Fixing Small Icons on High DPI Monitors in SAMSON

Many molecular modelers face the challenge of working on high DPI monitors where application icons appear extremely small and difficult to work with. If you’re using SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, and you’ve encountered this issue, we have simple steps to improve your user experience — at least on Windows systems! Here’s how you can adjust the settings to make SAMSON icons more usable on high-resolution displays.

Why the problem occurs

Modern high DPI displays are designed for sharper visuals and better detail. However, not all applications automatically adapt their interface for such resolutions. This leads to UI elements like icons becoming disproportionately small, making it difficult to identify and work with them effectively.

The solution: Adjusting high DPI scaling on Windows

Fortunately, on Windows, SAMSON users can manually adjust the DPI scaling settings for the application. Follow these steps:

  1. Locate the SAMSON executable program on your system.
  2. Right-click on the executable and select Properties.
  3. Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
  4. Click on the Change high DPI settings button.
  5. In the window that appears, check the option for Override high DPI scaling behavior.
  6. Under the dropdown for Scaling performed by, choose System.
  7. Click OK to save the settings.
  8. Restart SAMSON to apply the changes.

That’s all it takes! Once these adjustments are made, you’ll find that the icons in SAMSON are properly scaled, making your workflow more efficient and less stressful.

Visual Guidance

If you’re unsure about the process, the images below illustrate the steps:

Properties: Compatibility

Properties: Scaling override

Additional tips

Keep in mind that while these steps are effective on Windows, if you’re using a macOS or Linux system, you might encounter different scaling or resolution settings. Consult SAMSON’s documentation or community forums for system-specific guidance.

For more tips and troubleshooting resources, be sure to check the official SAMSON Troubleshooting Page. It covers other topics like installation issues, GPU/OpenGL problems, and more.

Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at SAMSON Connect.

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