How to format multiple pictures in a paper so that the pictures and texts are aligned more neatly

Key points of this article

Unify the format, width and resolution of images before typesetting so that images in the same row will look neat.
Use a three-column grid for three pictures side by side, and a grid of three plus two for five pictures, which is more stable than manual dragging one by one.
Write a separate caption for each figure, use the numbers of Figure 1a and Figure 1b for subfigures, and use the same number when cited in the text.
The spacing between pictures and captions, and the font size of captions should be consistent throughout the text. Do not look the same for each picture.
The final version needs to be adjusted back to the source file before exporting to PDF. Do not move images directly in the PDF.

When writing a paper, the experimental results are often three, five or even more pictures, each with different sizes and captions, which can easily be misplaced on the page. Reviewers and instructors can tell at a glance that the publication is cluttered, and even if the content is solid, it will affect the reading experience. This article is written for students and researchers who need to format multiple pictures. It talks about how to make several pictures in a paper look neat, with the pictures and texts aligned and the spacing consistent.

After reading this article, you can follow the methods below to set up a grid in Word, unify the image width and captions, and learn to check the final layout. If your paper requires a bilingual version, you can also find out how to preserve the format after translation.

How to format three or five pictures? One sentence conclusion

The core of multi-picture typesetting is "the same rows have the same width, the same rows are aligned, and the captions are in the same position." The specific grid to choose depends on the number of images and the relationship between the content.

your situation	Recommended practices	reason
The three pictures are from the same set of comparative experiments.	One row and three columns, equal width and side by side	Horizontal comparison is more intuitive, and readers can compare it at a glance
The contents of the three pictures are different	Each page occupies its own line and has the same width.	Avoid making the side-by-side pictures too small to see clearly
Five pictures, two types of data	Three plus two rows, each row has the same width inside	The upper and lower rows are neatly arranged and clearly grouped.
The proportions of the pictures vary greatly (some horizontal pictures, some vertical pictures)	Align by height, or place in groups	Equal width will make vertical images too small or too large
Submissions have strict format requirements	Look at the journal template first, then decide on the grid	The column width and figure width restrictions of the template take precedence

Before you start: Confirm these points first

Taking a few minutes to confirm the following items before starting can save a lot of rework.

Whether the original specifications of the pictures are consistent. It is recommended to export the same set of pictures to the same format and resolution, otherwise the details will have different thicknesses when put together and they will look like they have been pieced together.
Available center widths. When placing three pictures in a row, the width of each picture should be approximately one-third of the center of the page minus the spacing. Measure the width of the page first, and then decide the width of each image.
Journal or school picture requirements. Many journals stipulate in the instructions to authors that the resolution, figure format, and whether images should be submitted separately should be followed.
Figure numbering and sub-figure numbering scheme. When three pictures are in a group, it is more clear to use Figure 1a, Figure 1b, and Figure 1c than to number them individually. Think of the numbers first so that they will not be confused when cited later.
The final form of the document. If you want to submit a PDF in the end, it is recommended to format it in Word and then export it; adjusting the image position directly in the PDF is often difficult to ensure alignment.

Steps to build a multi-image grid using tables in Word

Using a table as the underlying grid is a more stable method for multi-image layout. The rows and columns of the table are naturally aligned, and the pictures and captions are placed in the cells, so they will not shift due to the increase or decrease of text.

unify the material. * Export all images to the same format, keep the same size and resolution, and name the file name according to the drawing number, which is easy to find later.
determine the grid. three pictures are written in a row and three columns; five pictures are written in two rows, three columns in the top row and two columns in the next row, and the next row can be placed in the center.
insert the table. insert the table where the text needs to be mapped, the number of rows and columns is the same as the grid, and then set the table border to none, so that the reader can only see the pictures and captions.
put the picture and unify the width. insert each picture into the corresponding cell, set the same width one by one, and keep the scale locked, instead of dragging manually.
the cell is centered. both pictures and captions are center-aligned, and pictures in the same row will be aligned at the top or bottom, making them more visually neat.
add a caption. * write an inscription at the bottom of each picture in the format of "figure 1a description". The font size of the caption and the spacing after the first paragraph shall be the same as the full text.
check whether the form is spread. if the table spans two pages, set the whole row to no spread to avoid a row of graphs being separated.
when you need a bilingual version, upload the translation. * A well-arranged version of Word files can be uploaded in omnidoc.top. Choose bilingual control or translation only. The layout, pictures and forms will be retained after download, but the translated contents still need to be checked paragraph by paragraph.

