What should a journal cover submission include?

Usually the high-resolution image to spec, a short caption explaining it, and a brief note connecting the image to your accepted paper. Follow the editorial office's template and deadline.

How long should a cover caption be?

Short — a sentence or two in plain language that says what the image depicts and how it relates to your findings, so an editor can present it easily to readers.

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Journal Cover Submission

You've designed a beautiful cover image — now you have to pitch it. The short note and caption you send with your artwork can tip a close decision, because editors choose covers they can easily explain to readers. Here's what to include, how to structure it, and a template you can adapt.

What editors actually want

Editors are looking for an image that is striking, scientifically honest, technically print-ready, and easy to describe. Your accompanying letter and caption exist to make their job effortless: explain what the image shows, why it represents your paper, and confirm it meets their spec. Keep it concise and confident, not salesy.

A simple structure

Three short parts work well: (1) a one-line opener stating you'd like to propose a cover for your accepted paper, with the title and manuscript number; (2) a two-to-three-sentence description of the image and how it connects to the science; (3) a closing line confirming the file meets the journal's dimensions, resolution, and format, and noting you're happy to revise. Attach the high-resolution file separately.

A template to adapt

Dear [Editor / Editorial Office],

I would like to propose the attached image for consideration as the cover of [Journal], in connection with our accepted article "[Title]" (manuscript [number]).

The image depicts [one-line description of the visual] to represent [the key finding or concept]. [One sentence on the metaphor or what the reader is seeing and why it matters.]

The file is supplied at [size] and [resolution] in [format], per your cover guidelines. I'm happy to adjust it to your requirements. Thank you for considering it.

Kind regards,
[Name, affiliation, contact]

Writing the caption

The caption is the line readers may eventually see, so make it vivid and jargon-free: say what the image shows and the idea behind it in one or two sentences. Lead with the concept, not the technique. A caption an editor can quote verbatim is a strong advantage.

Practical tips

Ask the editorial office about the process and deadline as soon as your paper is accepted, follow any template they provide exactly, and confirm whether a cover fee applies. Send the image to spec the first time — see our journal cover design guide and how to get on a cover.

Need a cover-worthy image?

We design striking, spec-ready journal covers — see our portfolio.

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