v2026.1CASRAI Dictionary 714 entries across 20 domains · CC-BY 4.0714 entries · CC-BY 4.0

Dictionary termTrack DStablev2026.2

Image manipulation

Adjustment of a research image (gel, blot, microscopy, etc.) in a way that misrepresents the underlying data or violates journal image-integrity policies. Manipulation is problematic when it changes the conclusion a reader would draw or when it would not survive disclosure.

ByCASRAI Editorial Board

· Last updated 21 May 2026

Examples

Worked examples

Is an instance
Splicing two non-adjacent lanes of a Western blot together without indicating the splice with a clear divider.

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

Not an instance
Increasing brightness uniformly across an entire micrograph and noting the adjustment in the figure legend, with the original image deposited as supplementary data.

Editorial commentary

A practical taxonomy distinguishes (1) inappropriate adjustments (over-aggressive contrast that removes bands, selective brightness over only part of a figure), (2) deletions or additions of features, and (3) duplications of regions within or across figures. Journals such as those following Rossner & Yamada (2004) guidelines and EMBO Press policy require uncropped original images at submission. Forensic tools (Proofig, ImageTwin) are now used at submission screening by several publishers.

References

Rossner & Yamada (2004) 'What's in a picture? The temptation of image manipulation', J Cell Biol 166:11-15
EMBO Press image integrity guidelines (current edition)

Also known as

image fraud · figure manipulation · image doctoring

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element

xml

<role vocab="credit"
      vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
      vocab-term="Image manipulation"
      vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/image-manipulation" />

Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)

json

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "DefinedTerm",
  "name": "Image manipulation",
  "identifier": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/image-manipulation",
  "description": "Adjustment of a research image (gel, blot, microscopy, etc.) in a way that misrepresents the underlying data or violates journal image-integrity policies. Manipulation is problematic when it changes the conclusion a reader would draw or when it would not survive disclosure.",
  "inDefinedTermSet": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/domain/research-integrity-and-misconduct/",
  "url": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/image-manipulation",
  "sameAs": [
    "image fraud",
    "figure manipulation",
    "image doctoring"
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}

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