When a molecular structure stretches beyond the current view, adjusting the camera can be tricky. You may want to follow the system vertically without changing the structure itself or losing the framing you have already established. In SAMSON, the Pedestal camera animation is designed for that kind of move: it shifts the camera’s position and target point together, vertically in the camera reference frame.
Because both points move in parallel, the animation moves the view rather than animating the molecular model. It is useful when preparing a presentation or animation in which the camera needs to travel along a system while keeping its viewing direction consistent. Think of it as repositioning the viewpoint upward, not rotating or zooming in on the molecule.
Set up the move from a useful starting view
Begin by choosing the animation’s start frame in the Animator’s Track view. Then orient the camera to the view you want at that moment. This starting composition matters: the animation uses the camera’s current position and target point as its starting values.
Next, double-click Pedestal camera in the Animator’s Animation panel. The animation sets the end-frame camera position and target point by shifting both vertically upward by the same distance. Choose the end frame to control how long the move takes. You can move the start and end frames afterward if you need to change when the camera movement begins or finishes.
A practical planning tip: settle the initial view before adding the effect. That makes it easier to judge whether the resulting vertical travel keeps the relevant parts of the model in view. If the start view is poorly framed, the animation will carry that starting composition along with it.
Choose the right camera animation
Pedestal camera and Truck camera work in the same general way, but the direction differs: Pedestal camera moves vertically, while Truck camera moves horizontally. If your goal is simply to reposition the camera and target point, rather than use this paired vertical movement, see the Move camera animation.
This distinction helps when storyboarding a molecular presentation. A vertical sweep can follow a tall or vertically arranged system; a horizontal sweep can travel across a wider scene. Neither requires moving the molecular structure to achieve the camera motion.
Check the animation’s properties
By default, camera animations apply to the active camera. The target point is based on that camera’s current target position, which is essentially the center of the view. If you need to change which camera the animation affects, inspect the animation and adjust Apply to active camera.
The grid setting can also affect how camera positions are defined. Inspect the animation’s Keep camera upwards option to control whether its behavior depends on whether the grid is on or off. If the camera’s movement seems different than expected, check this setting along with the active camera before rebuilding the animation.
You can change how the camera parameters transition between frames by selecting an Easing curve. This lets you adjust the character of the transition without changing the basic purpose of the effect: moving the camera and target point together.
Fine-tune with the controllers
Animation controllers can be used to adjust camera positions and target points. Pedestal camera has some special limitations on how those values can be adjusted, so its controls may not offer the same independent freedom as a general camera-position adjustment. If you need detailed changes, consult the camera-position adjustment guidance and keep the paired movement in mind.
For a complete walkthrough, see the Pedestal camera documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.