Figure style guide

[stephenra]

For any and all figures requested and created for future iterations of the review, we would like to create a comprehensive style guide. Some criteria to think through for said guide:

• Resolution: If vector, then first preference to export SVG (300 dpi, web-ready) followed by PDF. If raster-only, then JPEG (highest resolution original format with lower-resolution, web-ready version)
• Format: Following #697, the JSRI submission guidelines for v.1.0 did not explicitly list PNG or SVG. However, I like the general recommendation from @dhimmel :

  For the raster format, use PNG unless there's pervasive color variation (like in a photograph), in which case use JPG. For vectors, try SVG first. If SVG fails or is not available, use PDF. The Manubot output formats will work with PNG, JPG, and most SVGs.

• Palettes: Colorblind-friendly (for reference, I like these guidelines by Bang Wong):

Feel free to add anything if I've missed something. See #835 for ref. thread.

[dhimmel]

What's the minimum dpi that a figure ought to have?

If it is possible to export an image as a vector (i.e. it's not a photograph, but something we created), my recommendation would be to export SVG as first choice, PDF as second choice. Also export a PNG at 300 dpi, which is useful for Twitter or sharing on the web. If higher rez raster is needed, then that can be regenerated in the future. No actual user facing applications will want to serve a 1200 DPI image.

If an image is only raster, like a photograph, you'll probably want to use JPEG and save it once in it's highest resolution original format and then create a lower-resolution version for use on the web. Usually for raster images, you're not picking the resolution... there is some upstream process that will set the max resolution.

[stephenra]

@dhimmel Thanks! I'm OK with this being the go-to recommendation. We can always adjust if there are publication-specific considerations or other criteria that emerge in the future.