For molecular modelers, visualizing complex molecular systems can often be a repetitive and time-consuming task. Crafting clear visual representations and applying consistent color schemes to each structure might require countless manual adjustments. But what if there was a way to simplify this process, saving time while achieving professional results? With SAMSON’s visual presets, you can do just that!
What Are Visual Presets, and Why Should You Use Them?
Visual presets in SAMSON allow you to quickly apply pre-defined or customized visual representations with just a few clicks. You can integrate structures, apply color schemes, and even implement multiple layers of detail in your molecular projects almost instantly.
Whether you’re presenting protein-ligand interactions, creating animations, or simply sharing research work, visual presets ensure that the results are consistent and polished without requiring excessive manual setup. They’re accessible via the Visualization and Home menus, making them easy to incorporate into your everyday workflows.
Applying Visual Presets: A Streamlined Approach
Applying a visual preset in SAMSON couldn’t be simpler. Just go to Home > Visual preset or Visualization > Visual preset, and pick one of the pre-configured options. For example, the “Protein-ligand” preset automatically highlights protein-ligand interactions with appropriate visual models and color schemes.
Here’s an example of the “Protein-ligand” preset applied to the PDB structure 1AA1:
When a preset is applied, it creates a dedicated folder in the document to keep the visual models and node groupings organized, ensuring your project stays neat and easy to navigate.
Creating Your Own Visual Presets
While the default presets in SAMSON are powerful, you can also customize them or create entirely new ones to suit your project’s unique needs. This customization is done using the Visual Preset Editor, where you can build a sequence of steps defining:
- The selection of nodes the step applies to (e.g., “Ligands”, “Water”, or “Heavy atoms”).
- Any actions to perform, such as hiding elements, labeling atoms, or zooming in on a selection.
- The visual model to apply (e.g., “Ribbons”, “Van der Waals”, “Licorice”).
- A color scheme for the selection or visual model (e.g., “Per chain”, “Constant”, or “Per occupancy”).
Ready to customize one of the existing presets? Simply select it, make changes—perhaps adding steps or tweaking color schemes—and save it for future use. Alternatively, you can start from scratch by clicking the 
button to create a brand-new preset.
Why Custom Visual Presets Are a Game-Changer
Imagine consistently styling molecular systems, no matter the complexity, with just a few clicks. Customized presets not only save time but also empower you to create visuals perfectly suited to your narrative and audience. Whether you’re visualizing receptor-ligand interactions, building animations for presentations, or conducting exploratory analyses, your presets are always at hand, offering flexibility and control.
For step-by-step guidance and more details, visit the original documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/visual-presets/.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Learn more and download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.