# check item by item after completion

After typesetting is complete, do not submit in a hurry, check it item by item according to the list below.

Check item	What do you think?	What if there's a problem?
Width of the same row of pictures	Zoom in on the page and compare the edges of the left and right pictures	Go back to the table and reset the width of each picture
Top or bottom alignment	See if the upper or lower lines of the same row of pictures are on the same line.	Adjust the cell alignment or unify the height of the picture
Numbering order of caption	Read it from beginning to end to see if figures 1 and 2 are continuous.	Modify the caption and update the references in the body synchronously
Whether the body reference corresponds to	Randomly check sentences such as "shown in figure 2" to see if the figure number points to the correct picture.	Check one by one to avoid misplacement of quotation
Paging position	Check whether each set of pictures is cut in the page view	Set the table row not to spread, or adjust the paging before the figure
Sharpness	After exporting PDF, enlarge the page to view the text and axes in the picture	Switch to a higher resolution source image
Periodical template requirements	Check the width, font size and file format against the author's instructions.	Re-export as required, do not just change the layout

If you find that the problem lies in the picture itself, such as blurred text and color distortion, you should go back to the original data and re-export instead of stretching the picture in the typesetting software. Stretching will change the proportion, which is easy for the reader to notice.

# Core comparison

There are three common methods of multi-map typesetting, each of which is suitable for different scenarios.

Practice	Alignment effect	Suitable for the scene	Pay attention
Table grid	The ranks are naturally aligned and more stable.	More than three pictures that need to be strictly aligned	Adjust the table structure when you modify it
Text boxes are positioned one by one	Rely on manual placement, easy to offset	The situation of a small number of pictures and a fixed layout.	Every time a document changes, each text box needs to be repositioned.
Form a separate segment one by one	Each picture has its own segment, so there is no need for alignment.	Situations in which the picture is large and needs to be read separately.	When multiple pictures are put together, the page will be very long, so it is inconvenient to compare.

For most chapters of the paper with three to five diagrams, the table grid is the safer choice.

# frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. How do five pictures look good in typesetting?

It is recommended to use three plus two rows: three in the previous row and two in the next, with the internal pictures of each row equal in width and aligned at the top. If the five pictures are a continuous set of comparisons, they can be grouped by data and placed in the same row with the same group.

2. How do the three pictures of the paper look good?

The common practice of the three pictures is to have a row and three columns equal width side by side, with the caption placed at the bottom of the picture, numbered as figure 1a, figure 1b, and figure 1c. If the content of each picture varies greatly, you can also change it to a separate line for each picture, so that each picture has enough width.

3. Can paper photo typesetting be done online?

Part of the work can be done online. If your document is in Word-compatible format, you can open and adjust tables, pictures and captions in app.unidoc.top's web page editor. When selecting online tools, it is recommended to pay attention to the file size limit, whether there is a watermark, how to handle file privacy, and whether typesetting is retained after export.

4. Can the pictures be moved and arranged directly in PDF?

This is not recommended. PDF is more suitable as the final submission form. It is recommended that the layout adjustment be completed in the source file, and then re-export the PDF. This not only ensures the picture width and alignment, but also facilitates subsequent modifications.

# Summary

In the paper typesetting of multiple pictures, the key is to unify the material first, then set up the grid with the table, and finally check the width, alignment, caption and drawing number reference item by item. If you do it in this order, even if you have five pictures, the layout will be neat and clear.

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