Proposal Graphics
Teams developing large/complex proposals in coordination with RDS are eligible for graphic support from our group. Please communicate your needs via your RDS contact.
Scientific Illustration & Diagram Tools
For creating detailed, professional-grade scientific figures and diagrams to enhance proposals, presentations and research publications.
SciDraw
SciDraw is an open-access repository of professionally crafted scientific illustrations, enabling researchers to create detailed and customizable visuals
SciDraw is a free, open-access platform designed for scientists to create and share high-quality scientific illustrations. It focuses on providing resources for research presentations, posters, and educational materials.
Key Features of SciDraw:
- Free Repository: Users can access and download scientific drawings without subscription fees.
- Creative Commons Licensing: All drawings are shared under a Creative Commons license, allowing free use and modification with attribution.
- Community Contributions: Users can upload their own illustrations, subject to a review process to ensure quality and relevance
SciDraw is entirely free and does not currently offer subscription-based pricing, making it an ideal resource for researchers and educators looking for accessible scientific visuals.
BioRender
BioRender is a professional tool that offers over 50,000 icons and templates for creating high-quality scientific figures and illustrations.
BioRender Free Plan
- Limited access to icons and templates.
- Watermarked downloads.
- Restriction on commercial or publication use.
Academic Individual Plan
- Cost: $35 USD/month
- Ideal for educators, students, and solo researchers, with unlimited access to icons and features, plus permission for non-commercial publishing.
Academic Lab Plan
- Cost: $99 USD/month
- Designed for labs, it supports collaboration, team tools, and includes premium features for group work
Industry Plans (for-profit use)
- Individual Plan: Starts at $79 USD/month
- Team Plan: Begins at $385 USD/month
- Features include higher publishing permissions, premium tools, and enhanced storage
Mind the Graph
Mind the Graph is a comprehensive platform with a library of scientific illustrations and templates for creating infographics and visual abstracts.
Mind the Graph Free Plan:
- Access to Basic Illustrations
- Mandatory Watermark
- No Credit Card Required:
Researcher Plan
- Cost: $12/month (billed annually).
- Includes watermark-free illustrations, unlimited access to scientific illustrations and templates, ability to request custom illustrations, features for slides and presentations. and design tips and infographic support from the team.
Enterprise and Institutional Plans:
- Cost: Custom, based on organization size and needs.
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Designed for teams, with advanced collaboration features and tailored support
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Smart Medical Art
SMART Imagebase, is a free platform offering a comprehensive collection of over 20,000 high-quality medical illustrations and animations. It serves as a resource for educational, non-commercial purposes, such as lectures, presentations, and academic posters.
Key Features of SMART Medical Art:
- Free Repository: Provides unrestricted access to a vast library of illustrations and animations without subscription fees.
- Educational Focus: Ideal for use in teaching anatomy, physiology, diseases, and other health science topics.
- Non-Commercial Use: Content is specifically tailored for educational purposes, supporting students, educators, and medical professionals.
SMART Medical Art does not currently offer subscription-based plans, making it a highly accessible tool for academic and professional use
EdrawMax
EdrawMax provides versatile tools for creating scientific illustrations, infographics, and flowcharts.
Individual Plan
- Cost: $79.20/year (with 20% off)
- Access to all features on 3 PCs & 3 mobiles, plus EdrawMax Online, 1GB free cloud storage, unlimited access to community templates and AI features, automatic renewal.
Lifetime Plan
- Cost: $138.60 (one-time payment, 43% off)
- Lifetime access to all features on 3 PCs & 3 mobiles, plus EdrawMax Online, 10GB cloud storage, lifetime free upgrades and priority support, unlimited access to community templates and AI features.
Lifetime Bundle Plan
- Cost: $171.50 (one-time payment, 45% off)
- Features: Same as Lifetime Plan, but includes additional benefits in the bundle.
Team & Business Plans
- Varies by team size
- Options: Choose either a 1-year or 3-year plan (with the 3-year plan offering a better value).
- Features: Designed for teams and businesses, with extended collaboration features and cloud storage options. Pricing varies depending on team size and requirements.
NIH BIOART
Hosted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, this library offers over 2,000 science and medical art visuals.
NIH BioArt Source is a free resource offering access to high-quality medical and scientific illustrations for a variety of uses, including educational, research, and commercial applications. This platform is ideal for students, educators, and medical professionals seeking professional visuals.
Key Features of NIH BioArt Source:
- Free Repository: Users can explore and download a wide range of illustrations and tools without subscription fees.
- Public Domain Licensing: All content is in the public domain, allowing for free use without restrictions. Attribution is encouraged but not required.
- Professional-Grade Visuals: The library includes scientifically accurate content, ensuring high-quality materials for presentations and publications.
NIH BioArt Source is completely free, making it an excellent tool for anyone in need of reliable scientific imagery for their work.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a premium vector graphics software widely used by designers, illustrators, and creatives across industries for creating high-quality designs, illustrations, and typographies. It offers flexible licensing plans suitable for individual users, teams, and enterprises.
