Creating smooth, compelling animations that communicate molecular structures clearly is a challenge faced by many molecular modelers. Whether you’re building instructional materials, engaging with collaborators, or preparing visuals for research publications, the ability to zoom in on molecular features while preserving spatial context is key.
This is where SAMSON’s Dolly camera animation can help. More flexible than a basic zoom, Dolly camera allows you to animate both the camera’s position and the target point, which means you can gently “slide” the viewpoint through your molecular model, focusing on areas of interest with more precision.
What makes Dolly camera different from regular zoom?
The Dolly camera modifies two things simultaneously:
- The camera position – where it is located in 3D space.
- The camera target point – what it’s looking at.
Compare this to the Zoom camera animation, which zooms towards a single fixed point. Dolly camera lets you follow a path with your viewpoint, essential when showing off multiple levels of structural detail or guiding the viewer’s eye gently across molecular scenes.
Getting started with Dolly camera
- Open the Animator’s Track view and move to the desired start frame.
- Orient the view to where you want the animation to begin.
- Double-click the Dolly camera in the Animation panel to insert the animation effect.
- Set the end frame and reorient the view to the intended target.
You can always move the start and end frames later, and modify camera positioning for better control over the motion.
Tweaking the details
To fine-tune your animation, click the Dolly camera effect in the Animator timeline and use the property inspector to adjust:
- Apply to active camera – usually on by default.
- Keep camera upwards – enables consistent vertical orientation, useful when toggling on/off the reference grid.
- Easing curve – controls the interpolation style (linear, slow-in slow-out, etc.). This helps you soften the animation or make it more dynamic depending on your goal.
Additionally, the camera paths can be edited using controllers in the viewport, allowing precise control over motion endpoints. See this in action here:
When to use Dolly camera
This animation is helpful when:
- Zooming across a binding pocket and re-centering on another domain.
- Transitioning between scales (e.g., from atom to macromolecule).
- Creating camera motions that complement depth-of-field or fog rendering effects.
Using Dolly camera instead of simple zoom adds clarity and flow, improving visual storytelling—especially in crowded molecular environments.
To learn more about the Dolly camera effect and its settings, visit the official documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/dolly-camera/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON here: https://www.samson-connect.net