DRAWING FORMAT
We are looking for simple line drawings of fossil dinoflagellates that do not yet have images in the current version of DINOFLAJ3. Representative drawings for the remaining "currently correct" genera are a priority. These should be vector drawings generated using programs such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw, not scanned bitmap images or photographs of specimens. The current drawings in DINOFLAJ3 are not perfect. We are open to modified or emended versions. For a good example of the style, refer to Stover and Williams (1987).
Drawings should be simplified to show the relevant features of the taxon in an idealized form, possibly from more than one orientation. Opercula can be present or not, but it is preferred that an archeopyle be indicated somehow. The linework and shading should consist of:
- 1-point or 0.5 point lines, or rarely 1.5 or 2 point, depending on desired emphasis (e.g., varying wall thickness)
- a dashed line, gap, and/or 45-degree hatched area (hatch down to the left) to indicate an archeopyle
- simple grey shading of filled areas can indicate variations in wall thickness
- insets or separate drawings can show details too small to show on the main diagram (e.g., ornamentation)
- if tabulation is indicated with labels, they should use a sans-serif font such as Helvetica or Arial
- if depicted separately, an operculum should be the same scale as the rest of the dinocyst
Refer to the following images for examples:
Admittedly we sometimes break these style suggestions ourselves due to the various vintages and sources of the drawings, but we will try to fix them over time. This is why having a vector diagram for further modification is so important.