A PyMOL Map Object is a special type of object that contains a grid of floating point numeric values distributed over a volume of space. Two commmon examples of map objects include electrostatic potential maps and electron density maps. In PyMOL, the numeric values inside such maps can be used:

• to color objects and representations
• to generate isosurface contours as dots, meshes, or surfaces
• to generate gradient objects with field lines
• to generate, color, or shape slice objects

object, concepts