The Process of Creating an Illustration This illustration

The Process of Creating an Illustration This illustration shows two spiral galaxies - each with supermassive black holes at their center - as they are about to collide. The latest Chandra results suggest that such collisions may cause extreme black hole and galaxy growth in the early Universe, setting the stage for the birth of quasars.

The Process of Creating an Illustration • The First directions on how to begin the mergers illustration - Present specific directions and visual samples • Following the steps of multiple sketches and the feedback received - Focusing on interpretation of feedback - How I rely on how descriptive the feedback is - Importance of patience and communication

Initial Information to Begin Illustration • Benefits of sample image to work from - helps with starting point for texture, color, shape, perspective • Different types of initial visual samples provided - simulation stills (as seen to the left) - simple pencil sketches - crude computer layouts - other space science images - images unrelated to space science but have similar characteristics

Initial Information to Begin Illustration 1 2 3 4 • First directions communicated through email - 2 merging galaxies - … close to stage #4 but not completely destroyed as #5 - pick our own colors 5 6 7 8 - starry background - black holes in the center of each galaxies as bright white spots • Main points of the story - galaxies merging - merge causing star formation - black holes in center are lighting up

Sketch A • Creating the first sketch - keep very close to the sample image - take all direction very literally - only begin with the most important and complex elements

Feedback to Sketch A • Less like simulation data (C) • More like an actual optical image of merging galaxies - similar to A - texture, but not color, closer to B • Something in between #3 and #4 A B 1 2 3 4 5 C • Sweeping arm needs to be brighter • Each galaxy needs 3 arms, one of which will be the bridge between the two.

Sketch B • Less like simulation data (C) • More like an actual optical image of merging galaxies - similar to A - texture, but not color, closer to B • Something in between #3 and #4 A B 1 2 3 4 5 C • Sweeping arm needs to be brighter • Each galaxy needs 3 arms, one of which will be the bridge between the two.

Sketch C • Bridge too thin • Bridge should go straight across, almost to look as though it is coming from the center of each galaxy • Outer galaxy arms “swoop up” too much • Arms should swoop out of the line of sight in a smooth curve

Sketch D • Bridge too thin • Bridge should go straight across, almost to look as though it is coming from the center of each galaxy • Outer galaxy arms “swoop up” too much • Arms should swoop out of the line of sight in a smooth curve

Sketch D • Bridge is a bit dull and static • One black hole should be blue and one red to compliment Chandra data • Add starry background

Final Illustration • Bridge is a bit dull and static • One black hole should be blue and one red • Add starry background

Final Illustration • Bridge is a bit dull and static • One black hole should be blue and one red • Add starry background