Themes and layouts
Short answer: MolDraw has three themes: Light, Elegant dark and Ink dark. Click the sun or moon button in the top bar to cycle through them, or pick one in Settings, General, Theme. The Layout setting switches between Scientific, with every button in view, and Educational, with two compact rows.
Change the theme#
- Click the sun or moon button in the top bar.
- Each click moves to the next theme: Light, then Elegant dark, then Ink dark, then Light again.
- To pick one directly, open Settings, General, Theme and click a thumbnail.
You can also change the theme from the account menu when you are signed in. The command palette has Theme: Light, Theme: Elegant dark and Theme: Ink dark.
| Theme | Look | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Light interface, black structures on a white canvas | Papers, printing, bright rooms |
| Elegant dark | Soft charcoal interface, light bonds on a dark canvas | Long sessions, dark rooms |
| Ink dark | Near black interface and canvas, white bonds and atom letters | Projectors, high contrast |
Light is the default. The theme changes the interface and the canvas. It does not change the colors you painted on atoms or bonds.
On a phone or tablet#
Open the ⋮ menu at the top right. Under Theme, pick System, Light or Dark. System follows your device setting. Dark uses Elegant dark, or keeps Ink dark if you already use it. See Phone and tablet.
Change the layout#
The Layout setting changes the editor chrome on computers.
Note
Layout is a computer setting. Phones and tablets always use the touch layout.
- Open Settings, General.
- Under Layout, click Scientific or Educational.
| Scientific | Educational | |
|---|---|---|
| Top rows | Three rows with every button | Two compact rows |
| Tools | Left rail, atom palette and ring bar | One tool column, rings included |
| Menus | Buttons in view | Less used actions move into the ☰ menu (File) and the ⋮ menu |
| Language and Windows download | Top right | In the ⋮ menu |
| Preview the next atom | On by default | Off by default |
| Default | Yes | No |
Scientific suits research work, where you want each tool one click away. Educational suits classrooms and new users, because the screen is calmer. For the Teaching menu and classroom settings, see Educational layout and Teaching menu.
Toolbar icon size#
On a computer, Settings, General, Toolbar icon size sets the size of the top bar and toolbar icons: Small, Medium, Large or Extra large. Small is the default. Larger icons help on big screens and for people who find small targets hard to hit.
Structure theme#
The theme above is the app look. The structure theme is how molecules are drawn: Default (skeletal) or Ball and stick. Set it in Settings, Style, Structure theme, or in the Style ribbon. See Style and display and the Themes plugin.
Tips#
- Use Light for figures you export for print. Check the export preview before you send a file.
- On a projector, try Ink dark with Bold atom labels on in Settings, Style.
- The grid button next to the theme button shows or hides the canvas grid.
Questions and answers
How do I turn on dark mode in MolDraw?
Click the sun button in the top bar to switch to Elegant dark. Click again for Ink dark. You can also pick a theme in Settings, General, Theme.
What is the difference between Scientific and Educational layout?
Scientific shows every button in three rows. Educational shows two compact rows and one tool column, and moves other actions into the menus.
Does the dark theme change my saved drawing?
No. The theme is a view setting. Your structures, colors and saved files stay the same.
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