• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
SayoStudio

SayoStudio

Seeking: Scientific dreamers in need of a partner to visualize their discoveries & technology.

  • Case Studies
  • Services
  • Our Process
  • About Us
    • FAQs
  • Get In Touch
  • Gallery
  • Blog

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Microbiome Landscape 3D Drawn Art

January 8, 2016 by Nicolle Fuller Leave a Comment

Our bodies are made up of the cells encoded by our unique DNA–right? Current research suggests that the microbes that coexist with us are just as much US, as our ‘own’ DNA encoded cells. For every one of our DNA encoded cells, 10 microbes exist. This editorial illustration pictures the nasonia wasp, one of the key research subjects, made up of millions of microbes.

Using Zbrush to Create a Science Illustration of the Wasp Microbiome Landscape

For Science News magazine’s special feature on the microbiome, I illustrated a wasp ‘composed’ of microbes. Here is a how-to on creating the microbial-wasp science illustration for the Science News article on the Microscopic Menagerie.  Check it out for more on the science and links to other artists’ great illustrations. In this blog post, you’ll find insights into my process creating the 3D microbiome landscape art.

In our body, 10 microbes exist for each of our own DNA encoded Cells.

Trillions of cells encoded by our unique DNA make up our bodies–right? Current research is diving into another rabbit hole by suggestions that the microbes that coexist with us are just as much US, as our ‘own’ DNA encoded cells. For every one of our DNA encoded cells, 10 microbes exist.

The microbiome is defined as the collective genomes of the microbes (composed of bacteria, bacteriophage, fungi, protozoa and viruses) that live inside and on the human body. We have about 10 times as many microbial cells as human cells. –Merriam-Webster Dictionary

To better understand the microbiome, scientists study species like the Nasonia wasp’s microbiome.

 

Envisioning the Art

My initial sketch of the Nasonia wasp partially covered in the 3D microbiome landscape.To review the composition and overall accuracy, I started with a pencil sketch to share with Science News. I started by looking up references of the Nasonia wasp (a small parasitoid). After I sketched the wasp, I added microbes onto the very front of the specimen as an example of where I was headed. Science News agreed that it was on track, but gave me some feedback. For example, to not avoid monoculture areas like I originally had in the eye.

Even though we wanted the final style to look more hand-drawn and less computer-generated, I decided to use 3D software to help me with the nuances of the microbial shading. My plan was to first sculpt the wasp, then harness computing power to scatter the microbes. Finally, I would finish up with sketched details in Photoshop. I started out using ZBrush’s z-spheres to create the underlying shape of the wasp. If you’re not familiar with z-spheres, they’re a fantastic way to quickly create a mesh (model) without traditional polygon modeling skills. It’s basically like stringing together beads to create your shape.

Sculpting the Nasonia wasp in ZBrush to later cover in a 3D microbiome landscape.Z-spheres remind me of the building toy Zoobs; essentially attaching together different ball joints into long chains.

As I built my wasp I kept each major part separate so that I could easily modify the pose. Once I finished the structure, I was able to sculpt the wasp to define the body contours.

Next up, sculpting microbes

The initial steps of covering the Nasonia wasp in a 3D microbiome landscape using ZBrush.When I first started, I planned to use Zbrush to sculpt a base wasp and then Cinema 4d’s mograph module to populate the surface with microbes.  I quickly realized that the scattershot microbe approach wasn’t working. For the microbes to really look integrated and one with the wasp, I needed to selectively place the microbes according to the contours of its’ body. For example, more rod bacteria on the legs, strings of cocci along crevices, etc… My quick computer solution quickly turned into a VERY time-consuming process of hand placing each microbe using Zbrush’s insert mesh tool. Still very cool that it’s even possible with Zbrush!

I sculpted each variety of microbe (a few different rod bacteria, cocci, spiral…) and then created a custom insert brush in ZBrush. This way I could place the microbes across the wasp’s body in a time efficient manner. Afterwards, I used an alpha brush that added a mixed microbe-like texture when less detail was needed. However, I mostly had to revert to individual hand-placement of microbes because the alpha brush had too low of a resolution. After I had most of the microbes placed I turned on polypaint. Polypaint is a ZBrush function that allowed me to individually paint the color of each microbe, and further add texture.

Putting it All Together

I perfected the texture of the 3D microbiome landscape by rendering several different styles using ZBrush’s built-in materials and imported them into Photoshop to layer.Now that I had my wasp composed of microbes, I rendered several different styles using zbrush’s built-in materials and imported them into Photoshop. Different materials emphasize different lighting, reflection, and highlights. As a result, I ended up compositing several different renderings to get the correct mix of colors and shading. These renderings were produced by using several photoshop layer mix modes (overlay, color, multiply…). In the image above you can see several of the different lighting/material renderings I composited in Photoshop.

With the base microbes-wasp complete I continued to refine the art in photoshop. I duplicated some of the microbes into spots that were left a little bare in the ZBrush renderings by using the Photoshop clone tool. I then added some extra color to help it pop. With the help of Science News’ great art direction, I looked for parts that were flattening out and then hand-drew (on my Cintiq tablet) hatched shading to emphasize the distinction between microbes and highlight the overall body shape. Below left is the final color base consisting of several different composited renderings. Below center is the sketching I did over the top, and on the right is the final art with the drawn line-work on top of the color.

Refining the 3D microbiome landscape texture using Photoshop.

Thanks for checking out my work and my process. If would like more info on the specific programs or techniques mentioned, please let me know by commenting below.

3D microbiome landscape art published in the Science News magazine.

 

If you feel inspired and would like to join the science art conversation, please sign up for my newsletters!

