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Considering best practices in color palettes for molecular visualizations.
Laura Garrison1, Stefan Bruckner1
1Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Journal of Integrative Bioinformatics
|June 22, 2022
Summary
Molecular visualization uses arbitrary colors, hindering understanding. This study explores factors influencing color choices and suggests best practices for consistent and interpretable molecular visualizations.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical visualization
- Molecular dynamics
- Scientific illustration
Background:
- Biomedical illustration and visualization are crucial for understanding complex molecular processes.
- Current color choices for molecules in visualizations are often arbitrary, influenced by client preferences, cultural factors, or personal taste, rather than scientific consistency.
- This lack of standardization leads to a semantically inconsistent color space, reducing the interpretability and effectiveness of molecular visualizations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss factors contributing to the wide array of color palettes used in molecular visualization.
- To present a sample of color palettes currently employed in both industry and research sectors.
- To propose considerations for developing best practices for color palettes in molecular visualization.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and discussion of factors influencing color palette selection.
- Analysis and sampling of existing color palettes from industry and research.
- Identification of considerations for establishing best practices in molecular color visualization.
Main Results:
- Identified arbitrary color assignment as a significant issue in molecular visualization.
- Highlighted the creative freedom versus interpretability challenge for content authors.
- Presented examples of current color palette usage in the field.
Conclusions:
- The arbitrary nature of color selection in molecular visualization compromises semantic consistency and interpretability.
- Developing standardized best practices for color palettes is essential to enhance the effectiveness of molecular visualizations.
- Further research and community consensus are needed to establish guidelines for color use in this field.
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