Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

pymol VS ImageJ

Compare pymol VS ImageJ and see what are their differences

pymol logo pymol

PyMOL is a powerful and comprehensive molecular visualization product for rendering and animating...

ImageJ logo ImageJ

and Other Health Care
  • pymol Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-04-08
  • ImageJ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-27

pymol features and specs

  • Visualization Capabilities
    PyMOL provides high-quality molecular visualization, allowing users to generate detailed three-dimensional representations of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules.
  • Customization
    The software offers extensive options for customization, enabling users to adjust colors, styles, labels, and other aspects of molecular displays to suit their needs.
  • Scripting Support
    PyMOL supports Python scripting, which allows advanced users to automate tasks, create complex visualizations, and integrate PyMOL with other computational tools.
  • Publication Quality Output
    The program can produce publication-quality images and animations, making it a valuable tool for both research presentations and academic publications.
  • Cross-Platform
    PyMOL is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

Possible disadvantages of pymol

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find PyMOL challenging to learn due to its vast array of features and the need for script-based commands for advanced tasks.
  • Cost for Full Version
    While a free version of PyMOL is available, some advanced features are only accessible in the paid or educational versions, which may be a limitation for users with budget constraints.
  • Limited GUI Functionality
    Although PyMOL has a graphical user interface, some functionalities still rely on command-line inputs, which may not be intuitive for all users.
  • Resource Intensive
    Rendering complex structures in PyMOL can be resource-intensive, requiring significant computational power and memory, which can be a drawback for users with older hardware.
  • Documentation
    Some users may find the available documentation and tutorials lacking in clarity or depth, which can hinder the learning process.

ImageJ features and specs

  • Open Source
    ImageJ is an open-source software, which means it is free to use and its source code is publicly available for modification and enhancement.
  • Extensible
    ImageJ supports plugins and macros, allowing users to extend its functionality and automate complex image processing tasks.
  • Large User Community
    ImageJ has a large, active user community which provides extensive documentation, plugins, and user-contributed scripts, making it easier to find help and resources.
  • Cross-Platform
    ImageJ is cross-platform and can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to work on their preferred operating system.
  • Versatile
    It supports numerous file formats and a wide range of image processing functions including, but not limited to, filtering, segmentation, and analysis tools.
  • Scientific Focus
    ImageJ is tailored towards scientific image analysis, making it especially useful for research applications in fields like biology, medicine, and physics.

Possible disadvantages of ImageJ

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customizable options, new users may find ImageJ difficult to learn and use effectively without substantial time investment.
  • User Interface
    ImageJ’s user interface is considered outdated by modern standards, which can be less intuitive and visually appealing compared to other contemporary image analysis tools.
  • Performance Issues
    ImageJ can experience performance slowdowns, especially when working with very large images or complex processing tasks, as it relies on Java.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    While ImageJ does offer some 3D visualization and processing capabilities, these are not as advanced or user-friendly as specialized 3D image analysis software.
  • Manual Updates
    Although ImageJ has many plugins, keeping them updated can be a manual and tedious process, which might lead to compatibility issues.

Analysis of ImageJ

Overall verdict

  • Yes, ImageJ is considered a good choice, especially for scientific and research applications that require robust image processing capabilities. Its comprehensive functionality and supportive user community make it a highly reliable and effective solution for image analysis.

Why this product is good

  • ImageJ is widely regarded as an excellent tool for image processing due to its open-source nature, extensive plugin ecosystem, and versatility in handling various image formats. It is supported by a large community that contributes to its continuous development and improvement, offering tools for everything from basic image manipulation to complex scientific image analysis. ImageJ’s flexibility allows it to be adapted for a wide array of scientific research and technical photography purposes.

Recommended for

  • Researchers and scientists in fields such as biology, medicine, and materials science
  • Students and educators who require a tool for learning and teaching image processing techniques
  • Technical photographers and digital imaging specialists who need advanced image manipulation tools
  • Anyone who seeks an open-source alternative to commercial image processing software

pymol videos

Autodock Vina Result Analysis with PyMol

ImageJ videos

Intro to ImageJ/Fiji

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to 3D Analysis with 3D ImageJ Suite [NEUBIAS Academy@Home] webinar

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to pymol and ImageJ)
Other Bio Tech
41 41%
59% 59
Knowledge Search
100 100%
0% 0
Graphic Design Software
0 0%
100% 100
Knowledge Search Engine
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ImageJ seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

pymol mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of pymol yet. Tracking of pymol recommendations started around Mar 2021.

ImageJ mentions (4)

  • Can a smartphone capture a 3D image of the optic nerve?
    Through the use of a public domain program (ImageJ), I was able to extract different information from the image. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • DICOM Viewer Suggestions
    All my users get ImageJ[https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/]. Depending on needs, they can also get OsiriX, microdicom, or training on pydicom or matlab libraries. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • This is not wearable. 15.5/20≠0.86
    The tool in question is called ImageJ. It's an open source piece of image analysis software, commonly used in biology for processing microscope images. It can do stuff like hyperstacks -- more than two dimensions, such as x,y, z (a microscope that scan vertically), t (time), c (multiple color channels). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Stands for a wire shelf in a small closet
    I used an open source program called ImageJ that lets you measure things is a bunch of different ways. I took one measurement as a reference then used the program to figure out everything else. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing pymol and ImageJ, you can also consider the following products

UCSF Chimera - UCSF Chimera is a highly extensible program for interactive visualization and analysis of molecular...

ChemDraw - ChemDraw - The Gold Standard for Chemical Structure Drawing and Research Publications.

Jmol - Jmol is a free, open source molecule viewer for students, educators, and researchers in chemistry...

TrueChem - TrueChem is software designed specifically to control and automate the management of chemistries, coatings, and wet processes.

Rasmol - RasMol. 96 likes. RasMol is a computer program written for molecular graphics visualization intended and used mainly to depict and explore biological...

Fiji - Fiji: A batteries-included distribution of ImageJ.