VMD - Visual Molecular Dynamics

VMD is a molecular visualization program for displaying, animating, and analyzing large biomolecular systems using 3-D graphics and built-in scripting. VMD supports computers running MacOS X, Unix, or Windows, is distributed free of charge, and includes source code.
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Spotlight

The Tachyon parallel ray tracer included with VMD has been updated with the ability to display molecules with ambient occlusion lighting. This lighting technique mimicks some of the effects that occur under conditions of omnidirectional diffuse illumination, e.g. outdoors on an overcast day. This lighting used in concert with traditional point source lights and directional lights to increase the perception of shape and depth in images of molecular structures, and decreases the deleterious effects of harsh shadows which otherwise occur with lighting based on a small number of direct light sources. This lighting model is particularly good at emulating the appearance of chalky materials, and can make molecular graphics more understandable, not to mention aesthetically appealing. A short tutorial is available on using these new lighting and shading features with VMD, along with a number of representative example images. .

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