In academic presentations and paper writing, illustrations of experimental equipment, organisms, cells, and organs are indispensable. However, finding high-quality materials can be surprisingly challenging.
Scientifically accurate images are particularly difficult to find on general stock image sites, and creating illustrations using generative AI, as introduced in my previous post, is still far from being a one-shot solution.
Therefore, today I'll introduce 6 high-quality resource sites that are useful in the fields of science, medicine, and biology. From free options to paid services with outstanding quality, I'll provide detailed explanations while exploring the actual sites.
Video introduction here ▼
Image credits for thumbnail and video:
"Mouse" by Ethan Tyler, Lex Kravitz, available at SciDraw, licensed under CC BY 4.0, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3925901
"Eppendorf tube" by Diogo Losch De Oliveira, available at SciDraw, licensed under CC BY 4.0, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3925953
Image provided by Servier Medical Art, licensed under CC BY 4.0
"Crypturellus variegatus" by J. N. Wiegers, uploaded by Yannick Wiegers, available at PhyloPic, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Table of Contents
- Copyright and Creative Commons Basics
- Servier Medical Art - High-Quality Materials from a Pharmaceutical Company
- SciDraw - Laboratory Equipment Illustrations by Scientists
- BioRender - Professional Illustration Creation Tool
- Mind the Graph - Best Value Paid Service
- PhyloPic - Species Silhouette Resources
- Bioicons - Biology Icon Collection
- Summary
Copyright and Creative Commons Basics
Before introducing resource sites, let's review the essential knowledge about copyright issues and Creative Commons.
What is Creative Commons (CC)?
While copyright is defined by each country's laws, Creative Commons provides an internationally standardized way to clearly indicate usage rights for creative works. Following these usage rules should help you avoid major mistakes. Most of the resource sites I'll introduce include these designations, so please check them while using the materials.
The Most Common License: "CC-BY 4.0"
- A relatively permissive license that allows use, modification, and commercial use as long as proper attribution is provided
- "4.0" is the current latest version
Symbols That Add Restrictions
- ND (No Derivatives): No modifications allowed
- SA (Share Alike): Must distribute under same conditions
- NC (Non-Commercial): Non-commercial use only
The Most Liberal License: "CC0"
- Copyright is waived, allowing free use without attribution
- Equivalent to public domain
TASL Principle: Recommended Citation Method
When using CC-BY licensed materials, it's recommended to include the following four elements (TASL principle):
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Name of the work | "Mouse" |
| Author | Creator or author | by Ethan Tyler, Lex Kravitz |
| Source | Link URL | https://scidraw.io/drawing/123 |
| License | License used | CC BY 4.0 |
Citation example:
"Mouse" by Ethan Tyler, Lex Kravitz, available at SciDraw, licensed under CC BY 4.0
For learning about CC, you might want to refer to these guidelines. I recommend reading through them at least once.
- Creative Commons Official Site
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ - CC BY 4.0 License Page
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Now let's move on to introducing specific resource sites.
1. Servier Medical Art
URL: https://smart.servier.com/
Features
This is a collection of medically accurate illustration resources provided free by pharmaceutical company Servier. The quality is exceptionally high, with a vast array of materials including:
- Anatomical diagrams of various organs (brain, heart, colon, etc.)
- Cellular and molecular-level illustrations
- Biochemical experiment equipment
How to Use
- Select from categories (Cellular biology, Organs, Lab equipment, etc.)
- Further narrow down with subcategories
- Download individually in PNG format, or bulk download in PowerPoint format
For example, neural synapse images are also available as shown below. ▼
License
- All materials are CC-BY 4.0
- Commercial use and modifications allowed (attribution required)
Highlights
Since it's provided by a company, medical accuracy is guaranteed, and the quality is suitable for direct use in papers and academic presentations. The search function is also comprehensive, making it easy to find the materials you need quickly.
2. SciDraw
URL: https://scidraw.io/
Features
This is a collection of simple illustrations of experimental equipment and animals, shared through the goodwill of scientists:
- Rich collection of experimental equipment illustrations
- Illustrations of organisms used in animal experiments
- Perfect for Methods section illustrations
- Many SVG formats available, scalable (recommended for posters)
How to Use
- Search for materials by search or category
- Click to display author name and detailed information
- Download in SVG or PNG format
License
- All materials are CC-BY 4.0
- Many materials have DOI (via Zenodo) assigned
Highlights
While artistic styles vary by person, there's an abundance of equipment needed for explaining experimental methods. With many SVG formats available, they print beautifully for poster presentations.
3. BioRender
URL: https://www.biorender.com/
Features
This is a paid professional illustration creation tool. Limited free use is available for educational purposes:
- PowerPoint-like operability
- Consistent, high-quality materials
- Multiple styles available even for a single icon
- Rich template collection
- Brush tools allow material transformation
It's a major company offering ultra-high-quality illustrations suitable for papers, but the cost is high.
How to Use
- Create new project in dashboard (up to 5 in free version)
- Select and place materials from left toolbar
- Adjust colors and transparency
- Export via File > Export
Pricing & Limitations
- Free version: Low-resolution output only, with watermark
- Paid version: From $35/month
- Paid version required for paper submission
Highlights
Material quality and variety are overwhelming. It's also possible to temporarily subscribe only when submitting papers.
4. Mind the Graph
URL: https://mindthegraph.com/
Features
Similar paid service to BioRender, but with significantly lower pricing:
- Realistic illustration style
- Covers general biology fields
- Rich template collection
- About 473 yen per month for students (as of June 2025)
How to Use
Similar operability to BioRender, creating figures in the browser.
Highlights
If the materials you want to use are available, this is more recommended than BioRender in terms of price. Check the materials and templates beforehand before deciding.
5. PhyloPic
URL: http://phylopic.org/
Features
Specialized in silhouette materials of various biological species:
- Accurate biological silhouettes created by researchers
- Includes accurate scientific names
- Provided in SVG and PNG formats
- Perfect for phylogenetic trees and classification diagrams
License
Varies by material, so verification required:
- CC0 (Public Domain)
- CC-BY 4.0
- CC-BY 3.0 (older format)
Highlights
Essential for researchers dealing with various biological species. Invaluable when creating diagrams showing phylogenetic relationships.
6. Bioicons
Features
A site with biology-related image icons.
- Niche materials available due to individual uploads
- Also includes programming-related icons
- Styles may lack consistency
Highlights
You might surprisingly find materials that aren't available on other sites. Use it with the mindset of treasure hunting.
Summary
| Site Name | Features | License | Price | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Servier Medical Art | Medically accurate high-quality materials | CC-BY 4.0 | Free | Papers & academic presentations |
| SciDraw | Rich experimental equipment collection | CC-BY 4.0 | Free | Methods illustrations |
| BioRender | Professional creation tool | Proprietary license | From $35/month | High-quality paper figures |
| Mind the Graph | Best value creation tool | Proprietary license | From 473 yen/month | Budget-conscious illustration creation |
| PhyloPic | Biological silhouette specialist | Varies by material | Free | Phylogenetic trees & classification diagrams |
| Bioicons | Including niche materials | Varies by material | Free | Special material hunting |
This is a rough summary. I think you can create quite a variety of illustrations by using these together with the generative AI illustration creation introduced in my previous article.
While not covered in detail this time, Wikimedia Commons also has many scientific materials following Creative Commons licenses. It's particularly rich in anatomical diagrams and microscopic photographs, so please check it out.
The use of figures in scientific presentations is particularly important for advancing understanding. In collaborative research with researchers from other fields, I've recently experienced firsthand how important such communication is. Please make use of these resources when you want to find good materials.
コメント