If you’ve ever tried to present complex molecular structures or chemical processes in a clear and engaging way, you probably know how difficult it can be to explain spatial relationships or dynamic transformations with just static images. Whether you’re preparing for a teaching session, putting together a scientific presentation, or simply want to explore a molecular scene from the right angles, camera animations in SAMSON offer a powerful and intuitive solution.
Unlike object animations that move or transform molecular models, camera animations let you animate the viewer’s perspective. This allows you to orbit around active sites, zoom into cavities, or follow key atoms throughout a simulation process. Combined with structural animations, camera movements make your presentations easier to understand and much more immersive.
Types of Camera Animations
The following camera animation types are currently available in SAMSON:
- Orbit camera: Rotate around a point of interest, ideal for inspecting molecular geometry.
- Move camera: Translate the camera within the scene, useful for shifting focus or transitioning between regions.
- Dolly camera: Move forward or backward along the view direction, similar to zooming in cinematography.
- Truck camera: Move left or right across the scene, helpful for wide molecule examinations.
- Pedestal camera: Move up or down while maintaining direction—good for vertical translations.
- Zoom camera: Adjust the field of view, especially useful for focusing attention on active sites.
- Hold camera: Keep the camera fixed for a specified duration as other elements animate.
When and Why to Use Camera Animations
Here are a few real-life use cases where camera animations can be especially useful:
- Zooming into a binding pocket while a ligand docks helps highlight the interaction step-by-step.
- Orbiting around a complex structure allows your audience to get an intuitive view of its 3D conformation.
- Transitioning between molecular domains with smooth camera motion adds clarity to an otherwise dense structure.
You can combine camera animations with other effect types to tailor your presentation. For example, adding a pulse highlighting animation while zooming in will draw attention exactly where it’s needed.
How to Use Camera Animations in SAMSON
To access these animations, open the Animator in SAMSON. From the Animation Panel, you can add steps involving any of the camera animations mentioned above. Use the sequence editor to time each movement precisely and preview as needed. The controls are intuitive and flexible, making it easy to experiment even if you’re just getting started.
If you’re unsure which camera animation fits your story best, try combining a few on trial presentations. The animation preview system in SAMSON makes iterative design quick and efficient.
Example
Here’s what the Animation Panel looks like in SAMSON, where you can add and control different animation sequences including camera paths:
You can also watch this quick tutorial video for a walkthrough on how to create molecular animations.
For the full list of camera (and other types of) animations and detailed instructions, visit the SAMSON Animation Documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.