When visualizing molecular systems, especially during simulations or dynamic processes, it can be frustrating to lose focus on the region that truly matters. Whether it’s a ligand binding site, a protein loop in motion, or the interaction between molecular fragments, keeping that region always visible can be tricky when navigating complex animations.
This is precisely where the Look at atoms animation in SAMSON can be useful. Instead of moving the entire camera as the molecular system evolves, this animation keeps the camera target steadily following the atoms you care about — while the camera position itself remains fixed. That means your viewpoint doesn’t drift, but your focus shifts to remain centered on the atoms of interest. 📌
Why This Matters
Many molecular modelers simulate trajectories where structural changes affect only part of the system — for example, monitoring domain motions in a protein or tracking a molecule as it diffuses. Without camera guidance, users often need to continuously adjust their view manually. Look at atoms automates this process, making your animations clearer and easier to interpret, without disruptive manual tweaks.
How It Works
The Look at atoms animation follows the geometric center of selected atoms. Here’s a basic workflow to use this animation feature:
- Start by selecting the atoms you want the camera to follow.
- Position and orient the camera as desired.
- In the Animator, go to the Track view, choose your starting frame, then double-click Look at atoms in the Animation panel.
- Set the end frame and stretch or adjust the duration as needed.
The camera’s position is preserved throughout, but it will rotate automatically so that its view centers on the atoms’ updated geometric center as they move. This technique is especially helpful in trajectory animations where specific atoms undergo significant motion while the rest remain still.
Things to Know
You can modify two important parameters:
- Apply to active camera: By default, the animation affects the camera currently used in the viewport. You can change this through the inspector if needed.
- Keep camera upwards: This setting controls whether the camera keeps a consistent upright orientation. If enabled, the behavior changes depending on whether the display grid is turned on.
Adjusting vs. Following
If you want greater control over the exact camera movements, you can still manually adjust camera positions using animation controllers. However, when using Look at atoms, the camera target remains locked on the selected atoms’ center — so it’s best used when you want a steady viewpoint focused on a specific region.
This functionality provides a helpful boost when presenting molecular movements without disorienting camera shifts. It lets you emphasize relevant molecular activity in a way that’s easier to follow — both for yourself and for anyone watching your molecular video.
To learn more, visit the full documentation page for Look at atoms animation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.