The channel Adobe Illustrator for Scientists provides Adobe Illustrator tutorials to make informative and captivating figures for scientific purposes.
Subscription Plans:
- Individual: Starting at $22.99/month for the Illustrator-only plan or $59.99/month as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
- Business: Starting at $49.99/user per month for team plans.
- Students and Educators: Discounts available, with plans starting at $15.99/month for the Creative Cloud suite.
- Nonprofit and Enterprise: Custom pricing based on organizational needs.
Adobe Illustrator provides robust tools for vector design, making it an industry-standard choice for professionals. Learn more about Adobe Illustrator by checking Adobe Illustrator for Scientists
Visual and Multimedia Repositories
Comprehensive sources for high-quality images and videos, perfect for enriching proposals and reserach projects.
NASA Image and Video Library
The NASA Image and Video Library is a free platform offering public access to NASA's extensive collection of images, videos, and audio files. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and the general public interested in space exploration and science.
Key Features of the NASA Image and Video Library:
- Free Repository: Access to a vast collection of over 140,000 files, including images, videos, and audio recordings related to NASA’s missions and discoveries.
- Search and Download: Users can search by keywords, categories, or missions, and download content in various formats.
- Creative Commons-Like Access: Most content is in the public domain, allowing for free use, modification, and sharing with proper attribution, provided it’s non-commercial.
The NASA Image and Video Library is entirely free and does not require subscriptions or purchases, making it an ideal resource for anyone seeking high-quality, space-related visuals.
Public Health Image Library
The Public Health Image Library (PHIL) is a free, open-access platform curated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It provides a vast collection of public health-related images, illustrations, and videos for educational, research, and public health communication purposes.
Key Features of PHIL:
- Free Repository: Access thousands of high-quality images and multimedia files related to public health, including clinical conditions, microorganisms, and healthcare practices.
- Searchable Database: Browse materials by category, keywords, or specific public health topics.
- Educational Use: Content is in the public domain, making it free for non-commercial, academic, and professional use with appropriate credit to the CDC.
The Public Health Image Library is entirely free and serves as an essential resource for educators, healthcare professionals, and researchers looking for visual aids to support their work.
NIH Gallery
The NIH Image Gallery is a free, open-access platform managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It offers a curated selection of high-quality images, infographics, and illustrations related to health, science, and medical research for public use.
Key Features of the NIH Image Gallery:
- Free Repository: Includes images highlighting NIH-funded research, public health campaigns, and scientific advancements.
- Educational and Non-Commercial Use: Materials are available for educational, informational, and non-commercial purposes without restrictions.
- Diverse Topics: Covers a range of subjects, from biomedical research to public health initiatives and scientific discoveries.
The NIH Image Gallery is a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and science communicators, offering content at no cost to support public health awareness and education.
Science Photo Library
The Science Photo Library (SPL) is a premium service offering high-quality scientific images, videos, and illustrations through licensing plans suited to diverse user needs, including education, media, and commercial industries. Below is a summary of their pricing structure:
Subscription Licenses (Recurring Payment):
- Individual: Starting at approximately $199/year.
- Corporate/Enterprise: Custom pricing based on team size and usage.
One-Time Licensing Options:
- Pricing varies depending on image resolution, usage type (commercial, editorial, or educational), and distribution scale. For instance:
- Web/Editorial Use: Starting at ~$49 per image.
- High-Resolution Commercial Use: Prices increase based on extended usage rights.
Custom Plans:
Organizations can negotiate tailored plans based on bulk image needs or long-term usage agreements.
To obtain specific pricing, it’s recommended to contact SPL directly through their website or sales team.
EMBL Image Database
The EMBL Image Database is a free resource managed by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). It offers a comprehensive collection of scientific images focused on molecular biology, genetics, and related disciplines, ideal for researchers and educators.
Key Features of the EMBL Image Database:
- Free Access: All images are available at no cost for educational and non-commercial purposes.
- High-Quality Content: Includes images from EMBL's research, such as microscopy images, visualizations, and experimental results.
- Educational Use: Materials are openly accessible to support teaching, presentations, and public outreach.
The EMBL Image Database provides a valuable repository for those seeking detailed and accurate scientific visuals without the need for subscriptions or licensing fees.
UNSPLASH
Unsplash is a free, open-access platform offering a vast collection of high-quality images contributed by a global community of photographers. It is widely used for creative, educational, and commercial purposes.
Key Features of Unsplash:
- Free Repository: Users can download and use over 3 million images for free.
- Flexible Licensing: All images are under the Unsplash License, allowing free use for commercial and non-commercial purposes without attribution (though credit is appreciated).
- Community Contributions: A diverse range of contributors ensures a rich variety of styles and subjects.
Unsplash is entirely free to use, making it an ideal resource for designers, educators, marketers, and anyone in need of stunning visuals without the burden of licensing costs.
Advanced Data Visualization Platforms
Tools designed for generating interactive and sophisticated data visualizations to support research findings and proposals.
Spotfire
Spotfire is a data analytics and business intelligence software designed to help users visualize and analyze complex data. It provides various pricing plans suited for individuals, teams, and enterprises.
