How to generate editable figures using BioRender AI

BioRender’s AI figure generation tools help you get to a first draft faster by turning simple text prompts into a visual draft. Use the Generate Editable Figure tool (in beta) to quickly create BioRender-style visuals where you can edit any component in your figure.

Create a new figure

1. Open your BioRender canvas.
2. Click the AI button in the left toolbar.
3. Select Generate Editable Figure.
4. Enter your prompt
   • Type a description or paste existing text.
   • Optional: attach a reference image if you’re recreating a figure or using a visual guide.
5. Click the arrow to generate (The tool will generate 3 preview options based on your prompt).
6. Review the previews and select the version you want to continue with.
7. Optional: refine your figure.
   • Use the “Modify this image” field to adjust details with a follow-up prompt
8. Click Add to canvas.
9. Here you’ll have the choice to add a Flat image, or Flat image + Editable figure. Make your choice and click Add to canvas. 
10. If you selected Editable figure, this will take 1–2 minutes to complete. Once it appears on canvas, you can select and edit individual elements to refine your figure.
11. If you have already added a flat generated figure to canvas, you can use "Make figure editable" tool from the Edit panel (or AI tool dropdown in the floating context bar) to kick off the conversion to editable figure. This works for any custom figure generated with BioRender.

In summary, the Editable figure generator will:

• Generate 3 figure variations from your prompt
• Create clean, BioRender-style visuals
• Allow you to refine your selected figure using follow-up prompts before adding image to canvas
• Allow you to create an editable version that you can refine manually

Edit any element in your figure

Each element can be selected and edited independently, allowing you to make simple or more complex refinements. For example, adjusting the alignment, updating font styles, or changing colors. 

Cost

• 20 credits for initial generation (gives you 3 figure generations to choose from)
• 10 credits to modify with prompt
• No additional cost to make the generated figure editable

How to prompt

Be as specific as possible about the figure you want to create. Include the scientific message or process you want to illustrate, the key elements to include (such as cell types, molecules, or specific steps), and how those elements relate to one another.

You can type a description of the figure you want, paste in text from a paper abstract or SOP, or attach a reference image or sketch to guide the output. If you have a preferred layout, describe it (for example, a linear workflow, circular pathway, or before-and-after comparison). You can also specify color or style preferences and explain how you plan to use the figure, such as for a presentation, grant proposal, or graphical abstract.

For the best results:

• Clearly describe the scientific message or process.
• Include the key elements you want shown.
• Specify your preferred layout.
• Mention any color or style preferences.
• Mention how you'll use the figure.
• Include a reference image to guide the content or layout, if available.

After generating and selecting your figure, use the Modify image option to refine the output with additional prompts instead of starting over from scratch.

AI prompt length limits

To ensure the best possible results and maintain system performance, BioRender's AI tools have a prompt length limit of 1,000 words.

Why is there a limit?

Very long prompts, such as full research papers or lengthy abstracts, can reduce the quality and accuracy of generated figures. Shorter, more focused prompts help the AI better understand your intent and produce clearer, more relevant outputs.

Tips for best results

• Focus on the key elements you want illustrated, such as the main steps, components, or relationships.
• Avoid pasting entire documents. Instead, summarize the most important points.
• If needed, break your request into multiple smaller prompts to create different parts of the figure.

If your prompt exceeds the limit, you'll be asked to shorten it before generating your figure.

Example prompt for generating an editable figure draft:

Create a workflow diagram for an internal presentation graphic showing how a tumor biopsy is processed for spatial transcriptomics profiling, preserving tissue architecture rather than dissociating it into single cells.

Step 1: A small tumor biopsy is surgically excised. Show tweezers holding a small tissue sample and placing it into a collection tube.

Step 2: The tissue is embedded in a frozen support medium to preserve its shape and architecture. Show the tissue inside a simple rectangular mold filled with whitish frozen block.

Step 3: The frozen tissue block is thinly sectioned on a cryostat. Show a Leica cryostat producing thin tissue slices, mounted onto a slide.

Step 4: The mounted tissue section sits on a spatial capture array, which barcodes the tissue based on location. Show the tissue slide positioned over a dotted spatial capture array with a grid pattern.

Step 5: The barcoded material is sequenced. Show the processed slide being loaded into an Illumina sequencer.

Step 6: Sequencing data is mapped back to tissue location, producing a colorful spatial gene expression readout. Show a tissue image overlaid with a dotted color-coded expression heatmap.

Arrange six numbered steps in a two-row grid, three steps per row, no boxes around steps. Number each step with a bold circled number and a short caption above the illustration for the corresponding step. Connect steps with arrows. Add a title "Spatial Transcriptomics Sample Preparation". Keep consistent icon sizing and style throughout, muted clinical color palette, white background, clean BioRender style.

Help us improve our AI figure generation tools

We’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us make the AI Figure Generator even better, whether something worked perfectly, missed the mark, or sparked an idea for improvement.

You’ll see two ways to share feedback directly within the tool:

1. Give Feedback button from the info dropdown menu in the tool panel.

2. Feedback form available after adding the generated figure to canvas.

Use these forms to tell us what went well and what could be improved. Not sure where to start? Here are a few helpful questions to guide your response:

• What worked well or felt especially useful?
• Was anything missing, confusing, or inaccurate?
• How satisfied were you with the result, on a scale of 1–10?
• What changes would you make to finalize the figure?
• Is there anything you wish this tool could do in the future?

Whether it’s a quick comment or detailed suggestions, every bit of input helps us improve the tool and shape its future based on your real-world needs.

Thank you for taking the time to help us build better tools for science communication!

Data Privacy

Before using the AI Generator, you will see a message outlining how your prompts and figures may be reviewed by the BioRender team to improve the tool. Our goal is to give you a great experience while always protecting the privacy and security of your data. Your data is never used to train our AI models and is not shared externally. Read more about it here.

Troubleshooting

“Generate Editable Figure” option not visible?

If you don’t see the “Generate Editable Figure” option in the editor, it may be due to your browser blocking required services. 

• Check if you are using an ad blocker or browser privacy extension. 
• Disable your ad blocker for app.biorender.com
• Refresh your browser after making this change

Once the blocker is disabled, the option should appear in the editor.

Didn’t get the figure you expected?

If the generated figure doesn’t match your prompt, try the following:

• Use more specific or detailed language in your prompt
• Break complex workflows into smaller steps 

AI not showing in the editor?

• Make sure you’re using the new BioRender Canvas
• Make sure you’re using the latest version of Google Chrome
• Refresh your browser and clear your cache
• If you are part of an organization, contact your administrator to inquire whether your team should have access to AI tools
• If the issue persists, contact our Support team at support@biorender.com

Prompt history not available?

The prompt composer only retains the most recent prompt during your active session. If you enter a new prompt, the previous one is replaced. Prompt history isn’t saved across sessions, navigating away from your current session will clear the composer.

Need help? Reach out to our support team at support@biorender.com or start a live chat by clicking the "Chat With Us" bubble in the bottom right corner.