How to submit a custom icon request

The Custom Icon Request form allows you to request custom scientific icons created by BioRender's specialized Science Illustrators. This guide walks you through the complete submission process.

Table of Contents

• Eligibility and important details
• Understanding custom icons
• How to access the request form
• Completing the request form
  • Icon name
  • Use case
  • Icon description
  • Key features
  • Reference images
• Submitting your request and what happens after
• Understanding complex icons and why icons requests may be rejected
• Requesting custom brushes

Eligibility and important details

Who can request a custom icon? This feature is available for Industry Team and Enterprise Plans. To browse plans, click here.

Timeline and fulfillment

• Turnaround time is approximately 25–30 business days
• Fulfillment of icon requests is not guaranteed and depends on factors such as prioritized subject matter, request volume, and complexity

Understanding custom icons

What is considered a single icon?

An icon is a singular, standalone image representing one object or idea.

• Changes in state or orientation (e.g., lateral vs. posterior view) are considered separate, unique icons
• If you are requesting multiple icons, each icon requires a separate form submission
• BioRender only accepts icon requests, not figure requests

The difference between an icon and a figure

While both icons and figures may appear similar, they have distinct differences:

Icons

• Represent a single object or idea
• Are independent, standalone elements

Figures

• Tell a story or depict relationships between components
• Include labels, captions, and arrows to illustrate interactions

For example, individual icons such as MHC-I, TCR, dendritic cell, etc., can be combined to create a figure illustrating their interaction.

Common icon use cases

Use cases typically fall into one of the following figure types:

• Flowchart or timeline
• Graphical abstract
• Lab set-up or protocol
• Mechanism of action
• Patient education
• Signaling pathway
• Student education

Understanding your use case helps the illustrator design for clarity, communication, and context.

How to access the request form

1. Open any illustration to enter the canvas
2. Use the search bar to look for the desired icon
3. Try multiple keywords including common names, scientific names, and synonyms
4. If you don't find the icon you need, scroll to the bottom of the icon library
5. Click "Request a Custom Icon"

Completing the icon request form

To create a custom icon efficiently, our team requires the following information. Be clear and accurate to help the team understand your request.

1. Icon name

Where to enter: Fill out the Icon Name field in the Icon Request Form

How to write a good icon name:

• Be accurate
• Be descriptive
• Use specific terminology relevant to your field
• A combination of a few well-chosen words is usually enough

2. Use case

What to include: When completing the Use Case field, describe:

• The type of figure you're planning to create
• The BioRender icons or templates you plan to use alongside your requested icon

Why it matters: This helps our illustration team ensure your custom icon is:

• Aligned with your scientific goals
• Compatible with other icons in your figure
• Rendered at the appropriate level of visual detail

You can reference the common use cases listed above (flowchart, graphical abstract, mechanism of action, etc.) or describe your specific needs.

3. Icon description

Where to enter: Use the Description field in the Icon Request form

What to include: Describe exactly what you need using relevant nouns, adjectives, and/or verbs. Depending on the icon you're requesting, your description may include:

• Anatomical structures or cellular components
• Specific orientation or viewpoint
• State or phase (e.g., active vs. inactive)
• Size relationships between components
• Color or texture requirements
• Level of detail needed (simplified vs. highly detailed)

Examples of strong descriptions:

Why it matters: A strong icon description:

• Reduces revision time
• Helps the illustrator understand the scientific context
• Ensures your final icon meets your visual communication needs

4. Key features

Where to enter: Complete the Key Features field in the Icon Request form

What to include: Enter the most important visual and scientific characteristics of your icon. Here are questions to help guide your entry:

Does the icon need to show specific visual characteristics?

• Example: "Include visible phospholipid bilayer" or "Label active site on the enzyme"

Should some characteristics be left out? If so, why?

• Example: "No mitochondria needed as focus is only on nucleus" or "Simplify to highlight only key receptor"

These notes help our team prioritize what matters most to your research communication.

5. Reference images

How many to provide: We typically require 3–5 reference images per request, depending on complexity. More complex icons may require more references.

Our illustrators conduct their own research, but strong starting references help speed up the process and improve accuracy.

Types of reference images to include:

• Scientific diagrams – Diagrams from textbooks, scientific articles, or reputable sources
• Microscopy or imaging data – Real imagery that shows structures clearly
• Existing illustrations – Examples you like or want us to mimic (include source if applicable)

Qualities of a good reference image: Each reference image should be:

• Clear and legible – Details and labels should be easy to interpret
• Scientifically accurate – From reputable and trustworthy sources
• Oriented correctly – Show the desired viewpoint and all relevant structures

Submitting your request

Once you've completed all fields, click Submit. You'll receive a confirmation email once your request is received.

What happens after submitting

The BioRender Creative Team will review your submission.

Timeline: Turnaround time is approximately 25–30 business days.

If approved:

• Your custom icon will be added to the public icon library
• You'll be notified via email when the icon becomes available

✨ Pro tip: Once your custom icon is approved, save it to an Org Custom Library so your whole team can access it instantly. Explore Org Custom Libraries ↗

Understanding complex icons and why icon requests may be rejected

We occasionally decline requests that fall outside our design scope to ensure icons serve the widest possible scientific audience.

Common rejection reasons:

• Not specific to life sciences (e.g., general symbols unrelated to biology/biomedical fields)
• Style isn't scientifically accurate (e.g., exaggerated or cartoonish beyond BioRender's visual style)
• Too complex for vector format (e.g., highly detailed or not reproducible in simplified form)
• Too niche (e.g., one-off experimental setups not broadly applicable)
• Request limit reached (each plan has a defined quota)

Understanding icon complexity

Highly complex icons may exceed our delivery timeline or may not be fulfillable. For faster turnaround, submit the simplest version that clearly communicates your science.

What makes an icon complex:

1. Level of detail – Fine or intricate elements
2. Number of parts – Many separate components (organelles, cells, labels)
3. Patterns and textures – Highly patterned or textured visuals
4. Transparency – Translucent layers or shading effects
5. Realism – Photorealistic appearances

What to do if your icon is rejected

If your icon request is not accepted, you still have two options:

1. Revise and resubmit your request
   • Make adjustments to your submission to better align with the needs of the broader BioRender community. This could involve simplifying the icon, changing the style, or reframing the use case
2. Upload an open-source image.
   • If you still need the specific visual, you can upload an open-source image directly into your BioRender library for use in your figures.

How to find and use an open-source image

1. Go to Google Images

2. Search for your desired visual

3. Click Tools > Usage Rights, and select Creative Commons License. Learn more about Google's usage rights here.

4. Select an appropriate image

5. Copy and paste the image directly into your BioRender canvas

• This automatically adds it to your uploads library
• You can reuse it across all of your illustrations

Requesting custom brushes

Need a new brush instead of an icon? You can use the same form to request custom brushes. Brushes are prioritized based on community demand.

Related articles

• Custom icon request limits (👑 Premium only)
• How to name your custom icon request
• How to provide reference images for custom icon requests

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.