[chimera-dev] Feature request

[Elaine Meng]

Hi Xavier,
It’s already ticket #11284 in our bug/request database.  I’ll add you to the notification list.
Elaine

On Aug 11, 2014, at 9:54 AM, Elaine Meng <meng at cgl.ucsf.edu> wrote:

> Dear Xavier,
> I personally don’t recommend the Chimera/Povray approach… my neon/conic suggestion is better-looking, but not as easy as the feature you request.  There is limited programmer time, so I can’t say it will happen, but we can put it on the list of requests.
> 
> You can enable showing backbone atoms at the same time as ribbon with command “ribbackbone” — then try displaying the carbonyls.  You may also need to unchain (avoid drawing long bonds between different carbonyls, e.g. command: setattr m autochain 0). However, the default ribbon path is smoothed, so in some places the backbone atoms will appear to be floating away from the ribbon.  You can try reducing that problem by using a different method to calculate the ribbon path, for example, with command:
> 
> ribspline cardinal smooth strand
> 
> …but see the manual for other command options and parameters.  The cardinal spline tries to follow CA positions, so it is still possible you won’t be able to totally eliminate spaces between ribbon and C atoms.  It may be necessary to show the C atoms as balls (slightly larger than stick-ends) to obscure the gapping.
> 
> The ribbackbone and ribbon path issues are discussed in more detail here:
> <http://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/ribbonstyle/ribbonstyle.html#offset>
> 
> I hope this helps,
> Elaine
> 
> On Aug 11, 2014, at 1:48 AM, F.Xavier Gomis-Rüth <xgrcri at ibmb.csic.es> wrote:
> 
>> Dear Elaine & Eric,
>> thanks again for your and Eric's suggestions. The issue is that the POV-Ray rendering is not as attractive as the CHIMERA rendering.
>> Would it be possible to kindly and humbly request that this minor feature be implemented at a certain time point in a new version
>> of the program :-) ?
>> Another issue I have currently problems with:
>> it would be very helpful to be able to display the main-chain carbonyls sticking out from the ribbon at the right place. I tried with the
>> licorize option of the ribbon trace but it was not solving the problem. This is particularly helpful when representing e.g. metal-binding sites.
>> Thanks again for your help and dedication to constantly improve this fantastic program.
>> Best wishes,
>> Xavier