To model the Petri dish I looked for source images to use as visual guides. I didn’t use them as guides within Maya, instead, I watched a YouTube tutorial that was for Blender (because I couldn't find one for Maya) so that I could get an idea of how to create a model. I used a cylinder and created additional subdivisions to create a smoother surface. I extruded some subdivisions in the middle to act as the ridge that I’m assuming is used for the lid.Â
For the textures, I used the default ‘glass’ texture in Arnold and created a stainless steel surface for the petri dish to sit on.
The size of the Petri dish is the Standard Petri dish size: 100 x 15 mm
The Diatom storyboard that I've decided to work on includes a model of the Earth. I found some tutorials on YouTube as well as source images that I used for texturing.
‘How to Make Planets in Maya’ by Alex Conolan was very helpful.
I usually watch YouTube on 1.5x speed to save time, however, when it comes to learning from tutorials it was more helpful to do the opposite and play at 0.5x speed!
I sourced some Earth textures from NASA and used the lowest resolution files, however half way through my model creation process I decided to use the textures that were featured in the tutorial because they looked brighter and it was less confusing to use the same ones he was using in the demo.
I’ll have to go back into the images in Photoshop and add the aqua Diatoms effects because the current texture doesn’t show them.
I've come up with two concepts that are similar but different. I can't decide which one to go with!
One concept has a more 'informative' slant that aims to provide the viewer with an insight into the importance of Diatoms.
The second concept celebrates the beauty of Diatoms via the viewfinder of a Kaleidoscope.
I started drawing the storyboard with pencil and paper, but I decided to go into Procreate on my iPad so I could create a clearer vision of what I'd like to explore. This helps me cut corners in a way by already looking at colour imagery style so that I can jump into modelling faster.
In order to gather inspiration for my storyboard I’ve been looking at a variety of scientific animations that depict cellular structures and and scientific concepts.
Some of the things that I’m focusing on include:
The storytelling technique used
The techniques used to simplify and explain concepts
Visual styles
Animation style
Voice overs, music and sound effectsÂ
The Whole Brain Catalog- Animated by Drew Berry
I like the way that this animation starts with the subject; a mouse and takes your through his skull into his brain and into the different sections of the brain and cellular structures.Â
Many of the scientific imagery and animations I’ve been looking at feel so foreign and abstract that setting the scene in this way makes it more comprehensive.
Sound: Contemporary classical music
Drew Berry- Organelles of a human cell
His animations include interesting sounds that at times feel exaggerated or mechanical. Especially when you consider that all these minute entities are inside our bodies. Questions that I’m thinking about…If you could record the sound of Dinatoms swirling around in the ocean what sound would they make?
California Academy of Sciences- Travel Deep inside a Leaf
This animation takes an approach similar to what I’ve been sketching out. The animation begins by depicting a tree and zooming into the leaves, displaying tiny ants crawling on leaves and zooms into the leaf and inside a microscopic perspective within the structure of the leave.
It’s effective because it provides the viewer with context rather than just showcasing microscopic images that can sometimes feel quite abstract.
Seeing this animation and comparing it to others, has provided me with affirmation that I’m heading in the right direction. Instead of a voiceover it uses text.
The screenshots below demonstrate the intro sequence that starts off with imagery of a tree to set the context, then zooms through the leaves to focus on a single leaf with ants crawling over it before entering into the cellular structures…
The Journey to the MicrocosmosÂ
Join hosts Hank Green and Deboki Chakravarti as they take you on a fascinating, reflective journey through the microcosmos.
With music by An
This channel explores the tiny, unseen world that surrounds us. The quality of the videos is pretty amazing, they use powerful microscopes to capture microorganisms in action with colourful vibrancy. I was curious about how they capture the images and whether they are modified with dyes or animation effects. So I did some investigation and found a video in which they go through the process.Â
I learnt that they use a variety of lenses and light to shine through the microscopes. Light field, darkfield, brightfield, and phase contrast microscopy techniques are all used on the mostly translucent microorganisms which are referred to as ‘amplitude objects, because the different types of light including polarized, UV light and other lights that reflect on them and through them, so the shifting movements inside them become visible to us. I’ll need to work out how to play with translucent effects and light to capture similar appearances in the models I create.Â
Here is the video that outlines the process they take to capture the imagery
I did verify that they don't use coloured dyes, unlike other scientific imagery-capturing techniques.Â
This image shows the same microorganism displayed using different types of light as mentioned above.
The Journey to the Microcosmos -The tiny worlds of single-celled organisms
Soundtrack is ambient and their video features an engaging voiceover that takes the viewer through a variety of organisms.
Colours- The images are captured through microscopes and I’m surprised by the vibrancy of the colours. They do seem real and not recreated with effects because you can actually see the cells moving around. Phase contrast microscopy. Because many of the microorganisms are transparent the light.
