[Blender] How to Handle Molecular Data with “Molecular Nodes” Addon (Part 1)

In this article, we introduce how to use “Molecular Nodes”, an add-on that allows you to handle and visualize molecular data in Blender.

Molecular Nodes allows you to import, animate, and manipulate molecular data in Geometry Nodes.

The Molecular Nodes add-on works only with Blender 3.2 or higher, so this article uses Blender 3.3LTS.

This add-on requires Python operations to use some functions, but it is not difficult, so we encourage you to try it.

How to Install

Installing Addon

Go to GitHub at the following URL and download the zip file of the latest release:

Molecular Nodes

最新リリースを選択

Select latest release


アドオン本体のZIPファイルをダウンロード

Download Molecular Nodes addon .zip file.

Save the downloaded zip file in any location without unzipping.

Start Blender, go to Edit→Preferences and select Add-ons.

Edit→PreferenceからAdd- onsを選択

Go to Edit→Preferences and select Add-ons

Click Install in the upper right corner. Select the zip file you just saved and install.

Installをクリック

Click Install


Molecular NodesのZIPファイルを選択

Select “Molecular Nodes” ZIP file

When the add-on appears, check the box next to the name to activate it.

Click the triangle next to the checkbox to display the details.

Click on “Install Atomium”, which is shown in red.

 

Install Atomiumをクリック

Click “Install Atomium”

Wait for a while: when the color changes to gray, the installation of Atomium is complete.

色がグレーに変化したらインストール完了

When color changes to gray, installation is complete.

Installing MDAnalysis

To read complex molecular data or data with special extensions, install MDAnalysis and associate it with the Molecular Nodes add-on.

If you only want to use some of the add-on’s features, you can skip installing MDAnalysis; we suggest you try it only if you can afford to do so.

Blender 3.1 or higher is bundled with Python 3.10 or higher, so install Python 3.10 or higher.

Type “Microsoft Store” in the search field of the taskbar and launch it.

 

Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store

Search for Python in Microsoft Store and install Python 3.10.

Python3.10をインストール

Install Python 3.10

Once Python has been successfully installed, open the Command Prompt.

Type “cmd” or “command prompt” in the search field of the taskbar to start it.

 

コマンドプロンプトを起動

コマンドプロンプトを起動

After launching the command prompt, copy and paste the following command:

python3 -m pip install MDAnalysis

python3 -m pip install MDAnalysis

python3 -m pip install MDAnalysis

MDAnalysis will be installed.

インストール

Installed

Once the installation is complete, enter “python3” to start the Python command line.

 

python3

python3

Next, enter the following command to display the MDAnalysys path:

import MDAnalysis as mda
mda.__path__

import MDAnalysis as mda mda.__path__

import MDAnalysis as mda mda.__path__

Copy the path starting with C: and return to Blender.

For my case in the example, the path will be “C:\\Users\\nkeig\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Python310\\lib\\site-packages”

After returning to Blender, paste the path into the Molecular Nodes add-on’s Package Directory and click Check Installation.

 

Check Installationをクリック

Click “Check Installation”

It is successful when the color turns gray (after a while).

色がグレーになる

Color turns gray

This completes all installation of Molecular Nodes.

The specific usage of the Molecular Nodes Addon is explained in detail in the following article:

For questions about STYLY, bug reports, and improvement requests, please contact the STYLY FORUM
https://en.forum.styly.cc/support/discussions

Certified (QA) by Shota Shawn Yoshizawa
Edited by SASAnishiki
Translated by passerby1