These drawings were outlined in pen on tracing paper over a printout of a Cα trace of the atomic coordinates, and shaded with colored pencil or pastels; they preserved positions, smoothed the backbone path, and incorporated small local shifts to disambiguate the visual appearance. As well as the triose isomerase ribbon drawing at the right, other hand-drawn examples depicted prealbumin, flavodoxin, and Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase.
The drawings were created by hand using a pen on tracing paper, overlaying a printout of atomic coordinates. They preserved structural information, smoothed out the protein backbone, and made minor adjustments to enhance visual clarity. The illustration also showcased triose isomerase, alongside other examples of prealbumin, flavodoxin, and Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase.