When building molecular models, clarity is crucial—especially when you’re sharing your work or presenting your findings. Labels help identify key parts of your structures, from atoms to entire molecules. But default label placements can sometimes overlap with important areas or appear in less readable positions.
If you’ve ever wished you could just nudge a label to the side—or wondered how to better arrange information in your viewport—this post is for you. We’ll walk through how to manually move labels in the SAMSON molecular design environment to improve clarity and visual appeal.
Why reposition labels?
When labels automatically appear, their positions are typically centered on selected nodes. While this works well most of the time, it can clutter a scene or overlap with other labels or structural components, especially in dense molecular systems. Manual placement gives you control over how your annotations are presented, ensuring that your molecular model communicates information clearly and effectively.
Three ways to move labels in SAMSON
SAMSON offers several ways to move labels. You can choose one depending on your workflow or preference.
1. Using the Inspector panel
This approach provides precision. Follow these steps:
- Select the label you want to move.
- Open the Inspector panel.
- Look for the viewport offset and adjust its values (in viewport coordinates x and y).
This method is great for fine-tuning label positions without disrupting the rest of your interface.
2. Using the Displace editor
For interactive adjustments, the Displace editor is useful:
- Set the Selection filter to “Labels”.
- Activate the Displace editor
by clicking its icon or pressing the D key. - Click and drag the label to the desired location in the viewport.
This is the fastest way to reposition labels, especially during model reviews or interactive sessions.
3. Moving from the Document view
If you’re managing lots of nodes and prefer a more structured view:
- Select the label in the Document view.
- Use any of the Move editors (e.g. translation or rotation tools) to reposition it.
This approach is helpful when your viewport is crowded or when you want to coordinate multiple node positions.
Tip: Remember the Selection Filter
To move labels, make sure the Selection filter is set to “Labels”. Otherwise, your clicks and moves will affect other parts of your model. Don’t forget to change it back when you’re done editing labels.
Displaying your model with purpose
Thoughtfully positioned labels make your molecular model easier to understand, especially for collaborators, reviewers, or students. Whether you’re preparing screenshots for a paper or sharing interactive models, relocating labels for readability makes a difference.
To learn more, visit the full documentation page on labeling in SAMSON.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.