Harvard Online- Electron Transport Chain
Explainer animation that combines animation, text and a voice-over. The colours are overly saturated, I personally don’t like this visual approach as it distances the viewer from the reality of what they are seeing. These are cellular structures are within us, the animation style is very synthetic looking.
This style of animation and approach is an example of what I’ll try to avoid.
Sound: Voice-over and ambient electronic music in the background.
Nucleus Medical Media- Biology: Cell StructureÂ
This was an award-winning animation back in 2012. The imagery is crisp and designed in a way that takes complex biological concepts into simple easy to easy-to-understand explanations. The voice-over and the overlaid text as well as the ambient electronic soundtrack all work really well with the lively and vibrant animation style.
I’ve been collecting a wide range of images of the different types of diatoms that I can potentially model in 3D. There are literally thousands of different shapes. I’ll start with a basic one called ‘Diploneis puella’ until I can increase my Maya skills. I had to tweak the images in Photoshop because they were not the same size, I’ve also had to use other Diatom images to work out what the side profile might look like because the original microscopic image I found didn't have a side view.
There are over 1000 different types of Diatoms so I’ll need to decide which ones to focus on. I found an entire website dedicated to diacoms, which contains a variety of imagery that I used to collect a variety of shapes that I’d like to explore.
I modelled a ‘Diploneis Puella Diatom’ using DAS clay in order to get a feel for what it would look like in three dimensions. Most of the imagery that I’m sourcing is taken with microscopes, which makes the algae quit flat looking. There are dimensions so it provides me with some idea of the depth.
Colour selection might be a challenge given that most of the imagery is either black and white or stained. I did manage to find a video of live Diatoms wiggling around, I’m using these as a source to help me decide on colours.
Diatom the amazing Microrganism that makes all Living things alive!
After many investigations into cells and microcosms, I’ve found the minuscule entity I’d like to explore for my assignment. Diatoms!
I had no idea how powerful these organisms are until I stumbled across this National Geographic video...
I’m excited to be able to start thinking about how I might visually communicate the importance of Diatoms.
Diatoms produce 20-30% of the air we breathe!
According to Wikipedia and Diatoms.org. A diatom is any member of a large group comprising several genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world.
They are single-celled algae. Scientists often refer to them as organisms that live in glass houses because they are the only organisms on the planet with cell walls composed of transparent and ornately patterned opaline silica.
After gathering a wide range of microscopic imagery of the types of microorganisms and cells that I plan to explore I decided to take a look at how designers have traditionally visually documented biomedical concepts.
I came across a really informative vides of an online conference that celebrated 100 yeast of Biomedical Visualization, hosted by the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences.
After watching this I went down a rabbit hole of inspiration and created some more moodboards that captured at a high level the history of how biomedical illustration was first used to feed the curious minds of people who were only just starting to discover the mysteries of human anatomy.Â
As technology improved, you can see how we delved into the details from exploring the human organs into the miniscule matter which can’t be seen by the naked eye. As time goes by, different techniques have evolve to help us learn and train individuals into the various areas of science.Â
Today we have advanced into the animated, third dimension by using Augmented Reality and Virtual reality which enables us to view microscopic structures and medical procedures as well as the inner workings of our bodies in a way that Thomas Smith Jones the founder of biomedical Visualization could never have imagined, back in 1921.
I also stumbled across this virtual gallery that contains the works of Thomas Smith Jones as well as some of the recent graduates of the University of Illinois.
Another reel by UIC BVIS that shows the progression of how artists have helped scientists and physicians visualise 'inner spaces' over time.
Microbiology includes a variety of living organisms including bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae.
 I’ve collected a range of microscopic imagery using Google images. And created a range of moodboards to understand the variety of shapes and colours, that I hope will provide me with some inspiration.
Moodboards that explore different types of microbiology-
I’ve decided to focus on Theme 1: Inner Space, because I’m fascinated by the world that exists all around us and inside us, that we cannot see with the naked eye.
At the moment I’m exploring microbiology as well as cellular biology. I haven’t decided which one to focus on yet, so I’ll do some research to investigate which one might be more interesting to explore in a 3 Dimensional space.
Exploring Cellular Biology
Cell biology is the study of cell structures, functions and behaviour. Cells are the building blocks for all living and functioning organisms whether human, fish, insects and even plants. There are different cell categories including stem cells, blood cells and tissue specific cells. If I decide to focus my assignment on cells I’d focus on stem cells which are slightly different depending on whether they are neural stem cells (brain& spinal cord) and hematopoietic stem cells (blood and bone marrow).
Learning the basics in Maya... It's challenging & exciting to learn a new program. LinkedIn 2024 Essential Training, Youtube videos and in-class tutorials have been very useful. Taking notes has made it easier to remember where all the features and menus are!
