Proofig AI FAQs
Discover how Proofig AI empowers researchers, publishers, and institutions to ensure image quality and integrity in peer-reviewed articles.
About Proofig AI and Its Role in Peer Reviewed Articles
About Proofig AI and Its role in peer reviewed articles
As an experienced scientific researcher for over two decades, Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal, Proofig AI co-founder, has witnessed the impact of inadvertent image errors in publications – errors that take a toll upon researchers, their institutes and publishers. Dr. Kolodkin-Gal identified a gap in solutions to prevent these errors, and he partnered with his fellow co-founders to develop this innovation, now known as Proofig AI.
Where does Proofig AI stand in the field of image verification for peer reviewed articles?
Proofig AI is at the forefront of scientific image verification, collaborating with world-leading scientific publishers, journals, and research institutions. Our AI-powered platform detects image manipulation, duplication, image plagiarism, AI-generated scientific images, and self-plagiarism risks. Proofig AI also supports graph, chart, diagram, and plot duplication and plagiarism detection, helping publishers and researchers screen more types of manuscript visuals with greater confidence.
Image Integrity in Peer Reviewed Articles
What kind of integrity issues can Proofig AI detect?
Proofig AI’s system detects a wide range of image issues, including:
Reuse from published papers (plagiarism) including images, graphs, charts, diagrams, and plots
Alterations and manipulations within images (e.g., cloning, editing, splicing)
- Self-Plagiarism
Our technology works across various image types, including microscopy, Western blots, and FACS images. Proofig AI’s comprehensive analysis compares images within the manuscript against each other and with extensive databases of published material, particularly those found in PubMed open access database, ensuring the uniqueness and integrity of your images. Click here to see some examples of the image errors Proofig AI detects.
What type of scientific visuals is Proofig AI intended for?
Proofig AI uses an advanced AI system and image processing to analyze a wide variety of images, including:
All types of microscopies (confocal, light or electron)
Western blots and gels
FACS
In-vivo and in-vitro images
Plants, plates, and more
- Graphs, charts, diagrams, and plots
Why is it essential to pre-check figures in an article?
Pre-checking figures is crucial because:
Journals only publish a fraction of the articles submitted by researchers. Ensuring image integrity could increase your chances of publication.
Even honest mistakes can lead to image integrity issues. Studies indicate that about 25% of all life science articles published may contain inappropriate image manipulations, duplications, or other integrity problems, most unintentionally.
An estimated 35,000 articles published between 2009 to 2016 might be prone to post-publication retraction due to faulty figures.
Proofig AI’s advanced AI technology detects various forms of image manipulation, duplication, image plagiarism, AI-generated scientific images, graph and chart reuse, and other integrity issues, helping you avoid costly retractions and protect your reputation.
(1) Morten P. Oksvold, Incidence of Data Duplications in a Randomly Selected Pool of Life Science Publications, Science and Engineering Ethics volume 22, pages487–496, 2016.
(2) Bik EM, et all., Analysis and correction of inappropriate image duplication: the Molecular and Cellular Biology Experience. Mol Cell Bio. 38 (20), 2018.
Detecting Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism in Scientific Images
Does Proofig AI function as a plagiarism detector for scientific images?
Yes, Proofig AI acts as an image plagiarism detector by comparing manuscript visuals against more than 155 million PubMed Open Source Database images, the industry’s largest image-plagiarism database. It detects reuse across scientific images, graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, and plots, helping researchers and publishers identify previously published visual content before submission or publication.
Can Proofig AI detect self-plagiarized images in my manuscript?
Yes, Proofig AI can detect self-plagiarized images by identifying instances where images from your previous publications are reused. By highlighting these cases, Proofig AI helps you adhere to ethical research practices and avoid potential publication issues related to self-plagiarism.
How does Proofig AI compare to manual image checking in terms of accuracy and time efficiency?
Proofig AI offers higher accuracy and significant time savings compared to manual checking. By helping to maintain the integrity of published research, Proofig AI can indirectly contribute to enhancing a journal’s standing in Journal Citation Reports. Our AI consistently applies rigorous standards, detecting subtle manipulations that might be missed by the human eye.
Enhancing Publication Success
How does Proofig AI assist researchers aiming to publish in Web of Science-indexed journals?
Proofig AI supports researchers targeting high-impact journals by helping them screen manuscript visuals before submission. The platform detects potential image-integrity issues such as duplication, manipulation, image plagiarism, AI-generated scientific images, and graph, chart, diagram, or plot reuse. By identifying issues earlier, Proofig AI helps researchers strengthen submission readiness while safeguarding research credibility and reputation.
Why is image integrity important for journals listed in the Science Citation Index, and how does Proofig AI help?
