What computer software do you use in your reconstructions?

Steve Breeze of Creative TV, who did the Time Team graphics until the 2000 series, used to use Softimage. (Creative no longer do the graphics for Time Team, but they did produce some lovely stuff for Meet the Ancestors.) The graphics team for the 2000 and 2001 series consisted of Raysan Shakir Al-Kubaisi, who uses 3d Studio Max and AutoCAD, and Maya Gavin, who uses Photoshop and MetaCreation's Painter.

Maya writes: I would highly recommend Wacom tablets in the A5 size. Sounds small but is actually roughly A4 size. This seems to feel closer to the screen size when you are actually drawing and means you are not having to over move your arm when working (anything for an easy life). The pen that comes with the pad is pressure sensitive, so this gives a more realistic interpretation of the motion of drawing or painting. If you are interested in 2D illustration/painting/drawing, I would recommend MetaCreation's Painter. For either Mac or PC, it replicates all the tools that can be found in an artist's studio, from a 2B pencil to thick oil paint, square chalk and watercolour. I use this along with Photoshop sometimes when creating the patterned textures on some of the 3D find reconstructions and also 2D visuals.

Photoshop is also amazing for creating realistic visuals combining together images taken with a digital camera, to change a scene or create a new one from scratch. Using the camera is a good place to start for textures – thatch roofs, rustic stone walls and so on. I am also using Adobe after effects to animate images prepared in Photoshop – for example, pieces of pot animating into the 3D reconstruction and Victor's drawings animating around 3D objects.