Many of these artists do a variety of illustrations, whereas others specialize in a particular style, such as medical illustration, fashion illustration, cartoons, or animation. Some illustrators draw storyboards for television commercials, movies, and animated features. Storyboards present television commercials in a series of scenes similar to a comic strip and allow an advertising agency to evaluate proposed commercials with the company doing the advertising. Storyboards also serve as guides to placing actors and cameras and to other details during the production of commercials. Medical and scientific illustrators combine artistic skills with knowledge of the biological sciences.
Medical illustrators draw illustrations of human anatomy and surgical procedures.
Scientific illustrators draw illustrations of animals and plants. These illustrations are used in medical and scientific publications and in audiovisual presentations for teaching purposes. Medical illustrators also work for lawyers, producing exhibits for court cases and doctors. Fashion artists draw illustrations of women's, men's, and children's clothing and accessories for newspapers, magazines, and other media. Cartoonists draw political, advertising, social, and sports cartoons.