- Chimera-users - RBVI Mailing Lists

Chimera, 3dsmax, blender
by Jonathan Hilmer 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Lydia, It's been years since I've had access to a 3dsmax license, so I can't really make good comparisons between it and Blender. Fundamentally, they serve the same role, so I expect you would find using them similar, especially compared to PyMOL, Chimera, etc. Before getting into the benefits, you should be aware that compared to any software truly designed for chemical modeling, Blender has some serious drawbacks. There is no pre-existing set of structural tools that is standard for chemistry modeling software: if you want ribbons, you have to write a procedure that will generate them. I'm assuming you're already familiar with this, though, since you're using 3dsmax. As another sizeable negative, CSG in Blender is still somewhat flaky. I seem to remember having far fewer problems in 3d studio, even back around ~R5 or 6. On the benefit side, Blender's plugin/scripting system is extremely free of restrictions. The scripting system is pure Python, and many Python "plugins" are available. The true plugins are done in C, but are currently restricted to some post-processing features. You could also use the scripting system to access C libraries. These features really help to make up for the lack of built-in chemistry-centered tools. The other reason why you might prefer Blender over 3dsmax is that the scripting and plugin system is very much like Chimera, so if you're using both it's only one system to learn. Jonathan > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:47:06 -0800 > From: "Lydia Jablonski" <lydka(a)uoregon.edu> > Subject: [Chimera-users] Exporting VRML, Using Blender > > Jonathan and Greg- > > Thank you for your suggestions. I wanted to at least try them before I responded. > > Exporting VRML: I did try the export to VRML from version 1.2304 and it is good to know that it works for ribbons now. Unfortunately, the imported VRML meshes don't seem to respond to the mesh smoothing in 3ds max. With the .pdb --> .pov --> .3ds --> .max workflow I'm able to get a completely smooth surface on the ribbon. With the imported .wrl (VRML) I am able to see the triangulation on the surface, especially with shiny materials. Increasing the subdivision quality in Chimera makes these triangles smaller, but they are still visible. > > Blender: Can you explain more the advantages of Blender for rendering/animating molecular models? I've been using 3ds max for quite a while (since the DOS days) so I feel very comfortable with it. But the need to work with molecular models is new so I'm still bumping around trying to figure out what all the possibilities are. If another 3D animation program would work better with exported .pdb files I'd be willing to pick it up. > > Any more pointers would be much appreciated. > > -Lydia

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Toolbar and Favorite on PC
by jean-francois menetret 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Hello all, when running chimera on my PC (windows XP), my toolbar stopped being displayed. If I uninstall and reinstall chimera, my toolbar comes back until the next reboot. How can I fix that ? Is there to restore my preferences after launching chimera? Regards Jean-Francois Jean-Fran�ois M�n�tret, PhD Boston University School of Medicine Physiology and Biophysics Department 700 Albany Street W315 Boston, MA 02118 Email: menetret(a)bu.edu Mailing address: 715 Albany Street

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Re: [Chimera-users] Chimera-users Digest, Vol 42, Issue 19
by Jonathan Hilmer 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Although this does not relate to your question on licensing, is there any particular reason you're using such a complicated workflow? Chimera can be used to generate basic geometry (sphere/cylinder) from PDB files via povray, but so could any import system you have for the 3D modeling software. You would also lose the benefit of chemistry-centered structure for manipulation or selection: chains, residues, etc. I've been using Blender to handle complicated chemical models for a while now, and it wasn't that difficult to implement the import of various data types. With BioPython pdb files become trivial, and volumetric data sets are (very) difficult but possible. Jonathan > Hello- > > Do any of you have an idea of how much a single commercial license for Chimera would cost? > > I'm a 3D artist/animator/biology student that works at in the art dept. of a biotech company. I'm interested in the exporting .pdb files to .pov, then converting to .3ds to import to 3ds max. > > Thanks, > > Lydia Jablonski

