Visual methods from atoms to cells

Illustrations of molecular models are widely used for the study and dissemination of molecular structure and function. Several metaphors are commonly used to create these illustrations, and each captures a relevant aspect of the molecule and omits other aspects. Effective tools are available for rendering atomic structures by using several standard representations, and the research community is highly sophisticated in their use. Molecular properties, such as electrostatics, and large complex molecular and cellular systems currently pose challenges for representation.