Molecular modelers often know what they want to show, but not how to show it. When presenting complex molecular assemblies or dynamic motions, a static image or even a simple rotation often doesn’t do justice to the structure’s spatial features. If you’ve ever found yourself manually panning and rotating to get the perfect angle, there’s a better way: automated camera animations.
One particularly helpful tool in the SAMSON platform is the Orbit camera animation. It automates smooth, controlled camera movement around a molecular structure, making your presentations clearer and more engaging. Whether you’re creating educational materials, sharing with collaborators, or preparing a publication supplement, this feature can save time and improve clarity.
What Is the Orbit Camera Animation?
The Orbit camera animation rotates the camera around a fixed target point—usually the center of your molecule—following a smooth, circular path. This allows your audience to intuitively grasp 3D structural relationships that are hard to appreciate in 2D or from a single viewpoint.
How to Add and Use It
- First, orient your view in the plane where you want the camera to orbit. You can do this manually using mouse controls or view orientation shortcuts.
- Then, open the Animation panel from the Animator interface.
- Double-click on Orbit camera to add the animation.
- Set the end frame of the animation to control its duration.
Tip: The Rotation Plane Matters
The plane of rotation changes depending on whether the grid is enabled:
- If the grid is off, the rotation occurs through the horizontal plane and the target point.
- If the grid is on, the rotation aligns with the grid’s plane.
You can further control this behavior by inspecting the animation properties and toggling the Keep camera upwards setting.
Fine-Tune with Camera Controllers
Once added, the Orbit camera animation exposes camera controllers in the viewport. These allow you to:
- Adjust the target position (what the camera orbits around).
- Tweak orientation and interpolation settings.
If you don’t see the controllers, try zooming out. Use Ctrl/Cmd + - or your mouse scroll wheel.
Improve Visual Quality with Easing Curves
By default, the movement is linear. But for more polished visuals, you can apply an easing curve for smoother acceleration and deceleration of the camera. This small detail can make presentations look significantly more professional.
Try It with Real Examples
Looking for inspiration? Check out these public documents that use the Orbit camera animation:
By leveraging orbit animations, you can enhance your storytelling and reduce the burden of manual camera adjustments.
To learn more, visit the official Orbit camera documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.