One of the challenges molecular modelers often encounter is clearly communicating spatial relationships and subtle structural changes in their simulations. Whether you’re preparing a research presentation or an educational video, getting the camera movements just right can significantly impact the clarity of your message.
This is where the Dolly camera animation effect in SAMSON comes in handy. Unlike a simple zoom, dolly movements shift both the camera’s position and its target point, allowing for more natural and immersive transitions when focusing on specific molecular features. If you’ve struggled to direct the viewer’s attention smoothly from one site to another in a complex molecular system, this might be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Why use a dolly camera movement?
In molecular modeling animations, retaining control over both the visual focus and the spatial orientation of the system is key. The dolly camera effect lets you:
- Move the camera forward while smoothly transitioning its point of focus.
- Simultaneously approach a molecular site and center it in the view.
- Set up precise animation sequences with flexible control over start and end frames.
This can be especially useful when layering in special effects like Fog or Depth-of-field, which rely on controlled focal points to produce meaningful visual impact.
Setting it up in SAMSON
To add a dolly camera animation to your molecular project in SAMSON:
- Choose your start frame in the Animator’s Track view.
- Adjust the scene so the view/camera shows exactly what you want viewers to see at the start.
- Double-click on “Dolly camera” in the Animation panel.
- Set the end frame and re-position your camera accordingly.
Need to tweak later? That’s not a problem: both the start and end frames can be adjusted at any time. You can also fine-tune the animation curves using the easing curve settings for even smoother camera motion.
Additional tips for improving your dolly animation
Here are a few useful properties and settings you might want to tweak:
- Apply to active camera: By default, animations apply to the current active camera. You can inspect and change this setting if needed.
- Keep camera upwards: This option helps maintain a consistent vertical orientation of the camera, especially useful when working with grids.
- Camera interpolation: Adjust how the position and target evolve using easing curves, giving you full control over the animation pace.
Use case: zooming into a ligand binding site
Imagine you need to highlight how a drug molecule interacts with a protein’s active site. A dolly camera can start far from the protein, then move in smoothly while simultaneously shifting focus onto the ligand pocket. The result is a dynamic and intuitive visualization that’s more engaging than a static zoom.
To explore more possibilities and detailed instructions, visit the full documentation for the Dolly camera animation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download it at https://www.samson-connect.net.