Note – Guides, slide decks, and other self-help resources are available in the Research Imaging Guide section of this website.

Imaging Solutions for Scientific Communication Lunchtime Seminars are based on the unique ways researchers use proprietary scientific applications, Microsoft Office, and a variety of graphics programs to create, acquire, and edit images included in grant applications, journal articles, and presentations to the scientific community. Free Imaging Made Easy Lunchtime Seminars cover topics including poster making, proper PowerPoint techniques, and Photoshop tricks.

Customized individual, small group, lab, or departmental classes can also be arranged for quad-based departments. Consider inviting us to your next lab or departmental meeting for some customized training—Schedule Beth Beighlie for your next lab or departmental seminar.

What you need to know

Note – For the foreseeable future, all Imaging Solutions Seminars will be held remotely at their regularly scheduled time by using Zoom. Send an email to ris@hms.harvard.edu to get a Zoom access link for each seminar.

Research Imaging Lunchtime Seminars are free and available to all Harvard, HMS, HSDM, HSPH, and affiliated hospital employees.

  • No registration is required for Research Imaging Lunchtime Seminars.
  • All Research Imaging Lunchtime Seminars are held from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM.
  • Research Imaging Brown Bag seminars qualify for AMA/PRA Category 1 credits.

All sessions are held remotely using Zoom; email ris@hms.harvard.edu to get the link to these seminars.

Imaging Essentials

 email ris@hms.harvard.edu for Zoom link for seminar

September 21

BioRender 201: New & Advanced Features

register for this seminar

September 26
Figures for Journals

 email ris@hms.harvard.edu for Zoom link for seminar

October 11
Biorender: Designing Better Graphical Abstracts

register for this seminar

October 25
Poster Making for Large Format Printers

 email ris@hms.harvard.edu for Zoom link for seminar

October 31
Biorender: Designing Protocol Figures

register for this seminar

November 8
Drawing Tools and Illustration Features in PowerPoint

 email ris@hms.harvard.edu for Zoom link for seminar

November 14
Harnessing the Power of Photoshop

 email ris@hms.harvard.edu for Zoom link for seminar

December 6
Harnessing the power of Photoshop

Learn to create and use actions and droplets to minimize repetitive tasks. Find out how you can easily create actions and droplets to batch process images that need reformatting, resizing, or other uniform adjustments.

Imaging Essentials

Master the basics of identifying & editing raster, bitmap, pixel-based photos & vector objects. Determine correct file compression, color mode & bit depth options. Learn important fundamentals of image preparation. Understand how to prep images in one application for use in other applications. Become skilled at determining correct resolution & output strategies.

Figures for journals

Efficiency and reliability: easily prepare figures for scientific journals with familiar tools & a foolproof workflow that eliminates any chance of rejection for guideline violations.

Reliably accessorize on-screen presentations

Understand essential concepts of presentation design to display images reliably. Minimize the risks associated with specific fonts and design templates. Learn to use PowerPoint to insert illustrations, charts & movies in a way that will enable you to present with confidence. Also, master ways to use animation & make hyperlinks.

Poster-making for large format printers

Develop proper techniques for an efficient & pain-free way to construct posters. Maximize your message with images, illustrations & text by using PowerPoint & Photoshop to create large-format documents that print correctly.

Drawing tools and illustration features of PowerPoint

Uncover the secrets of PowerPoint’s sophisticated drawing tools. Discover how to draw complex shapes, edit Bezier curves, output high-resolution images, create PDF files, and prepare complex images for journals.

BioRender 201: New & Advanced Features

Upgrade your skillset with our BioRender 201: New & Advanced Features! In this one-hour webinar, learn actionable tips and techniques for designing science figures for your posters, presentations, publications, and more. We'll cover features and concepts such as:

  • Multi-select and alignment tools
  • Custom shapes and lines
  • Leveraging color to augment your illustrations by:
    • Adding deeper context
    • Focusing your audience on key concepts

It is recommended that attendees have experience using BioRender or have attended the BioRender 101: Introduction webinar

BioRender: Designing Better Graphical Abstracts

Design a graphical abstract that will make everyone want to read & share your research! In this one-hour webinar, learn actionable tips and techniques including how to: 

  • Going from idea sketch to publication-ready  
  • How to simplify a 'cluttered' figure 
  • Quickly communicate your main idea, visually 
  • Choosing a professional color palette 
  • Spacing and alignment tricks
BioRender: Designing Protocol Figures

A one-hour webinar demonstrating how to improve the layout of your next protocol figure/diagram by learning how to:

  • Reduce clutter by using gridlines to space out visual elements
  • Number the steps to eliminate messy arrows
  • Use zoom-ins/call-outs to highlight details