[Chimera-users] Reduce a PDB file

[Tom Goddard]

Hi Luke,

  If you are displaying your chromosomes as ribbons then the "subdivision" setting under graphics quality in menu Tools / Viewing Controls / Effects, can reduce the level of detail in the ribbons and make the VRML file smaller (e.g. change the default 1.5 to 0.3).  That setting also reduces the number of triangles used to draw atoms and bonds but I believe the VRML represents those as perfect spheres and cylinders, not as triangles, so if you are showing "atoms" as spheres then this setting won't help.

  You did not say how big your VRML file is, nor what the printer size limit is.  If their file size limit is small you may need to find a different vendor.  Most 3D printing is for rectangular mechanical parts that have very small file sizes -- so if you try to throw a chromosome structure at it with an immense file, it is really a difficult case for the 3d printers.

	Tom


> On Apr 12, 2018, at 7:55 AM, Luke Kendall wrote:
> 
> Hi I have a PDB file of Chromosomes and I am trying to color and convert the file to a VRML file. I am doing this so I can get the model printed, but the file is too large for the printing company. I need to reduce the file size, but I am having trouble doing this 
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