Scientific journal cover candidates, from concept to submission

A cover candidate is not an acceptance promise

A publisher selects its covers. Commissioning artwork does not guarantee selection, peer-review outcomes or publication. Confirm the journal, candidate issue or submission route, and current artwork instructions before deciding the canvas.

Preserve the distinctions in the project record

A project archive image, the final official cover and a published design credit are different records. When presenting a case, verify the official issue page separately and retain the original artist or studio attribution. We do not infer adoption from a journal masthead in an archived design.

Prepare artwork and explanatory text together

Reserve required masthead space, check margins and cropping, and keep text, transparency and color-mode requirements tied to the journal's instructions. Explain the main visual objects and any metaphor without inventing findings. Ask about source files and revision scope in the design brief and use contact for a separate quote.