When working with complex molecular systems, it’s often not enough to merely show a static view⎯you need to communicate how one part of a molecule relates to another, highlight conformational changes, or just produce more engaging visualizations. This becomes especially crucial when preparing presentations or animations for publications, talks, or educational materials.
One common visualization need among molecular designers and modelers is to zoom in on specific regions of a molecular model while also shifting the focus—especially towards a region that changes over time, or where complex interactions occur. In SAMSON, the integrative platform for molecular design, this is precisely where the Dolly camera animation comes in handy.
Why Dolly Instead of Zoom?
The Dolly camera animation provides a unique way of moving the camera closer or farther from the structure while also changing the target point—unlike a regular zoom, which keeps the same target point. This subtle shift creates a feeling of motion through space, mimicking how a real camera moves on tracks.
That makes it valuable not only for emphasizing specific parts of a molecule, but also for enhancing visual transitions in combination with effects like fog or depth-of-field. These combined effects can make molecules appear and disappear into focus, revealing structural relations more intuitively.
How to Use the Dolly Camera in SAMSON
- In the Animator’s Track view, select the start frame for your animation.
- Adjust the camera position by orienting the view as desired.
- Double-click on the Dolly camera effect in the Animation panel to insert it into the timeline.
- Move to the desired end frame, adjust the view again, and you’re done.
Fine-tune your animation: you can always adjust the start and end frames later, and use easing curves to smooth the transitions.
Controlling Precision Targeting
Sometimes visual clarity means fine-detail control. SAMSON allows you to directly adjust both the camera’s position and its target point using animation controllers. You can also inspect the dolly animation to disable the “apply to active camera” option or preserve the camera orientation if the grid is switched off, by tweaking the Keep camera upwards setting.
Helpful Tips
- If you notice odd motion paths, check whether the grid setting is affecting upward orientation.
- Combine with fog or depth-of-field for added perspective realism.
- Make use of easing curves for natural interpolations.
This animation is especially useful when you’re trying to emphasize three-dimensionality—bringing viewers along for the journey through a molecule’s inner landscape 🌌.
To learn more, visit the original documentation page for the Dolly camera animation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.