Image integrity is crucial for journals listed in the Science Citation Index because they are expected to publish high-quality, trustworthy research. Proofig AI helps authors and editors maintain these standards by detecting manipulation, duplication, image plagiarism, AI-generated scientific images, and graph, chart, table, diagram, or plot reuse before publication.
How can Proofig AI help improve a journal's ranking and credibility in the Journal Citation Reports?
Proofig AI contributes to enhancing a journal’s ranking and credibility in the Journal Citation Reports by ensuring the integrity and quality of the articles it publishes. By detecting and preventing image integrity issues before publication, Proofig AI helps reduce the risk of retractions and corrections that can negatively impact a journal’s reputation and impact factor. Maintaining high standards of research integrity leads to increased trust and citations from the scientific community, positively influencing the journal’s ranking in the Journal Citation Reports.
Proofig AI's Advanced Features
Can Proofig AI detect image integrity issues in non-life science fields?
While Proofig AI has deep roots in life-science image integrity, its technology is designed to detect integrity issues in captured, non-computer-generated scientific images regardless of the field of study. Proofig AI now also supports integrity screening across graphs, charts, diagrams, and plots, making it relevant for graph, and data-heavy fields such as computer science, data science, engineering, economics, and other disciplines where visual evidence is central to the published record.
How does Proofig AI handle images with intentional legitimate duplications (e.g. intentional scaling \ merge in confocal microscopy)?
Proofig AI includes mechanisms that help reduce unnecessary review burden by identifying some legitimate or redundant duplications before they are surfaced for review. However, the system does not make final scientific judgments. Some intentional, expected, or methodologically valid duplications may still appear in the results, and Proofig AI provides investigation tools to help users examine flagged content in context. Users decide which findings should be included in the final report.
How does Proofig AI stay updated with new AI image generation techniques?
Proofig AI continuously monitors advancements in AI image generation and updates its detection models as new risks emerge. Our AI-generated image detection is regularly improved through model updates and additional retraining, helping strengthen detection of newer AI-generated scientific images while reducing false positives on legitimate scientific imagery.
What is a sub-image?
A sub-image is a single, distinct visual element within a larger figure. Examples include one microscopy image, one line of western blot bands, one graph, one chart, one diagram, or one plot. Proofig AI can analyze a wide variety of manuscript visuals across scientific image types and graph- or data-heavy figure types.
Who needs Proofig AI's solutions?
Publishers and editors for pre- and post-publication integrity analysis
Principal investigators and researchers
Grant committees and funding bodies
Patent offices
Research ethics committees and integrity officers
Whether you’re preparing to publish, submit a grant, file a patent, or review published work, Proofig AI helps safeguard image integrity across scientific images, graphs, charts, diagrams, and plots.
How do I get started?
Using Proofig AI is simple:
Log in to your Proofig AI account.
Upload your manuscript or images (PDF or image files).
Our AI system automatically analyzes manuscript visuals for integrity issues.
Review the results and any flagged issues.
Generate a comprehensive report with one click.
The entire process is automated and typically takes just a few minutes. Our platform includes intuitive guides to assist you at every step.
How much time does the entire process take?
Only a few minutes. Proofig AI’s automated system analyzes manuscript visuals in minutes and automatically generates an analysis report. Processing time may vary depending on file size, number of sub-images, and enabled checks.
Do I need to submit all files manually?
Proofig AI supports both manual and automated uploads. Manuscripts can be uploaded individually, through supported multi-upload workflows where enabled, or through automated integrations such as REST API.
How much does it cost?
Our pricing is based on the number of sub-images. We also offer a volume discount. You can also buy a yearly package that fits your needs. For more information, please visit our Pricing Page, or contact us sites with detailed information.
Many top universities and research institutions are adopting Proofig AI to ensure the integrity of their manuscripts for pre-publication. We offer customizable pricing packages tailored to the unique needs of each customer. For information on institutional licenses, please reach out to us directly – contact us.
Technical Specifications
What type of files does Proofig AI support, and can I upload images?
Proofig AI supports the analysis of your entire article via a single PDF file, up to 50MB, with less than 200 pages and up to 750 sub-images. You can also upload images, which Proofig AI will automatically convert into a PDF for analysis. Simply upload your manuscript or images, and Proofig AI will do all the hard work for you.
What are the system requirements?
Do I need high-quality sub-images?
What do I need to download to work with Proofig AI?
Privacy and Security
Does Proofig AI use users' data to train their system and algorithms?
How does Proofig AI ensure the confidentiality of my data?
Who sees my images and my results?
Proofig AI’s system uses a private server for you to log in and upload your file. You receive your results confidentiality and privately.
