When preparing molecular animations, clarity of movement is key—especially if you want to communicate what is happening in a dynamic system effectively. One common challenge for molecular modelers is how to move the camera vertically in a scene while keeping the focus aligned with the system being studied. This is where the Pedestal camera animation in SAMSON can be particularly helpful.
The Pedestal camera animation lets you shift both the camera’s position and target point upward or downward at the same time. This allows for a smooth, parallel vertical movement, perfect for getting an elevated or lowered view of a molecule or macromolecular assembly without changing the viewing angle. If you’ve ever wanted to slowly lift your scene for a better angle—say for a protein-ligand complex sitting on a membrane—this helps you do just that without complex manual adjustments. 🚀
Why vertical movement matters
Unlike rotation (which is often intuitive), vertical translation of the camera helps guide the viewer’s eye through different layers or domains of the system, especially when communicating interactions, stacking behaviors, or vertical transitions (e.g., channel gating, transmembrane movements).
How it works in SAMSON
In SAMSON’s Animator, you first select the start frame and orient your view exactly how you want it to appear at the beginning. Then, apply the Pedestal camera effect from the Animation panel. SAMSON will automatically record the initial camera position and target point. For the end frame, it shifts both of these vertically (in the camera’s own reference frame) by the same distance. This ensures that your view moves smoothly without drifting or rotating.
If you’re trying to record a vertical scan across molecular layers—or even create the feeling of ascending or descending past elements of a molecular model—all while keeping the viewer centered on key elements, the pedestal camera animation is a straightforward and elegant solution.
Helpful tips for smoother animations
- Choose the grid option wisely: if you keep the grid turned on, it can influence the direction interpreted as “up”. Adjust the Keep camera upwards option if necessary during inspection of the animation.
- Adjust the easing curve: If the motion feels too rigid or too sudden, tweak the easing curve for a more natural transition between frames.
- Start and end frames are flexible: Don’t worry if you change your mind about timing—start and end frames can be freely moved afterwards.
When to use it
The pedestal camera animation works especially well when modeling systems such as:
- Transmembrane proteins
- Layered material stacks (e.g., MOFs)
- Scenes where you want to lift or lower the viewer’s eye-line
To learn more or start applying vertical camera motion in your own animations, visit the detailed documentation on the Pedestal camera animation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. To get started, visit https://www.samson-connect.net.