Move Existing Figure Work into FigEditor Without Losing the Master
Inventory source files, test one representative import, and verify object structure before moving a collection of research figures.
A migration is successful when an active figure can be revised and delivered with its source history intact. Start with one representative figure rather than canceling access and discovering afterward that the only surviving copy is a flattened preview.
Inventory three figures with different risks
Use a table such as this fictional lab example:
| Figure | Available source | Next required edit | Pilot decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 study workflow | Editable source plus exported SVG | Rename two stages | Test text and arrow editing |
| F2 microscopy composite | Original TIFFs plus layout project | Replace panel B | Keep image sources; rebuild layout if needed |
| F3 archived mechanism | Final PNG only | No planned revision | Preserve delivery; do not claim restored editability |
Add the manuscript version, asset provenance, export date and rights record to your real inventory. Keep a read-only reference preview and caption for each item. An archived figure can remain useful without reconstructing every object.
Review reuse permissions before transferring assets
Technical export and permission to reuse are different questions. BioRender's Academic License describes export-time subscription requirements and publication citations for its content. Its Basic License has different allowed uses. Check the terms applicable to your actual export and save the relevant publication record; a new editor cannot grant rights to third-party icons.
Do not extract stock icons into a reusable library merely because they can be selected in an exported figure. For a new design, use your own assets or appropriately licensed material. Preserve the original attribution where required, including when the finished file moves to another application.
Give the pilot a timed revision task
For F1, duplicate the available source and open a supported SVG in the SVG editor. Rename “Preparation” to “Sample preparation,” move the next stage and reconnect the arrow. Inspect the resulting text: if you selected a picture or outlined letters, the task is reconstruction rather than a direct text edit.
For F2, retain original image files and reconstruct the layout in the figure layout tool if the old composition cannot supply independent panels. Replace only panel B, compare its crop with the original, and check that panel letters still match the caption. Never ask a generator to recreate experimental pixels.
Score the round trip explicitly
For each pilot record pass, manual repair or unsupported for these operations:
- Change one label without changing neighboring objects.
- Move a component and inspect both arrow endpoints.
- Replace one independent image while preserving its intended crop.
- Export and reopen the file in the collaborator's application.
- Compare the result with the reference at the final delivery size.
A successful import is only the first operation. If PPTX export does not support an effect in the source SVG, keep the SVG master and choose a reviewed delivery copy rather than silently accepting a visual change.
Estimate the remaining effort from measured work
Suppose a fictional pilot takes 12 minutes for import review and 8 minutes for manual repairs. Twenty similarly structured figures imply about 400 minutes, before exceptional cases and final review. Do not apply that estimate to raster-only mechanisms or large microscopy layouts; they are different work categories.
Move a small batch, confirm its masters and delivery files, then update the inventory. Consult current FigEditor plans for actual tool access and credits only after the technical pilot establishes what you need. Retain the old source and rights records even after the new workflow becomes your default.