Usage:
copy [ file filename ] [ format ] [ printer printername ] [ width x ] [ height y ] [ supersample n ] [ raytrace [ rtwait ] [ rtclean ]]

Copy saves the contents of the graphics window as an image, either rendered directly by Chimera or raytraced. (To copy a molecule model to create a new model, use the command combine instead. To copy settings from one molecule model to another, use the command mcopy.)

If the file keyword is given, the image is saved in filename. If "-" is supplied instead of a filename, a dialog for saving a file will appear. The printer option does not work on Windows. On other platforms, the printer option sends the image in PostScript form to the printer named printername. If "-" is supplied instead of a printer name, the image is sent to the default system printer. If neither file nor printer is specified, a dialog for saving a file will appear.

If pixel width and height are not specified, the image will have the same pixel dimensions as the graphics window. If only one dimension is specified, the other will be set according to the graphics window aspect ratio; if both are specified but the image aspect ratio is not the same as the graphics window aspect ratio, the image contents will differ from what is shown in the window.

If the image is rendered directly by Chimera (the raytrace keyword is not supplied):

• The image will be rendered offscreen as permitted by the system. Where offscreen rendering is not supported (for example, X11 on Mac OS), the graphics window will be used to draw the image, and should not be obscured while that is occurring (details...).
  
  
• The level of supersampling shown in the Save Image dialog will be used unless a different level is specified with the supersample keyword. Possible values range from 1 (no supersampling) to 4 (4x4 supersampling). In addition, a value of 0 can be used to indicate onscreen rather than offscreen rendering, without supersampling.
  
  
• The format can be any of the following:
  • ps (default) - PostScript, suffix *.ps
  • eps - encapsulated PostScript, *.eps
  • png - *.png
  • ppm - *.ppm
  • tiff - LZW-compressed TIFF, *.tif, *.tiff
  • tiff-fast - uncompressed TIFF
  • jpeg - *.jpg, *.jpeg
  • stereo png - *.pns
  • stereo jpeg - *.jps
  If format is not specified separately, it is guessed from the suffix of filename. The stereo png and stereo jpeg options will create a cross-eye stereo pair in a single image twice as wide as the specified size. More commonly, however, stereo images would be generated simply by switching the Chimera window to stereo (for example, with the stereo command) and using a standard, non-stereo-specific format.

• The format can only be png, specified directly or by using a filename with the *.png suffix.
  
  
• The rtwait keyword indicates further commands should not be executed until POV-Ray has finished generating the image (useful within scripts).
  
  
• In addition to an image, raytracing generates files for POV-Ray containing the scene (*.pov) and the raytracing options (*.ini); the rtclean keyword indicates these two files should be removed after the image has been created.
  
  
• Several other parameters can be adjusted in the POV-Ray Options preferences.
  
  
• Raytracing (but not the preceding export to POV-Ray files) is a background task that can be monitored or canceled using the Task Panel.