Microcomputer-based 3D modeling as an aid to 2D illustration.

Microcomputer 3D software can create useful references for 2D medical illustrations. When combined with the layering capability of illustration software like Photoshop these illustrations based on renders from 3D reference materials may be used to create small, stratified visual databases. The evolution of 2D digital medical illustration will be characterized by the increasing density of information. Today's layered Photoshopfiles are progenitors of tomorrow's informated illustrations, deeply layered 2D visuals that may contain multiple illustrations, diagnostic images, and multimedia content.