3D computer graphics software

3D computer graphics software produces computer-generated imagery (CGI) through 3D modeling and 3D rendering or produces 3D models for analytic, scientific and industrial purposes.

Classification

Modeling

3D modeling software is a class of 3D computer graphics software used to produce 3D models. Individual programs of this class are called modeling applications or modelers.

3D modelers allow users to create and alter models via their 3D mesh. Users can add, subtract, stretch and otherwise change the mesh to their desire. Models can be viewed from a variety of angles, usually simultaneously. Models can be rotated and the view can be zoomed in and out.

3D modelers can export their models to files, which can then be imported into other applications as long as the metadata are compatible. Many modelers allow importers and exporters to be plugged-in, so they can read and write data in the native formats of other applications.

Most 3D modelers contain a number of related features, such as ray tracers and other rendering alternatives and texture mapping facilities. Some also contain features that support or allow animation of models. Some may be able to generate full-motion video of a series of rendered scenes (i.e. animation).

MODELLER

MODELLER is a computer program used in producing homology models of protein tertiary structures as well as quaternary structures (rarer). It implements a technique inspired by nuclear magnetic resonance known as satisfaction of spatial restraints, by which a set of geometrical criteria are used to create a probability density function for the location of each atom in the protein. The method relies on an input sequence alignment between the target amino acid sequence to be modeled and a template protein whose structure has been solved.

The program also incorporates limited functionality for ab initio structure prediction of loop regions of proteins, which are often highly variable even among homologous proteins and therefore difficult to predict by homology modeling.

MODELLER was originally written and is currently maintained by Andrej Sali at the University of California, San Francisco. Although it is freely available for academic use, graphical user interfaces and commercial versions are distributed by Accelrys. The ModWeb comparative protein structure modeling webserver is based on MODELLER and other tools for automatic protein structure modeling, with an option to deposit the resulting models into ModBase. A freely available GUI to MODELLER called EasyModeller is developed by Kuntal Kumar Bhusan at University Of Hyderabad,India. A new version of EasyModeller (EasyModeller 4.0) has been recently released and available for free download for Linux and Windows OS. There is also a simple interface to MODELLER in the program UCSF Chimera.