Rendering a Biological cell

[Merijn]

Hey all,

I am trying to replicate the following cells in a render:
http://biology.usf.edu/cmmb/images/cells2.jpg

I have tried so many different material types for the cell-membrane, but I don't seem to get the same look (transparent in the middle, colorful and reflective at the edges).

Any suggestions?

[TpwUK]

Thin film for the membrane with a cellular bump map, adjust the IOR to make the colours alter to suit your needs

Martin

[edwardo]

Hi, im not sure if this comes close...

As Martin suggested, a 'thin film' for the outer sphere with an appropriate bump, and here I have tried a 'velvet' material for the inner sphere to get that backlit glow. The bump maps need fiddled until they look right, but maybe this is a decent starting point?

I'll attach the hip as well. hope it helps.

E

[TpwUK]

Ha! Nice one Edwardo - I think yours looks better than the original one

Martin

[Merijn]

Thanks both of you!

Yes, I had tried thinfilm, but I just could not get the transparency right.
I'll try duplicating the membrane and using multiple materials.

Thanks for sending the bip edwardo, your cell core looks quite a bit better than mine as well!

Cheers!

[edwardo]

It dawned on me... you could try putting a circular gradient opacity map over the outer 'thin film' material to make the centre more transparent!? (you would need to place these on each cell depending on the camera angle - tedious I guess!

[Merijn]

Yeah that could work. Unfortunately I have one single cell model and one that has 6 cells attached to each other, so I guess that would get very tricky..

But the materials in the bip file will do perfectly! Thanks!