VISORAFORGE · VIDEO GUIDELINES
Video Submission Guide
Plan a research video that is accurate, accessible, ethical and useful alongside its written article.
Plan the video around a research question
Before filming, decide what readers need to see to understand the method or result. Identify the audience, key steps, equipment, safety considerations and decisions that affect the outcome. Create a short storyboard or shot list so that the video follows the same sequence as the written protocol.
Show the essential details
Use stable framing, adequate lighting and clear focus. Show labels, scales, instrument settings and materials when they are relevant. Keep critical actions visible long enough to understand. If a step is too small to see in a wide shot, add a close-up while preserving context. Avoid dramatic editing that interrupts the procedure or exaggerates a result.
Narration, labels and accessibility
Use plain, precise narration. Define specialized terms and explain what viewers should notice. On-screen text should be large, high contrast and visible long enough to read. Do not use color alone to distinguish samples or conditions. Provide accurate captions or a transcript, identify speakers and include meaningful audio cues. Essential information should remain available to a reader who cannot hear the video or distinguish fine visual detail.
Accuracy and reproducibility
The video should represent the work as performed. Describe edits, time compression, omitted pauses or composite sequences when they could affect interpretation. Include procedural details that are not visible in the video in the manuscript. Report deviations from an established protocol and distinguish illustrative examples from experimental results.
Ethics, privacy and permissions
Obtain permission from everyone whose face, voice or other identifying feature appears. Secure publication consent for patients and research participants when applicable; participation consent alone may not authorize public video. Remove badges, computer screens, documents, location details and other identifiers that are not necessary. Authors must clear rights for music, images, maps, graphics, software screens and other third-party content.
File preparation
Submit an MP4 or WebM file with a descriptive filename. Check that the audio is understandable, the image is not corrupted and the file plays from beginning to end. Avoid embedding confidential comments or personal metadata. Keep a secure copy of the source footage in case the editorial team requests verification or a revised version.
What to include with the video
Provide a concise title, a descriptive caption, a transcript or caption file, and a written explanation of the video’s relationship to the article. List any significant editing or third-party material. If a video cannot be shared publicly for ethical or legal reasons, explain the restriction in the submission and contact the editors before uploading sensitive footage.