PyMOL
A user-sponsored molecular visualization system.
Overview
PyMOL is a molecular visualization system created by Warren Lyford DeLano. It is a user-sponsored software project, available as both an open-source version and a commercial version from Schrödinger. PyMOL is widely used for 3D visualization of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules, and is particularly known for its ability to produce high-quality, publication-ready images.
✨ Key Features
- High-quality 3D molecular rendering
- Creation of animations and movies
- Extensible via Python scripting
- Measurement and analysis tools
- Electrostatic surface visualization
- Ray tracing for realistic images
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Superior quality of rendered images and animations.
- Powerful and flexible Python scripting interface.
- Large and active user community.
Unique Value: Enables scientists to create stunning, informative, and publication-quality visualizations of molecular data with a high degree of control and customizability.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- One of the most cited molecular graphics programs in scientific literature.
- Standard visualization tool in many academic labs and pharmaceutical companies.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- De novo molecular modeling
- Running molecular dynamics simulations
- NGS data analysis
🏆 Alternatives
Generally considered to produce higher-quality, more aesthetically pleasing images than many alternatives, with a very powerful scripting API.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Subscription tier)
💰 Pricing
✓ 30-day free trial
Free tier: Open-source version is free but requires self-compilation. Pre-compiled binaries are available via subscription.
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