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Live Online Course – 6th edition

Naturalistic and Scientific Illustration 2: Digital techniques

December 4th, 7th, and 11th, 2026

Course Scientific Illustration 2 Digital Techinques

Course Overview

This course intends to give a hands-on overview of the most current technological advances in the field, such as basic computer graphics applied to science illustration.

Practical examples will be selected based on the applicants’ interests and suggestions. The course will be focused on how to translate traditional drawings into an improved digital version.

Participants of the course Naturalistic and Scientific Illustration 1: Traditional Techniques can benefit from receiving a 20% discount for this course. If you are taking both courses please add that information in the registration form for this course.

Places are limited to 16 participants.

Programme

  • Drawing basics: Halftone rendering, textures, transparency object shadows, reflected light and cast shadows.
  • Drawing tools and media:
    • Line and ink: Basic techniques, rendering styles.
    • Pencil: Basic techniques, examples.
  •  Introduction to computer graphics.
  • Vector vs. bitmap (raster) drawing.
  • Bitmap (raster) graphics software: Adobe Photoshop© basics, Main tools, layer workflow.
  • The use of colour in digital media: Chromatic diagrams, bit depth, image corrections.
  • Vector graphics software: Adobe Illustrator© basics, Bezier-curve drawing, pattern filling, examples.
  • Examples and subjects of scientific illustration.
    • Illustrating plants, animals and geological features.
    • Illustrating animals in their habitats.
  • References in scientific illustration.
    • Use of 3D scanned specimens as a reference for scientific illustration.
    • Other sources of information: photography, microscopy, camera lucida.

Assumed Background

This course is of intermediate level, some basic experience with illustration and basic knowledge in computer graphics software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator) and in personal computers is strongly recommended.

Software

All participants must have a computer (Windows, Macintosh) with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator installed. If you do not have a license you can get a temporary trial license.  Webcam is strongly recommended, and a good internet connection.

Dates & Schedule

Online live sessions on December 4th, 7th, and 11th, 2026

From 15:00 to 19:30 (Madrid time zone).

Total course hours: 26 (13.5 hours of online live lessons, plus 2.5 hours of recorded lessons, and 10 hours of participants working on their own, with tutored exercises).

This course is equivalent to 1 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The recognition of ECTS by other institutions depends on each university or school.

Format

This course will be taught using a combination of live (synchronous) sessions on Zoom, pre-recorded lectures, and drawings to be completed in between live sessions.

Live sessions will be recorded. However, attendance to the live sessions is required to obtain the course certificate.

This course will be delivered in English.

Instructor

Oscar Sanisidro instructor for Transmitting Science

Dr. Oscar Sanisidro
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares
Spain

Registration Fees

Registration

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Organiser

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Collaborators

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