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changing center of rotation
by Jonathan Hilmer 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Although I haven't used EMAnimator, you can set the center of rotation within Chimera using the Set Pivot action: http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/menu.html#actpivot There's also Tools/Movement/Rotation, and lastly, you can edit structures to insert artificial points at extreme high/low XYZ locations, which will in effect manually set the center used via the 'center of models' option. I wouldn't recommend the last option unless you have a good reason to do so, but it does work. Jonathan > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:52:42 -0800 (PST) > From: wendy ochoa <wencryo(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [Chimera-users] rotating molecules for movies > To: chimera-users(a)cgl.ucsf.edu > Message-ID: <20061030195242.57847.qmail(a)web37306.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Can anybody tell me how to use EMANIMATOR to make a movie of a molecule rotating. If I use the spin option, it uses the axis (0 1 0) but my molecule is not center at 0 0 0. Is there a way to fix the rotation center to the center of the molecule, or to the center of the view? > Thanks > > > >

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Re: [Chimera-users] viewing grid density
by Thomas Goddard 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Bala reports that the problem was in an Amber input file. > From: "bala" <bala(a)igib.res.in> > To: "Thomas Goddard" <goddard(a)cgl.ucsf.edu> > Subject: RE: [Chimera-users] viewing grid density > Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:59:38 +0530 > > Hello Thomas and Elaine, > > Thank you for your information. I rechecked the amber input files and i = > found a mistake there in rms fitting the coordinates in my trajectory. > > regards, > Bala

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Re: [Chimera-users] rotating molecules for movies
by Thomas Goddard 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Hi Wendy, Here are some Chimera commands that are useful for making movies with Movie Recorder: http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/recorder/moviecomm… Here's a fancier Chimera movie script example. http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/recorder/1gfl.com Here is the documentation for the Movie Recorder dialog and movie command: http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/recorder/recorder.… http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/midas/movie.html Tom

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rotating molecules for movies
by wendy ochoa 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Can anybody tell me how to use EMANIMATOR to make a movie of a molecule rotating. If I use the spin option, it uses the axis (0 1 0) but my molecule is not center at 0 0 0. Is there a way to fix the rotation center to the center of the molecule, or to the center of the view? Thanks

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generating electrostatic potential map
by bala 27 Oct '06

27 Oct '06

Hello all, I want to generate the electrostatic potential map using Chimera. I tried through Delphi controler, however i am repeatedly getting an error as follows. I have successfully installed Delphi. Can someone suggest me what is wrong. __________DelPhi V. 4 Release 1.1 ______________ | | | A program to solve the PB equation | | in 3D, using non-linear form, incorporating | | many dielectric regions, multisalt ionic | | strength, different probe radii, periodic | | and focussing boundary conditions, utilizing | | stripped optimum successive over-relaxation | | and an improved algorithm for mapping the | | Mol. Surface to the finite-Difference grid | | Recompiled on Linux and PC | | January 2002 -------- Walter Rocchia | |__________________ ___________________| DelPhi V. 4 program started on Fri Oct 27 2006 at 14:55:00 opening parameter file /tmp/tmpvpgS8V At least 30 nonlinear iterations atom radii read from file /usr/people/ojha/BALA/chim_amber.siz unknown header format in radius file: O5' A 1 1.7210 First it showed the same for H5 atom [which was the first atom in the siz/charge file], then i just tried by deleting the first line in the radius and charge file. Then the same error is coming for the second atom O5' in the file. Thanks in advance, Bala

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viewing grid density
by bala 26 Oct '06

26 Oct '06

Hello all, 1) I hve generated a solvent density map using Amber8 in XPLOR format. I am able to open the map in chimera. I hv also generated a refernce pdb file. Now i have to fix the reference structure of my molecule in the density map. I tried many options but i couldnt do that. Someone pls suggest me how i should do the same. 2) Also i am not clear with the meaning of the threshold levels given in the histogram. Although i could see the difference in the density map by sliding the vertical bar to various postions, i am getting what it can tell us exactly. Which is the most suitable threhold level etc. 3) Someone pls give me the link for the chimera mail list archive...i am unable to locate it. Bala

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To except box information in MD movie
by Atsutoshi Okabe 25 Oct '06

25 Oct '06

Hello, I viewed Amber format trajectory files ( topology/parameter file and trajectory file ) by MD movie. But I got the figure( attached file) I didn't intend. I think the reason is to read box information in the Amber trajectory file . How can I except the box information in MD movie window ?

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