How Long Does It Take to Make a Graphical Abstract?

If a deadline is looming, the real question is "can I get this done in time?" The honest answer depends on complexity, whether it's 2D or 3D, and who makes it. Here are realistic timeframes, what drives them, and how to get a good abstract faster without cutting corners.

Doing it yourself

If you already know your tool, a straightforward 2D abstract takes roughly a few hours from blank canvas to export. A more detailed or 3D abstract typically takes one to several days, since modelling, materials, lighting, and rendering each add time. If you are still learning the software, add a learning curve on top — though that investment pays off on every future figure.

Hiring a professional

A freelancer or studio usually quotes a turnaround of a few days to about two weeks, depending on complexity, how busy they are, and how many revision rounds are included. 3D and cover-quality work sits at the longer end. Rush delivery is often available for an extra fee, but the more lead time you give, the better (and usually cheaper) the result.

What actually drives the time

The drawing is rarely the slow part — clarity is. The biggest time sinks are an unclear brief, missing data, not knowing the journal's spec, and multiple revision rounds. 2D vs 3D and overall complexity matter too, but a vague starting point will stretch even a simple abstract across days of back-and-forth.

How to make it faster

Speed comes from preparation. Write a one-sentence summary of the single message, gather your data and any reference figures, and note the journal's exact size and format before you start. Reuse a consistent template and icon set across your figures. If you are commissioning it, give complete information up front and consolidated, specific feedback — that alone removes most revision rounds, which is where timelines balloon.

Planning around your deadline

Start the abstract when your paper is accepted or close to it, not the night before the upload deadline. Give yourself (or your designer) a buffer for at least one revision round and a final spec check. A rushed abstract is exactly where the common mistakes creep in.

Related reading: How Much Does a Graphical Abstract Cost? and How to Make a Graphical Abstract in PowerPoint.