As molecular modelers, we often rely on labels to communicate the identity, location, or properties of atoms, residues, and molecules in our models. Whether you’re preparing publication-quality images or simply organizing your project, clear labeling is key. But if you’ve ever experienced labels mysteriously vanishing as you navigate around your model, you’re not alone.
This blog post explores label visibility in the SAMSON platform. We’ll walk through how visibility is determined, how to control it, and how to avoid common pitfalls — so your annotations stay visible when you need them the most.
How SAMSON Handles Label Visibility
Labels in SAMSON are designed to be user-friendly and non-intrusive. As you zoom in and out within the Viewport, SAMSON automatically adjusts which labels are shown based on their size and relevance. At a close zoom level, detailed elements like atoms may have labels; zoom out, and those atomic labels fade while higher-level labels (like for molecules) become visible.
This behavior reduces visual clutter, but it can also lead to confusion if you’re not aware of it.
Manually Controlling Visibility
Fortunately, you can fine-tune when labels appear by adjusting their display radii. Each label has two key properties:
- Minimum display radius: the zoom level below which the label becomes visible.
- Maximum display radius: the zoom level above which the label disappears.
To change these settings:
- Select a label by clicking on it in the Document view or in the Viewport (make sure the Selection Filter is set to “Labels”).
- Open the Inspector panel.
- Adjust the “Minimum display radius” and “Maximum display radius” to fit your visualization needs.
Here’s what that looks like:
Temporarily Hiding or Showing Labels
If you want to manually toggle label visibility without changing zoom levels, you can use the Document view. Simply tick or untick the checkbox next to each label. This is especially useful when organizing complex models with many overlapping annotations.
Practical Tips
- Keep your label radii consistent for similar types of information (e.g., all residue names).
- Use color or font differentiation — in addition to visibility — to bring attention to key parts of your model.
- Test your visibility settings while rotating and zooming to make sure labels appear at the right time.
Final Thought
Mastering label visibility in SAMSON ensures that your annotations serve their purpose without distracting from what matters most — your science. Whether you’re preparing a figure or simply enriching your workspace, thoughtful label control can make a big difference.
To learn more about labeling features in SAMSON, visit the full documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/labeling/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.