Using a BioRender template

BioRender templates are pre-made figures designed to help you quickly create professional illustrations. You can use a template as a starting point or customize it to fit your needs.

Creating an illustration from a template

1. Browse the BioRender template gallery to explore templates created by our team and other users.
2. Select the template you want to use.
3. Click "Use Template".
4. A new illustration will be created from the template, which you can edit or use as-is.

Adding a template to an existing illustration

1. Browse the BioRender template gallery.
2. Select the template you want to add.
3. Choose one of the following options:
   • Replace canvas: The template will replace your current illustration, and the canvas size will adjust to match the template.
   • Add to canvas: The template will be added without changing your existing canvas size or content.

💡 Working on a multi-panel figure? Try using BioRender Slides (Premium) to organize multiple templates across different canvases — perfect for presentations or complex figures.

Liking a template

If you find a template you love and want to save it for later—or just want to show appreciation to the creator—click the "Like" button!

Citing BioRender templates and figures

When publishing a figure created in BioRender, you must include a citation using your unique figure URL. This ensures proper attribution and allows readers to access your figure. To learn more about reader permissions and figure accessibility, see our article on CC-BY Publishing and Reader Permissions.

How to cite BioRender with your unique figure URL:

1. Export your figure with a publication license.
2. Copy the unique figure URL provided in the license.
3. Insert the citation in your figure caption, reference list, or acknowledgments section.
4. Adapt the citation format to match your style, as long as the unique figure URL remains intact.

How to cite a published template

If you are using a template from the BioRender template gallery, use one of the following citation formats. BioRender citations follow APA formatting by default, but you can adapt them to match your preferred citation style—just ensure the unique figure URL remains unchanged.

• Citing a template with modifications:

AuthorLastName, AuthorFirstInitial. (Year). Adapted from “TemplateName.” Retrieved from https://app.biorender.com/biorender-templates

• Citing a template without modifications:

AuthorLastName, AuthorFirstInitial. (Year). Reprinted from “TemplateName.” Retrieved from https://app.biorender.com/biorender-templates

What's next

🎓 Watch: Tutorial – Save Time Creating Illustrations Using BioRender Templates. Learn how to adapt templates and streamline your workflow. Watch the Tutorial ↗

Need help?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.