Top Software for Scientific Illustrations, Posters, and Figures

Scientific illustration has become a cornerstone of modern research communication. Clear, well-designed visuals help researchers explain complex concepts, improve comprehension, and present findings more effectively in journals, posters, and conferences. Studies show that academic papers incorporating more diagrams and visual content typically achieve higher impact than those relying on text alone. For researchers, PhD students, and broader academic professionals, choosing the right scientific illustration tool can make the difference between a figure that merely looks good and one that simplifies complex data and clearly supports the research narrative while meeting stringent publication standards.

Whether you are creating a graphical abstract, a conference poster, or high-resolution figures for peer-reviewed journals, several factors matter when selecting the best scientific illustration tool. These include access to accurate scientific visuals and icons, vector-based export formats, ease of use, ready-made templates, customization options, and compatibility with existing research workflows.

In this blog, we compare the five best scientific illustration software tools: Mind the Graph, BioRender, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, and Inkscape, to help you choose the right solution for your research and visualization needs.

Quick Comparison: Top Scientific Illustration Tools for Researchers

Feature	Mind the Graph	BioRender	Adobe Illustrator	Affinity Designer	Inkscape
Ready-to-use scientific templates	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Specialized scientific icon library	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Graphical abstract support	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Scientific poster templates	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Drag-and-drop simplicity	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Cloud-based platform	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Team collaboration options	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Beginner-friendly learning curve	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Auto-alignment & visual formatting tools	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Freemium access for students	✅	✅*	❌	❌	✅
Journal-ready export quality (PDF/PNG)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Advanced image editing for custom illustrations	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅

*Free plan available with export limitations.

Try Mind the Graph for free!

Mind the Graph

Mind the Graph is an easy-to-use scientific illustration software designed specifically for researchers, PhD students, and academic teams who need clean, accurate, and publication-ready visuals quickly. As an online scientific illustration program, it is fully browser-based and intuitive, making it ideal for academics without any formal design experience. 

The platform offers an extensive library of professionally created scientific illustrations spanning 80+ research fields, including biology, medicine, chemistry, life sciences, and environmental sciences. It also offers 300+ ready-made templates for graphical abstracts, scientific posters, presentations, and infographics. 

Mind the Graph: Key Features

75,000+ scientifically accurate illustrations across major research domains
Pre-designed templates for graphical abstracts, posters, slides, and infographics
Drag-and-drop visual editor with easy customization and color adjustments
PowerEdit mode for customization of illustrations to match your science
Auto-alignment and simple layout guides for clean, organized figure design
Cloud-based access, allows you to work from any device without installation
Consistent visual style, ensuring cohesive figures across research projects

Pros of Mind the Graph

Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop tool for non-designers
Rich scientific library saves time and ensures accuracy
Ready-to-use templates that cover general usage sizes
Ideal for quick creation of graphical abstracts and posters
Consistent visual style, ideal for multi-figure publications
No fussy setup; multi-device access ensures flexibility
Download and share illustrations as PNG, TIFF or PDF
On-demand custom science illustration by design experts
Paid plans include full authorial rights and transfer option

Cons of Mind the Graph

Not linked to Excel or Google spreadsheets, forcing academics to enter data manually.
Best for 2D scientific illustrations; limited vector editing compared to Illustrator or Affinity
Requires an active internet connection; not built to work online

BioRender

BioRender is one of the most widely used science illustration software tools in the life sciences. It is especially popular among biology and biomedical researchers, who need polished, publication-ready figures without designing illustrations from scratch.

Although not as flexible as Adobe Illustrator for complex vector editing, BioRender is a great platform to help researchers create key pathway diagrams, experimental workflows, and research figures that maintain consistent visual standards, making it a popular choice among labs and academic teams. 

BioRender: Key Features

Large library of biology-focused icons (cell biology, immunology, molecular pathways)
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for rapid creation of scientific illustrations
Pre-built templates for figures, posters, and graphical abstracts
Auto-sizing features that customizes layouts and orientation
High-resolution image export options (up to 600 DPI quality)
Browser-based platform with advanced team collaboration tools

Pros of BioRender

Very easy to use for life science researchers visualizing their science
Accurate, ready-made scientific icons for impressive illustrations
Excellent to build pathway diagrams and experiment workflows
Great for collaboration; popular among lab groups, research teams
Professional, consistent visual style/output across research figures

Cons of BioRender

Limited advanced vector editing tools
Most high-quality exports require paid plans
Less flexible for custom or highly specialized illustrations
Not ideal for disciplines outside life and biomedical sciences

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful vector graphics tool widely used for creating highly customized scientific figures, especially when researchers need full control over shapes, layers, typography, and precise adjustments for publication. Many academics use Adobe Illustrator for science visualization, using it to create complex diagrams, multi-panel figures, or fine-tuned edits for journal publication. This flexibility makes it popular among researchers looking for reliable scientific poster templates; Adobe Illustrator can help to quickly craft posters and conference visuals based on submission guidelines. 

