I took my source image into Freehand and traced the shape of the wing with the pen tool.
step 2 of 8
From this I got a shape which I could then take into Cinema 4D (As an AI File).
step 3 of 8
Then took the paths and lofted the nurbs to create the wing shape...
step 4 of 8
Next I imported my source image to use as a texture. I was very particular as to getting the wing looking as close as possible to a real butterfly.
step 5 of 8
To get the effect I wanted I played with alpha channel to get the blue part slightly transparant... and to let the light that passed through it, become tinted.
step 6 of 8
Then duplicated the wing and positioned them.
step 7 of 8
Then I created a simple body and added feelers and legs (also using vector paths from Freehand). Created a little scene of a couple of butterflies flying, setup the scene lighting with Global AI and bam! Scene done!
step 8 of 8
Finished render... Render time about 10 minutes or so.