How to Create an Effective Methods Video

What Is a Methods Video?

Method videos are short videos (≤ 1 min) aimed at improving the transparency of a specific piece of the methods published in a scientific research article. They should capture a particularly challenging, critical or nuanced part of a method, or an experimental setup that is hard to describe. The video should help fellow researchers to more easily build off of your work and discoveries.

Examples of Methods Videos Created by Cell Press Authors

See our Methods Video portal here:

Creative Guidelines

  • Keep itshort—around1 minute.
  • Prepare a script and rehearse it alongside your animation, or simply skip audio and use textual phrases on the video.
  • Keep it simple.
  • Focus onone particularly challenging, critical or nuanced part of a method, or an experimental setup that is hard to describe in words.
  • You can speed up less relevant aspects of a method and slow down more important ones.
  • Picture your audience.
  • Your audience members are scientists who are likely to incorporate your methods into their own work.
  • Emphasize a key step(s) or requirement for the method/setup to be successful.

Technical Guidelines

Length: 1minute

File Size:50 mb max.

Legibility: Avoid small text—some resolution may be lost during compression of the video.

Software:To create the video, please use whichever software you are most comfortable with.

File type: .MP4, .MOV, .AVI, or.WMVarebest.

Copyright Information

Because the video is published and permanently associated with the article, as the creator of the video, you grant to Elsevier Inc. a nonexclusive license to (1) publish the video both in association with your Cell Press article and as an independent item in electronic media,(2) grant permissions for reproductions, and (3) authorize document delivery and abstracting services. In addition, you grant Cell Press permission to (4) alter your video as necessary to allow for incorporation into the article and journal website.

The video will be included with the article wherever the article appears in electronic format.However, you retain all other rights and copyright, and you are free to use the video in any way that you like.