This student from Georgia shows the step-by-step process on how to accurately draw a scientific beetle illustration.

McKenzie Young explains every step of the process of illustrating a beetle, including identification, microscopic inspection, graphite sketch, and digital illustration.

McKenzie says in the video: "I start by inspecting the beetle and identifying it under the microscope. I’m using the microscope as a camera Lucida so I can trace the parts of the insect exactly as I see them and then put them into photoshop.

"I print that out then trace it on a lightbox, next I fill the outline in with tones and shading then I get feedback from my professor and put it into photoshop.

"Finally, I had to colour it digitally which took forever and then it’s done."

The video was taken at her college campus at the University of Georgia in November, 2020.

McKenzie Young shows a step-by-step process of illustrating a beetle, including identification, microscopic inspection, graphite sketch, and digital illustration. The video was taken at her college campus (University of Georgia) in November 2020.

I start by inspecting the beetle and identifying it under the microscope
I’m using the microscope as a camera Lucida so I can trace the parts of the insect exactly as I see them and put them into photoshop

I print that out then trace it on the Lightbox next I fill the outline in with tones and shading then I get feedback from my professor and put it into photoshop.
I then had to colour it digitally which took forever and then it’s done.