density_view
Convert EMDB contour levels to sigma and draw an isomesh around a PyMOL selection, reporting the level in both units to avoid noise artifacts.
Instructions
Draw an isomesh around a selection, stating the contour level in both units.
PyMOL normalises MRC/CCP4 maps on load, so an isomesh level is in sigma. EMDB's author-recommended contour is an absolute map value. They are not interchangeable and the difference is not subtle: EMD-30913 publishes 0.05, which is 3.16 sigma — used directly as a sigma level it contours noise.
So the level is reported in sigma AND absolute units every time, an absolute level is converted before it reaches PyMOL, and EMDB depositions get a pointer to their published contour with the units named. Requires the map to have been loaded through load_map, because the conversion needs the header's mean and RMS.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | No | Mesh object name (defaults to "<map_obj>_mesh") | |
| carve | No | Carve radius in Ångström around the selection (default 2.0) | |
| level | No | Contour level. If omitted, 1.5 sigma is used and labelled as generic. | |
| units | No | Units of `level`: "sigma" (what PyMOL contours in) or "absolute" (what EMDB publishes). An absolute level is converted. | sigma |
| map_obj | Yes | A volume already loaded through the load_map tool | |
| selection | Yes | PyMOL selection to carve the mesh around (e.g. "chain A") |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |