View source for Publication Quality Images

==High Resolution (DPI) Images==

===Creating Resolution Specific Images===
We often get the question:
 Q.  How do I create a X DPI image using PyMol's 'ray' command?

The answer is deceivingly simple.  There are two steps in the process.  First, setup your scene and use [[Cmd ray|ray]] like this
 ray 2400, 2400
From this you will get a large square image.  You can now resize it to X inches where X=A*B, A and B factors of 2400  (eg: 8 inch photo @ 300DPI, 4 inch photo at 600DPI, 2 inch photo @ 1200DPI).  The formula for creating images is:
 rayVal = inches * DPI
where rayVal is the value you pass to "ray".  Thus, an 8 inch square photo at 72, 100, and 300 DPI would be created by the following commands:
 ray 576,576   # 8inch * 72dpi
 ray 800,800   # 8inch * 100dpi; or a 4inch * 200 DPI photo; or 1x800.
 ray 2400,2400 # 8inch * 300dpi; 6"x400dpi, etc...


The '''new and better solution''' is to use the [[Png]] command with the '''dpi''' setting, such as
<source lang="python">
png fileName, dpi=300
</source>
If you don't have a new enough version of PyMOL that supports this, then the '''old solution''' is to use [[PhotoShop]] or [[GIMP]] to resize the photo to the appropriate height and width while making sure also to tell the [[PhotoShop]] or [[GIMP]] what resolution the image is.


=====GIMP 2.0=====
In Gimp, load your image (it'll most likely be very large) then 
*Select:
 Image ->
 Scale Image ->
 'Print Size & Scale Image Section' change 'New Width' to whatever width you decided on before.
* Save Image (File->Save)

You should be set.


== Important Note ==

For those who are hung up on the idea that DPI is important please read this interesting [http://www.rideau-info.com/photos/mythdpi.html explanation].  

=== See Also ===
* [[Png]]
* [[Ray]] 
* [[Draw]]
* [[CMYK]]
* the rest of the pages in this [[:Category:Publication_Quality|Category]]

[[Category:Image_Manipulation|Publication Quality Images]]
[[Category:Publication_Quality|Publication Quality Images]]