Spotfire Personal Plan:
- Cost: Starting at approximately $500 per user, per year.
- Includes core analytics tools and visualizations for individual users.
Spotfire Team Plan:
- Cost: Pricing starts at around $1,000 per user, per year.
- Offers collaborative tools for teams, along with enhanced data analysis capabilities.
Spotfire Enterprise Plan:
- Cost: Custom pricing based on organizational needs.
- Designed for large organizations with advanced analytics, real-time data processing, and enterprise-grade features.
Spotfire also offers cloud-based solutions and deployment options for various team sizes and use cases, with flexible pricing tailored to specific requirements.
Tableau Public
Tableau Public is a free, open-access platform designed for creating and sharing interactive data visualizations. It is particularly useful for individuals and organizations looking to publish data visualizations publicly.
Key Features of Tableau Public:
- Free Access: Users can create, share, and explore visualizations without a subscription fee, with all content publicly accessible.
- Interactive Dashboards: Enables the creation of interactive dashboards that can be embedded into websites or shared on social media.
- Cloud-Based: Visualizations are stored in the cloud, allowing for easy access and sharing.
Limitations:
- Public Data: All visualizations are publicly available, meaning sensitive or private data cannot be uploaded.
Tableau Public is a great option for anyone looking to publish and share their visualizations openly with the world. However, for more advanced features and private data handling, Tableau offers paid plans through Tableau Creator, Explorer, and Viewer options.
Infogram
Infogram is a data visualization tool that allows users to create interactive infographics, charts, and reports. It offers a variety of templates and design options for creating professional-quality visuals.
Free Plan:
- Cost: Free, with limitations on the number of projects and templates.
- Basic charts, infographics, and reports. Users can export visuals with a watermark.
Pro Plan:
- Cost: Starts at $19/month.
- Includes additional templates, the ability to export without watermarks, and more customization options.
Business Plan:
- Cost: Starts at $67/month.
- Offers team collaboration tools, advanced analytics, and enhanced privacy controls.
Enterprise Plan:
- Cost: Custom pricing.
- Features: Tailored for large teams with priority support, dedicated training, and integrations with other enterprise tools.
Infogram is widely used for creating interactive infographics for reports, marketing campaigns, and social media.
Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a popular diagramming and visual collaboration tool that allows users to create flowcharts, mind maps, organizational charts, network diagrams, and more. It offers various pricing plans tailored to individuals, teams, and enterprises.
Free Plan:
- Cost: Free, with limitations on the number of editable documents and shapes.
- Basic diagramming tools with access to a limited number of templates and integrations.
Individual Plan:
- Cost: Starts at $9/month.
- Full access to more templates, shapes, and integrations, as well as unlimited document creation.
Team Plan:
- Cost: Starts at $10 per user/month.
- Includes team collaboration tools, advanced templates, and additional integrations.
Enterprise Plan:
- Cost: Custom pricing.
- Features: Enterprise-level tools, enhanced security, and administrative features for large organizations.
Lucidchart is known for its easy-to-use interface and cloud-based collaboration, making it a great tool for teams that need to work together on diagrams and visual projects.
Plotly Chart Studio
Plotly Chart Studio is a powerful, web-based tool for creating interactive charts and visualizations. It is widely used for data analysis, exploration, and presentation. Plotly Chart Studio offers both free and subscription-based plans, catering to different needs and user levels.
Free Plan:
- Cost: Free, with limited features.
- Basic chart creation tools, public chart sharing, and access to Plotly's open-source libraries.
- Limitations: Limited number of private charts and limited features for customization.
Professional Plan:
- Cost: Starts at $59/month.
- Includes private chart options, advanced charting features, and access to premium templates. Allows for additional collaboration and more integration options.
Enterprise Plan:
- Cost: Custom pricing.
- Features: Tailored for large teams or organizations. Offers enhanced security, team collaboration features, and priority support.
Plotly Chart Studio is widely used in data science, engineering, and business for creating publication-quality, interactive charts, and data visualizations
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI is a business analytics service designed to help organizations visualize data, share insights, and make data-driven decisions. It offers various pricing plans tailored to individual users, small teams, and large enterprises.
Free Plan:
- Cost: Free
- Includes access to Power BI Desktop for creating reports and visualizations, basic dashboard capabilities, and limited cloud storage. Users can publish their work to the Power BI service but are limited to sharing publicly.
Power BI Pro:
- Cost: $9.99/user/month
- Adds full access to Power BI service for sharing and collaboration, allows users to create and share interactive dashboards, and provides cloud storage and data refresh capabilities.
Power BI Premium:
- Cost: Starts at $20/user/month (or $4,995 per dedicated cloud resource for large organizations).
- Includes all Power BI Pro features plus enhanced performance, larger data capacity, and dedicated cloud resources. Offers advanced features like paginated reports, AI integration, and the ability to handle high-volume data.
Power BI is suitable for individuals, teams, and enterprises that need to transform raw data into actionable insights with interactive visualizations and real-time data updates.