When you’re working on complex molecular systems, clarity matters. Labels help provide context, highlight key elements, or annotate crucial measurements. But when too many labels crowd the Viewport or overlap with atoms and bonds, they can obscure what you’re trying to see. If you’ve ever found yourself zooming and rotating just to peek behind a label, you’re not alone. The good news is that SAMSON provides multiple ways to move labels for better visual comprehension.
Why Move Labels?
By default, labels in SAMSON are positioned at the geometric center of their associated nodes and drawn in the Viewport plane. This keeps things simple—but not always clear. When labels overlap or clutter your view, moving them slightly can dramatically improve your presentation or screenshot.
Three Ways to Move Labels in SAMSON
1. Adjusting the Viewport Offset
The easiest and most precise way to move a label is via the Inspector. Select a label and locate the Viewport offset property. Adjusting this will shift the label within the Viewport plane, retaining its association with its respective node.
2. Using the Displace Editor
SAMSON’s Displace editor provides more interactive control. First, set the Selection filter to Labels, then activate the Displace editor (shortcut: D). Click and drag your labels to reposition them intuitively. This is especially handy when working with several labels that need minor tweaks in layout.
3. Moving from the Document View
Don’t want to dive into the Viewport directly? You can also select labels in the Document view and apply Move editors from there. This method is useful when working with large systems and you want to manage labels without hunting for them in the 3D structure.
Tips for a Better Labeling Workflow
- Keep it readable: Move labels away from overlapping atoms or structures.
- Consistent spacing: For visual symmetry, offset labels in similar directions/sizes.
- Switch the Selection Filter back: After adjusting labels, change your selection mode back to other types like atoms or molecules to continue modeling efficiently.
When Not to Move Labels
Moving labels is useful in visualization and presentation, but keep in mind that their relative position might no longer reflect their node’s central point. For precise inspection or measurement-based studies, it’s best to keep labels in their original default position or move them only slightly.
Moving labels may seem like a minor feature, but in dense molecular scenes, a few smart adjustments can make your model cleaner, easier to understand, and presentation-ready.
For more on labeling in SAMSON, including font and color customization, see the full documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.