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C
Chalmazers
Participant
August 9, 2019
Question

How to create translucent effect on a biology cell and nucleus in Illustrator?

  • August 9, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 1026 views

Hi all illustratorer (?),

I am very new to illustrator and have been learning by myself during my cell biology phd life, it always requires pretty illustration when it comes to presentation and stuff. I am wondering how to create this kind of fluidic feeling via illustrator, something similar to the banner here: https://www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/impact-of-giving/impact-stories/researchers-and-pharmaceutical-companies-working-together-to-develop

nerve_cell_illustration_istock_000011328169_large.jpg?itok=fJJa76Mt

I tried gradient mesh and stuffs it is just not as good as i want it to be, it is very 2D-ish flatten and lack of translucent feeling?

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 9, 2019

First of all you will need to work in RGB color mode,because only then you can get colors to glow like that and blnd modes to produce this kind of effect.

But still it will be combination of different methods to achieve this. The example has most probably been made in some 3D application rather than Illustrator.

C
ChalmazersAuthor
Participant
August 9, 2019

Hi Monika.

Yes I assume they use some kind of 3D software to make this. I am just wondering how to get that kind of translucent effect in illustrator? It is almost like building a textured glass bead kind of thing?

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 9, 2019

In Illustrator you will have to build every single glowing curve, while in 3D software you could apply material and lighting to get it.

You can achieve this kind of stuff in Illustrator, but it's a lot of work.

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