Get Inspired!

...with new science art and sci-communication tips. Join the SayoStudio conversation to receive newsletters, special offers and more.

Related posts:

  1. How to Make a ZBrush Baby
  2. 2013 AOI Science Illustration Awards
  3. Art From Science Figures
  4. Art Inspiration 2020

Art Process Digital Art,  how-to,  insect,  microbes,  microbiome,  N.R. Fuller,  Nicolle R. Fuller,  photoshop,  probiotics,  process,  research,  SayoArt,  SayoStudio,  science,  Science News,  Wasp,  zbrush

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

RSS Recent Posts

  • SayoStudio Science Inspired Kid Art Gallery
  • Human Cell Atlas Science Cover
  • Animation of Volcano
  • Earth Day Graphics
  • Black Hole Drawings

Categories

  • Animation
  • Art Process
  • Business
  • ecology
  • health
  • Inspiration
  • nano
  • Science
  • Science Communication FAQ
  • Science Illustration
  • Scientist Feature
  • Work-Life-Balance
Ready to get started?

We are excited to learn more about your work to help visualize your story.



Footer

Navigation

  • Case Studies
  • Services
  • Our Process
  • About Us
    • FAQs
  • Get In Touch
  • Gallery
  • Blog

Contact

(703) 594-6755

info@sayostudio.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Resources

  • Science Image Pricing & Licensing Rights

Newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • SayoStudio Science Inspired Kid Art Gallery
  • Human Cell Atlas Science Cover
  • Animation of Volcano
  • Earth Day Graphics
  • Black Hole Drawings

sayostudioscience

#sciart—microbes 🔬to galaxies 🔭—Nicolle Fuller leads SayoStudio creating art & animation of science wonders. #scienceillustration

SayoStudio
Did you know you can make a free, DIY water filter Did you know you can make a free, DIY water filter out of wood?! 

Trees naturally have xylem -- a straw like tubing -- to transport water and nutrients into the tree. The pores inside these xylem tubes are very complex on a nanoscale. Water molecules can flow freely through the tubing, but larger bacterial cells get trapped inside the xylem structures.
Because this filtration system removes rotavirus and E. coli, these filters meet the standards set by @WHO for clean, drinkable water. 

Learn more about nanoscientist Krithika Ramchander and Dr. Rohit Karnik's (@mit_engineering) research and see an animation of the xylem catching bacteria on our blog: https://sayostudio.com/science-diy-water-filter-animation

Art and animation created by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio
.
.
.
#waterfilter #diywaterfilter #xylemwaterfilter #treefilter #tree #xylem #mit #engineeringweek #engineering #mitengineering #nanoscience #scicomm #sciart #scienceillustration #scientificillustration #sayostudio #animation
Is #ScienceFriday a thing on social media..? It is Is #ScienceFriday a thing on social media..? It is? Then allow us to introduce you to the basics of #StringTheory! ⠀
⠀
String theory is a Theory of Everything (Grand Unification Theory) that seeks to unite the gravitational force with the other fundamental forces (electromagnetism and nuclear forces) that are already described by quantum mechanics at the atomic level. ⠀
⠀
Gaining a foothold in the theoretical physics community during the 1970's, string theory states that fundamental particles such as quarks + electrons are not points of energy or matter, but result instead from the vibrations of one-dimensional ‘string-like’ entities on a far smaller scale. ⠀
⠀
Although string theory is highly debated and very complex, it poses very interesting solutions to why our observed universe acts the way it does. ⠀
What's your take on string theory? ⠀
⠀
Artwork by Nicolle R Fuller, SayoStudio ⠀
. ⠀
. ⠀
. ⠀
#stringtheory #granreunificationtheory #theoryofeverything #physics #quantummechanics #nuclear #multidimensions #dimensions #sciart #scienceillustration #scicomm #electromagnetism #energy #matter ⠀
⠀
⠀
⠀
Could neurodegenerative diseases really be caused Could neurodegenerative diseases really be caused by ancient viral infections? ⠀
⠀
The recent discovery of viral proteins in the brains of MS/ALS patients created a mysterious link between human genes and neurodegenerative disease. ⠀
⠀
Researchers are just now beginning to understand how ancient human endogenous retroviruses (or HERVs) affect our immune responses today. HERV proteins cause disruptions of nuclei in cells; triggering the cells to mount an immune response in the central nervous system. This disruption spreads from cell to cell progressively; and is shown to cause significant motor neuron deterioration. ⠀
⠀
You can read more about this research here: https://loom.ly/_uTOBvc ⠀
⠀
Artwork by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio for @the_scientist_magazine. ⠀
. ⠀
. ⠀
. ⠀
#msawarenessweek #multiplesclerosis #neurodegenerative #neurodisease #als #ms #medicalillustration #cell #sciart #scicomm #scienceillustration #medart #stem #sayostudio ⠀
Having your heart flutter on Valentine's Day might Having your heart flutter on Valentine's Day might seem normal...but for some, it's a common symptom of atrial fibrillation. 💓

Afib is a heart arrhythmia characterized by irregular or fast beating. Electrical signals in the heart dictate how often your heart pumps-- and for some this can get out of whack, causing palpitations and dizziness. 

Luckily  treatment exists to manage Afib. To learn more, visit the American Heart Association or click the link below: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation

Artwork by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio for @popularmechanics
.
.
.
#AmericanHeartMonth #NationalHeartMonth #Scienceillustration #sciart #hearthealth #americanheartassociation #afib #atrialfibrillation #arrhythmia #valentinesheart #heartart #medicalart #medicalillustration
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 SayoStudio · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT