Elsevier Video Abstract Guide

Elsevier is one of the world's largest academic publishers, operating more than 2,500 journals across science, technology, medicine, and the social sciences. These include high-impact titles such as The Lancet, Cell, and publications across the ScienceDirect platform. Elsevier supports video abstracts through its Research Elements programme and displays them prominently on ScienceDirect article pages.

Elsevier recommends video abstracts be between 30 seconds and 5 minutes long. The preferred format is MP4. Resolution of 1080p (1920×1080) is recommended; 720p is the minimum. Video files should not exceed 150 MB for most journals, though limits can vary.

Elsevier strongly recommends including subtitles for accessibility. SRT files are the standard format. Audio should be clear — a professional voiceover or AI-generated narration with good audio quality is appropriate.

Elsevier guidance emphasises making video abstracts accessible to a broad audience, not just specialists. Cover the research question, methods, key findings, and their importance. Avoid dense jargon. Elsevier notes that video abstracts with clear visuals and compelling narration consistently outperform text-only articles in article views, shares, and citations.

Elsevier's Research Elements platform (data in brief, methods, software, etc.) also accepts video elements that explain methods and datasets.

SciReel generates an MP4 video abstract with AI narration, SRT subtitles, and a written transcript — all the files Elsevier requires. The script is structured around the standard sections Elsevier recommends and draws on the full text of your paper, producing a more accurate and richer summary than a manual video based only on your abstract.

When submitting to an Elsevier journal through Editorial Manager or EES, look for a 'Video Abstract' or 'Multimedia' file category during the file upload step. Upload the MP4 and SRT files separately. For Cell Press journals, check the specific author guidelines — some Cell titles have their own video requirements and production standards. Always check the author guide for your target journal before submitting.