Microtutorial #1: Scientific Illustration

Biology 1B Section 105 Microtutorial #1: January 30, 2005 Scientific Illustration Illustrations can be extremely useful in biology, but producing clear and accurate illustrations is not easy. What makes the task so difficult – and so useful – is that you must show the important aspects and only the important aspects of the specimen. Here is a brief guide to help you create the best possible drawings for your lab reports and assignments.

1. Draw what you actually see. Squint at the specimen to see its overall shape. Don’t let your preconceptions get in the way. Be careful to use correct proportions.

2. Use sharp, clear lines. Sharp lines make your drawing easier to under- stand and reproduce. In line drawings, don’t use shading or shadows.

3. Don’t forget to label. Labeling shows what is important about your drawing. Without labels, the viewer won’t know what to look at.

4. Zoom in if you need to. To show the overall shape of a specimen as well as its details, you can do multiple drawings and show how they relate to each other.

5. Indicate scale. Always indicate the size of your specimen with a scale bar. If you zoom in to show detail, indicate the scale for each drawing.

You may find it helpful to plan your drawings with a pencil sketch first. And don’t worry if you’re not artistically inclined – drawings will be judged not by their beauty but by their utility!