IOP Video Abstract Requirements

IOP Publishing is the publishing arm of the Institute of Physics. Selected IOP journals publish video abstracts alongside journal articles, including titles such as 2D Materials, Environmental Research Letters, European Journal of Physics, Journal of Neural Engineering, and New Journal of Physics. Because support varies by title, authors should always check the specific journal page before preparing a video abstract.

According to IOP's journal guidance, a video abstract should not be longer than four minutes and should introduce the topic of the article, highlight the main results and conclusions, and discuss future developments arising from the work. It should be understandable to viewers outside the immediate field and must include clear verbal narration.

IOP's technical specifications allow MOV, MPG, or MP4 files, with H.264 preferred, and set a maximum file size of 100 MB. A transcript text file is required for accessibility, and music soundtracks are not permitted under IOP's copyright policy.

IOP's submission guidance states that, before acceptance, authors can upload the video abstract as a compressed file through the submission system. After acceptance, the journal may ask for the file by email or via a cloud-sharing service if the file is too large for the system. As with all supplementary materials, you should check the individual journal's workflow before you submit.

On IOP's official support pages, video abstracts are positioned as a way to disseminate your work to the widest audience possible and to encourage people to read your paper. IOP's public author guidance frames this benefit qualitatively rather than as a fixed percentage uplift in traffic or citations, so it is safer to treat the upside as wider reach and stronger reader interest rather than a guaranteed numeric gain.

SciReel generates a narrated MP4 video abstract plus a written transcript, which maps well to IOP's stated journal workflow. The script structure covers topic, method, results, and significance, making it easier to adapt the output to IOP's editorial expectations before submission.

Always verify the current requirements with the specific IOP journal you are submitting to. IOP Publishing updates its author guidelines periodically, and individual journals may have requirements that differ from general IOP recommendations.