Adobe Illustrator: Key Features

Advanced vector editing with complete control over shapes, lines, and layers
Supports high-resolution SVG, EPS, and PDF formats for scientific publication
Works seamlessly for building custom diagrams and editing imported artwork
Often used to design posters using Adobe Illustrator scientific poster layouts
Integrates well with microscopy images, graphs, and other scientific visuals
Provides users with extensive typography, color, and layout tools for accuracy

Pros of Adobe Illustrator

Good precision and customization for scientific illustrations
Scalable, high-quality vector outputs for journal publication
Ideal for complex, data-heavy figures and multi-panel posters
Works offline and is suitable to use in secure lab environments
Highly versatile scientific illustration tool across disciplines

Cons of Adobe Illustrator

Can be complex with a steep learning curve for beginners
Does not have a built-in scientific icon library or templates
Time-intensive visualization, even when creating routine figures
Subscription-based pricing can be expensive for students

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a powerful alternative to Illustrator for researchers who want advanced vector editing without paying for a subscription. Although it isn’t specifically built as scientific illustration software, it is frequently used by academics to produce precise, scalable diagrams for publication, scientific posters, and conference presentations. Its smooth workflow, offline availability, and flexible vector-raster workspace make it a strong option for researchers comfortable with design tools. 

Affinity Designer: Key Features

Advanced vector editing with precise pen, node, and boolean tools
Seamless switching between vector and raster workspaces
Supports high-resolution PDF, SVG, and EPS exports suitable for journals
Unlimited layers, grouping, and artboards for multi-panel scientific figures
Color consistency tools to help alignment with journal-compliant palettes 
Desktop-based software works seamlessly offline; ideal for labs and institutions

Pros of Affinity Designer

Requires a one-time purchase for use (no subscription)
Powerful vector editing toolkit comparable to Illustrator
Great for precise, fully customizable scientific illustrations
Ideal for large posters and complex multi-panel design layouts
Best for engineering, interdisciplinary researchers creating complex schematics

Cons of Affinity Designer

Does not offer built-in scientific templates or icon libraries
Does not have an online scientific illustration program
Steeper learning curve for new users and non-designers
Limited collaboration features compared to cloud-based tools
Not ideal for quick scientific diagrams or graphical abstracts

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free, open-source vector editor that is widely used by academic looking for full control over research visuals. It is often chosen by researchers looking for a reliable scientific illustration software free of cost. While it isn’t designed specifically to be a scientific illustration software, it can help with creating scalable diagrams, editing vector artwork, and producing figures suitable for journals and conferences.

Inkscape: Key Features

Complete vector editing capabilities (paths, nodes, curves, boolean)
Supports SVG, EPS, and PDF exports suitable for publication
Layer management and grouping for multi-panel scientific figures
Useful for editing graphs, schematics, and imported plotting outputs
Large extension ecosystem allowing for easy customization
Works offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Pros of Inkscape

Completely free to use open-source vector editor
Powerful for detailed editing and custom scientific diagrams
Flexible for engineering, physics, and computational research visuals
Active community and plugin support offers added functionality

Cons of Inkscape

No access to scientific templates or built-in icon libraries
Steeper learning curve than template-based visualization tools
Interface can feel clunky for users compared to other platforms
Limited collaboration features for research visualization
Time-consuming, not ideal for quick posters, graphical abstracts

Try Mind the Graph

Why Mind the Graph Is the Best Scientific Illustration Software

After comparing the leading tools, Mind the Graph stands out as the best scientific illustration software for most researchers because it is built specifically for scientific communication, not general design. It is ideal for researchers, PhD scholars, and academic teams who need quick publication-ready visuals without spending days learning complex design tools. 

What Makes Mind the Graph Better Than Other General-Purpose Tools

Purpose-built for scientists and integrates seamlessly into academic workflows

Extensive library of 75,000+ accurate scientific illustrations across research domains

Expertly designed 300+ ready-to-use templates for graphical abstracts and posters

Intuitive platform with simple drag-and-drop interface for non-designers

Cloud-based platform ensures multi-device accessibility and strong collaboration

Consistent visual styling across figures ensures polished, publication-ready outputs

Powerful editing toolkit for customization of colors, layers, sizes, layout, and more

High-resolution exports that can be shared in PNG, TIFF, PDF and SVG formats

Full publishing rights with transfer options included as part of paid subscription

Access to on-demand custom scientific illustrations by design experts in your field

Mind the Graph goes beyond what other tools offer to better address researcher needs. By eliminating the friction between scientific thinking and visual communication, it empowers researchers to focus on the content of their work, while still producing accurate figures and illustrations that meet the clarity and quality expected by leading journals and conferences. 

Finding the Right Scientific Illustration Software for You

Choosing the best scientific illustration tool depends on your research workflow, design experience, and the type of visuals you create. Template-driven platforms like Mind the Graph and BioRender are ideal for quick, accurate figures with minimal effort. Advanced vector tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, and Inkscape are better suited for highly customized or complex illustrations.

Consider whether you need an online platform or offline software, built-in scientific icon libraries, collaboration features, and how much time you can invest in learning design tools. Ultimately, the right choice is the one that helps you create clear, journal-ready visuals efficiently and accurately.

If you want to simplify the process of creating scientific illustrations and enhance the impact of your research visuals, sign up to Mind the Graph and explore its scientific templates and vast illustration library. It’s one of the easiest ways to elevate your posters, graphical abstracts, and publications so you can communicate your findings effectively and regain time to focus on your research.

Mind the Graph is an easy-to-use visualization platform for researchers and scientists that enables fast creation of precise publication-ready graphical abstracts, infographics, posters, and slides. With 75,000+ scientifically accurate illustrations made by experts and hundreds of templates across 80+ major research fields, you can produce polished visuals in minutes — no design skills required.    

5 Best Scientific Illustration Tools and Software