Illustrative Molecular Visualization with Continuous Abstraction

• Published in: Computer graphics forum Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 683 - 690
• Main Authors: van der Zwan, Matthew, Lueks, Wouter, Bekker, Henk, Isenberg, Tobias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2011; Wiley
• Subjects: Analysis; Computer graphics; Computer Science; Control systems; Control theory; dedicated seamless abstraction; Feedback; Graphics; I.3.m [Computer Graphics]: Miscellaneous; illustrative visualization; Image processing systems; Molecular structure; molecular visualization; Perception; Scientific visualization; Scientific visualization; molecular visualization; illustrative visualization; dedicated seamless abstraction; Studies; Supports; Transformations; Visualization
• ISSN: 0167-7055; 1467-8659
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8659.2011.01917.x

Molecular systems may be visualized with various degrees of structural ion, support of spatial perception, and ‘illustrativeness.’ In this work we propose and realize methods to create seamless transformations that allow us to affect and change each of these three parameters individually. The resulting transitions give viewers a dedicated control of ion in illustrative molecular visualization and, consequently, allow them to seamlessly explore the resulting ion space for obtaining a fundamental understanding of molecular systems. We show example visualizations created with our approach and report informal feedback on our technique from domain experts.