THE DYNAMIC JOURNEY OF MEGAKARYOCYTOPOIESIS
A 3D visualization created for graduate students in the biomedical sciences
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Audience: Graduate students and researchers in the field of biomedical sciences
Software: Pixologic ZBrush, Autodesk 3D Studio Max, Arnold Renderer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects
Intended Purpose: I visualized the cellular process of megakaryocytopoiesis with the intent of clarifying and distinguishing each step of the dynamic biological journey. A challenge in creating this piece involved finding agreeable resources, as many used different terminology and process breakdowns. Due to the many conflicting published studies, I aimed to clarify discrepancies between resources. I strive for scientific accuracy in each piece that I make, so I reached out to some content experts for guidance. I was fortunate to have my work examined by two hematologists at Harvard school of medicine who are well studied in megakaryocytopoiesis.
PRE-PRODUCTION: CONTENT AND COMPOSITION
Rough Sketch 1: Composition determined
Refined sketch 1: Composition determined, detail added, text not defined
Refined Sketch 2: Composition, content, and text all defined
PRODUCTION: 3D MODELING
Models were created in ZBrush. Materials and lighting were applied in 3D Studio Max.
The cancellous bone was comprised of several layers of the same model repeated over and over. I used a ZDepth pass to heavily blur the bone in post-production, creating a bright and airy background.
POST-PRODUCTION: COMPOSITING
Unedited beauty pass
Composited final without text
Ambient occlusion pass
Diffuse pass
Specular pass
Transmission pass
FINAL DELIVERABLE
LITERATURE CITED
Cantor, A. B. (2018). Thrombocytopoiesis. In Hematology (pp. 334–349). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-35762-3.00028-7
Deutsch, V. R., & Tomer, A. (2006). Megakaryocyte development and platelet production. British Journal of Haematology, 134(5), 453–466. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2006.06215.x
Geddis, A. E. (2010). Megakaryopoiesis. Seminars in Hematology, 47(3), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminhematol.2010.03.001
Guo, T., Wang, X., Qu, Y., Yin, Y., Jing, T., & Zhang, Q. (2015). Megakaryopoiesis and platelet production: Insight into hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Stem Cell Investigation, 2. https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2306-9759.2015.02.01
Machlus, K. R., & Italiano, J. E. (2013). The incredible journey: From megakaryocyte development to platelet formation. The Journal of Cell Biology, 201(6), 785–796. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201304054
Thon, J. N., Montalvo, A., Patel-Hett, S., Devine, M. T., Richardson, J. L., Ehrlicher, A., Larson, M. K., Hoffmeister, K., Hartwig, J. H., & Italiano, J. E. (2010). Cytoskeletal mechanics of proplatelet maturation and platelet release. The Journal of Cell Biology, 191(4), 861–874. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201006102