Keep separate records for a chart's underlying information and the graphic used to display it. Identify what you obtained, where it came from, and what use is supported by the relevant record. Redrawing a chart does not automatically resolve every question about the source material, attribution, or publication rights.
Identify the material you actually obtained
A chart found in a report may contain numerical data, explanatory labels, design choices, and a caption. Record which elements you intend to use. Copying the graphic, extracting values, and creating an original visualization from independently obtained data are different production activities.
Give the chart a project identifier and preserve its source context. A cropped image saved without the report title or surrounding explanation can become difficult to interpret later. Record the relevant version or date so the author can distinguish the source used in the manuscript from a newer or different release.
Keep the data record distinct from the image record
For the underlying information, record the source, definitions, units, and any conditions relevant to its proposed use. For the graphic, record the creator or publisher information available and the supporting usage documentation. Do not assume that one record answers every question about the other.
This separation is practical even when the same organization supplied both. The author may replace the design while retaining the data, or change the dataset while reusing an approved visual treatment. Separate records make those changes visible and prevent an old approval from being applied to a materially different asset.
Preserve context when extracting values
If values are taken from a chart, compare them with the underlying table where available. Record uncertainty when the graphic does not support precise extraction. Do not convert a visually estimated bar height into an exact number merely because a spreadsheet or generated paragraph expects a clean value.
Keep the definitions and scope attached to the numbers. A chart about one period or population should not become a broader claim after its caption is shortened. Source accuracy is a separate review from rights, but both depend on preserving enough context to understand what the material actually represents.
Review the proposed reuse on its own terms
Describe whether the book will reproduce the image, adapt its presentation, or use source information in a new chart. Compare that plan with the relevant supporting record and resolve uncertainty with the responsible source or an appropriately qualified reviewer. Avoid using a credit line as a substitute for that assessment.
KDP's content guidance places responsibility for rights on the publisher. An editorial inventory helps organize the evidence, but it does not decide legal questions about a particular reuse. Keep unresolved items explicit and outside the approved release assets until the necessary review is complete.
Check the new visual against the verified information
When creating a new chart, verify labels, scales, units, categories, and the relationship between the displayed values. A fresh design can introduce a misleading comparison even when the underlying numbers were copied correctly. Review the chart's message as well as its appearance.
If AI helps generate the graphic or its explanatory text, preserve that origin separately. Generated polish does not verify the data or establish rights to the source. Keep the approved information record available to the reviewer so corrections can be made without returning to an ambiguous screenshot each time.
Reconcile the final chart package
Before export, compare the actual chart, caption, source note, and usage record. Confirm that they all refer to the same material and intended use. A late data update can leave a caption pointing to an older release, while an artwork replacement can require a different credit or review.
Save the editable data, the final graphic, and the supporting records together in the project history. The publication handoff should identify the approved version clearly. This gives later editors a reliable way to update the chart while preserving the distinction between numerical evidence, visual presentation, and the basis for including the material in the book.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for this publishing decision.
Does redrawing a chart automatically settle its rights questions?
No. Identify the material being reused and evaluate the relevant records for that proposed use. A new visual appearance does not, by itself, resolve every issue concerning the underlying source.
Can I estimate exact values from a small chart image?
Do not present uncertain visual estimates as exact source data. Look for an underlying table and preserve any remaining uncertainty in the working record and the resulting explanation.
Why keep data and artwork records separate?
They can change independently and may involve different sources or conditions. Separate records help reviewers see what was obtained, what was created, and what the final publication actually includes.
What must I check, disclose, and verify myself when AI helped produce the book?
Review facts, rights, and source material yourself, record which parts were AI-assisted or AI-generated so you can answer Amazon’s disclosure question accurately, and treat every automated check as a starting point rather than a verdict.
See what the compliance checks cover