the raw data, processing steps, and calibration outside FigureLoom.

Export panel images with consistent dimensions and color handling.

Create the layout

1. Choose a page size.
2. Use the Advanced Science microscopy starter or create a grid manually.
3. Import each channel or condition image.
4. Set equal image dimensions.
5. Align and distribute the images.

Add labels

Include:

• Channel names
• Condition names
• Time or dose
• Merged-image label
• Panel letters

Add scale bars

Use the calibration from the source image software.

1. Add a scale-bar object.
2. Set its visual length to match the calibrated value.
3. Label the unit.
4. Use the same visual style across comparable panels.

FigureLoom does not infer scientific scale from the image automatically.

Check image integrity

Confirm that:

• Aspect ratios are unchanged.
• Crops are scientifically appropriate.
• Comparable panels use comparable processing.
• No image is accidentally stretched.
• Scale bars remain correct after resizing.

Accessibility

Color-channel figures can be difficult to distinguish. Add channel labels, consider alternative palettes, and include a descriptive caption.

Export

Use print PNG or SVG with embedded raster images according to the journal workflow. Inspect the final image at 100 percent.

Tutorial 6: Make a study-site locator map

Prepare location information

Collect verified coordinates and the required geographic extent.

Do not expose sensitive ecological, archaeological, or participant locations without approval.

Create the base map

1. Open Map Studio.
2. Choose world, regional, or country view.
3. Select the relevant area.
4. Set land, border, and water styling.

Add study sites

1. Add each point.
2. Use short site labels.
3. Choose marker shapes or colors.
4. Add a legend when marker styles have meaning.

Add an inset

For a small study area, create a broad locator map and a detailed local map on the same page.

Use a connecting frame or callout to show the relationship.

Import GeoJSON

When boundaries or sampling regions are available as GeoJSON:

1. Simplify excessive geometry in GIS software if needed.
2. Import the file.
3. Inspect every feature.
4. Style polygons and lines.
5. Add labels manually when automatic labels are crowded.

Validate

Check coordinates, boundary version, labels, political-context requirements, and source attribution.

Tutorial 7: Review and collaborate on a shared project

Owner setup

1. Sign in.
2. Open the local project.
3. Download a backup.
4. Save an encrypted cloud copy.
5. Create a named checkpoint.

Invite a reviewer

1. Open collaboration controls.
2. Enter the reviewer's exact email.
3. Choose Reviewer.
4. Send the FigureLoom link separately when needed.

Alternatively, create an expiring reviewer link.

Reviewer workflow

1. Sign in with the invited email.
2. Open the shared project.
3. Add comments to pages or objects.
4. Avoid editing when the role is review-only.
5. Resolve nothing unless the team has agreed on that workflow.

Editor workflow

1. Create a new checkpoint before applying changes.
2. Work through comments.
3. Resolve each addressed comment.
4. Pause when a remote update warning appears.
5. Choose Apply remote update or Keep mine deliberately.

Final owner review

1. Review remaining comments.
2. Compare with the checkpoint.
3. Run readiness checks.
4. Revoke unused share links.
5. Download the final project backup.
6. Export the submission files.

Tutorial 8: Recover or move a project

Move to another device

1. Download the .figureloom project on the original device.
2. Transfer it through a trusted method.
3. Open FigureLoom on the new device.
4. Import the file.
5. Check pages, images, fonts, charts, and equations.
6. Reimport local fonts when needed.
7. Download a fresh backup.

Recover after a crash

1. Reopen FigureLoom.
2. Check the project gallery.
3. Open recovery snapshots.
4. Restore the newest known-good state as a separate project.
5. Compare it with the current project.
6. Keep both until the recovery is confirmed.
7. Download a new backup.

Recover from a bad import

1. Stop editing.
2. Download the current state if possible.
3. Restore the checkpoint or snapshot created before import.
4. Simplify the source file.
5. Import into a new project.
6. Copy only the verified result into the main project.

After every tutorial

Use this final routine:

1. Rename the project clearly.
2. Run checks.
3. Review references.
4. Add accessibility descriptions.
5. Download a .figureloom backup.
6. Export the required format.
7. Open the export outside FigureLoom.