Hi Tom, Chimera solid style volume rendering doesn't handle multi-channel images. It doesn't know how to blend the colors from the different channels. Chimera used to do this but I removed the code in 2008 because it was too complicated. If you use a really old version of Chimera it could work, although I think the only way to open a multi-channel data set was to use Priism format. I removed that code because supporting multiple channels was too complex so it made it hard to improve the code for single channel volume data (electron microscopy) which is by far the most common use in Chimera. Here is one trick that will let you blend multiple channels for a single displayed plane (attached image is an example). If you have two channels with Chimera model id numbers #0 and #1, then shift the origin of one volume so it is slightly in front of the other, for instance, set the "origin index" to "0 0 -1" for volume #1 using the Features / Coordinates tab of the volume dialog. Then make the volume in front very transparent (Features / Brightness and Transparency). Chimera renders the volumes in id number order and after it draws one solid style volume you won't see anything for a later one drawn behind (or at the same depth) as the first. But if you put it slightly in front it will be shown. This only works for a single plane unless you shift the second volume so the whole thing is in front of the first volume. If you do that you'll want to use orthographic projection (Tools / Viewing Controls / Camera) otherwise the volumes won't even superimpose due to perspective. While the above hack might be ok for making an image, I'd say Chimera is simply not useful for multi-channel volume data if you need solid-style rendering (which you most always do for noisy data). Multi-channel with surface style works. Tom
Hi,
I've been using Chimera for a few years now to look at electron tomography data and I have to say I think the software is absolutely superb. Recently I have started looking at 3D-confocal data and I discovered with a bit of work I can open the data using chimera. I open each colour channel as a separate image stack which works quite nicely. The only problem I encounter is when viewing the data using solid rendering only one channel is visible. Is there a way to view three image stacks at the same time using the solid rendering?
Thanks,
Tom
