Graphics Options
Parameter Selection.
Perspective %: This parameter controls the artist's perspective of the drawing. A value of 80% means that the back of the picture is shrunk by 20%.
Atom Radius %: In the Chem-Ray element.tbl file each element is given a van der waals radius. When drawings are made in the ball and stick format, this van der Waals radius for each element is multiplied by the atom radius factor. Values of about 18-25% are normal values.
van Der Waals %: In the Chem-Ray element.tbl file each element is given a van der waals radius. When drawings are made in space filling format, this van der Waals radius for each element is multipled by the van der Waals factor. Values of about 80-85% are normal values.
Bond Radius (.01 Angstroms): The bond radius command is used to specify the radius of the bonds in Angstroms in the actual pictures. A small value will give a skinny bond, a large value will give a fat bond. Strange things can happen if the bond radius is made larger than the atom radii.
H-Bond Radius (.01 Angstroms): The H-bond radius command is used to specify the radius of the hydrogen bonds in Angstroms in the actual pictures. A small value will give a skinny bond, a large value will give a fat bond. Strange things can happen if the H-bond radius is made larger than the atom radii.
Font Size (.01 Angstroms): This value determines the size of the font in CHARON drawings. Fonts are usually given in units of points (12 pt for example), but CHARON drawings are freely scaled and a conventional font size is meaningless. More meaningful is the size of the font relative to the atoms drawn. Thus a font size of .30 Angstroms gives a label that is a nice size relative to the atoms in a picture. In a crowded drawing, reduce this value.
Charon Options.
The Charon Style option turns on and off the van der Waals outline.
The Charon Atoms option controls the appearance of the atoms in a Charon drawing.
The atoms can be colored or white. They can be drawn with a simple outline, with hash marks ( as in Pluto) or with ellipses (as in Ortep.)
The Charon Bonds option controls the appearance of the bonds in a Charon drawing.
The bonds can have a simple outline, can be black or colored in the color chosen on the color menu.
Light Models.
There are four light models available. The four examples are shown below in order.
Depth Cueing.
The depth cueing option makes the atoms at the back of drawing darker than those at the front. This enhances the feeling of depth and give additional perspective to the viewer.
Labels.
There are four label options. The options apply to Charon drawings only. Labels can be turned off completely, they can be added to all atoms, to all atoms except hydrogen atoms or to selected atoms only. To select individual atoms use the Select Atom option under the Commands menu listing.
Normal Bonds / Half Bonds.
This option controls the appearance of the bonds. In the normal mode bonds are colored with a separate color as specified on the color menu. In the half bond option half of each bond is colored with the atom color of the respective atoms.
Hydrogen Bonds. On/Off
The option toggles on and off hydrogen bonds.
Cell Selection.
If the input file includes the necessary information, then program will draw the unit cell boundaries. There are three options.
Normal Cell. The cell boundaries are drawn in dynamic and CHARON styles, but not in CHEM-RAY drawings.
Chem-Ray Cell. The cell boundaries are drawn in all styles.
Cell Hidden. The cell boundaries are never drawn.
Cell Color.
There are two cell color schemes.
Tricolor Cell. The unit cell is drawn using three colors, red, green and blue. The a axis is red, the b axis is green and the c axis is blue.
Single Color Cell. The unit cell is drawn with a single color. This single color can be set using the color menu.
Rings On/Off.
The rings are a special option in Chem-Ray that give atoms and bonds a more three dimensional appearance.
Color Atoms/Molecule/Networks.
Normally molecules are colored by atom type, but this option allows the coloring of entire molecules or hydrogen bonding networks instead of individual atoms.
Dialog Box.
This option is a simple one that places the dialog box on the right or on the left of the program window.
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Last Update - August 20, 1997