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RasMol Features

RasMol is a powerful molecular graphics program designed for the visualization of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. Its key features include:

  • Broad Format Support: Reads PDB, Alchemy, Sybyl Mol2, MDL Mol, XYZ, CHARMm, MOPAC, and (mm)CIF formats.
  • Interactive Visualization: Real-time rotation, translation, and zooming via mouse, command line, or dials.
  • Multiple Representations: Wireframe, sticks, spacefilling (CPK) spheres, ribbons (solid or strands), alpha-carbon traces, and dot surfaces.
  • Advanced Coloring Schemes: Color by atom type, residue, temperature factor, or secondary structure.
  • Shadowing and Slicing: High-quality rendering with shadowing and interactive Z-clipping (slabbing).
  • Scripting Capability: Load scripts to restore viewpoints or export the current state as a script file.
  • Export Options: Save images as PostScript, GIF, PPM, BMP, PICT, Sun rasterfile, or as MolScript/Kinemage inputs.
  • Educational Tool: Widely used in teaching to demonstrate molecular symmetry, bonding, and structure.

RasMol's efficiency allows it to run on a wide range of hardware, from high-end workstations to standard personal computers, making it accessible for researchers and students worldwide.