[Chimera-users] chimera slow

[Elaine Meng]

Hi Daniel,
It depends on how you want to use the results.  You could try instead using Multiscale Models (by default creates low-res surfaces of the extra copies instead of full atomic representations), or the command "sym" with "surfaces true" to do the same thing.

<http://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/multiscale/framemulti.html>
<http://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/midas/sym.html>

If you do need to look at atomic detail in some of the copies, the Multiscale Models interface allows selecting those specific copies and then choosing one of the more detailed kinds of display.

Or, if you really did need ribbons and/or atoms for all of the copies, you can decrease their display quality generally by decreasing "subdivision quality," in the Effects tool or with the set command, e.g.:

set subdivision .5

… but low values are pretty hideous.  Default is 1.5.  Also, I'm not sure how much this would help.  Another possibility is to hide ribbons and show backbone trace, maybe as sticks or even wire.
<http://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/print.html#tips>
<http://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/sideview.html#effects>

I hope this helps,
Elaine
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Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. 
UCSF Computer Graphics Lab (Chimera team) and Babbitt Lab
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco

On Dec 12, 2013, at 1:26 PM, Daniel Murin <cmurin at scripps.edu> wrote:

> Hi,
> I have been trying to use the Unit Cell function on Chimera. It works, but the graphic is so large that moving it around is nearly impossible because the program is running so slowly. It is rendered in ribbon. Is there a way to lower the quality in order to manipulate the graphic faster?
> Thanks!