Data from: A comprehensive and user-friendly framework for 3D-data visualisation in invertebrates and other organisms

Methods for 3D‐imaging of biological samples are experiencing
unprecedented development, with tools such as X‐ray micro‐computed
tomography (μCT) becoming more accessible to biologists. These techniques
are inherently suited to small subjects and can simultaneously image both
external and internal morphology, thus offering considerable benefits for
invertebrate research. However, methods for visualising 3D‐data are
trailing behind the development of tools for generating such data. Our aim
in this article is to make the processing, visualisation and presentation
of 3D‐data easier, thereby encouraging more researchers to utilise
3D‐imaging. Here, we present a comprehensive workflow for manipulating and
visualising 3D‐data, including basic and advanced options for producing
images, videos and interactive 3D‐PDFs, from both volume and surface‐mesh
renderings. We discuss the importance of visualisation for quantitative
analysis of invertebrate morphology from 3D‐data, and provide example
figures illustrating the different options for generating 3D‐figures for
publication. As more biology journals adopt 3D‐PDFs as a standard option,
research on microscopic invertebrates and other organisms can be presented
in high‐resolution 3D‐figures, enhancing the way we communicate science.