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Subsections


Render Form

Figure 4.13: The Render form
\resizebox{3in}{!}{\includegraphics{pictures/ug_render}}

This form is used to create a file with an image of the currently displayed graphics scene. VMD can write input script files for a number of external rendering packages. These packages are listed in table 6.1. Once VMD creates a scene description in one of the supported formats, the particular package can use this file to create a final output image. See Chapter §  for more information on how rendering is performed.


Rendering

The rendering process works in two stages. The first step writes an input file for the image processing program selected in the Output Formats browser, and the second (optionally) starts the rendering process. The file is given the name entered in the Output Filename field; a default name is given when a new format is selected, so it is best to hold off entering the filename until after the file format is selected. Another way to select the filename is available by pressing the List... button, which opens up a file browser.

Pressing the Go button writes the data file. After that, the Render Command is executed. The default command should start the appropriate rendering program if it is available.

The fastest of the currently supported programs are Raster3D and Tachyon . The rendering command for Raster3D has been set up to call the programs program ipaste or xv when the RGB output file is finished. VMD will wait for the rendering to finish, which causes VMD to freeze, so you may want to run the job in the background. This can be done by enclosing the existing text with ()'s and putting an & at the end. For example, the way to make the Raster3D render command run in the background is:

        (render < %s -sgi %s.rgb; ipaste %s.rgb)&


Caveats

There are some issues to consider when using the rendering commands, which can lead to discrepancies between the scene displayed in the VMD graphics display window and the image generated by external rendering applications. These issues include:


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Next: Sequence Form Up: Description of each VMD Previous: Material Form   Contents   Index
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