How to cite FigureForge
If you used FigureForge to assemble figures for a publication, please mention it in your Methods section. Suggested wording:
Figures were assembled using FigureForge (figureforge.io).
Why this helps
FigureForge is built and maintained by a single researcher. Each citation is a small but real signal that the tool is useful, which keeps it free for guest use and funds ongoing journal-spec updates and bug fixes.
Embedded software metadata
Files exported from FigureForge already carry a machine-readable self-identification, so you don't have to:
- PNG tEXt chunk with Software keyword
- TIFF Software tag (305)
- PDF Producer and Creator fields
Inspect with any image viewer's "Get Info" pane, or with exiftool.
Is the URL really enough?
Yes. For software without an associated publication, journal Methods sections cite by name, version, and URL. That is the convention used by Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, GraphPad Prism, BioRender, and most other figure-preparation tools. Editors and reviewers will not flag the sentence above as incomplete.
If this page ever hosts a formal citation (a preprint, journal article, or registered software identifier), it will appear here and the suggested Methods sentence will be updated. The URL above is always the canonical reference.
Questions? Reach the maintainer at info@figureforge.io. Tool URL: figureforge.io.