next up previous contents index
Next: Image Controls Up: Description of each VMD Previous: Files Form

Graphics Form

     

  
Figure 3.11: The Graphics form (in Image Controls mode)

  
Figure 3.12: The Graphics form (in Atom Name Lists mode)

The Graphics form is the most complicated form in VMD, which could be expected from a visualization program. The details of most of the subjects discussed below are covered in the special topics on selections, drawing methods, and coloring methods. In short, a molecule can have many different  representation, also referred to as  views. Each view consists of three parts: a selection, a drawing method (also called representation style  , and a coloring method . The selection  determines which part of the molecule is drawn, the drawing method defines which rendering representation is used, and the coloring method gives the the color of each part of the representation.

There are actually two parts to the graphics form. The Image Controls button brings up the controls used to alter the drawing and coloring methods. The Atom Name Lists button  provides access to browsers which display the lists of atom names, residue names, and so forth for the selected molecule.

This form is used to control the appearance of one molecule at a time. The molecule it affects is selected in the `Selected Molecule' chooser at the top of the form. The browser below this chooser lists the views available for the molecule. Each line of the browser shows information about the drawing method, the coloring method, and the selection which completely specify the view.   To change the attributes of a given view, click on the view that should be changed. The atom selection for that view will appear in the Atom Selection text area and, if the Image Controls button is pressed, the drawing and coloring method choosers will also change to reflect the current view.

  To add a new  view of the molecule, enter the selection into the Atom Selection text area (or keep what is there) and press Create New. This adds the view to the currently selected molecule.

  To delete a  view, select the view in the browser and press the Delete button. Bear in mind that this does not delete the molecule, it only deletes a view of the molecule. (To delete the molecule, use the Mol form.)




next up previous contents index
Next: Image Controls Up: Description of each VMD Previous: Files Form

Justin Gullingsrud
Tue Apr 6 09:22:39 CDT 1999