When visualizing complex molecular systems, spatial perception plays a crucial role. You need to know what atom is behind or in front, how close molecular structures are to each other, and how everything fits together in 3D space. But sometimes, even with the best coloring and lighting, molecules can look flat 🙃. That’s where ambient occlusion steps in.
Ambient occlusion is a rendering technique that simulates how light radiates in a 3D environment. In practice, it darkens areas where light would have difficulty reaching (like cavities or overlapping regions) to enhance the sense of depth.
What Problem Does It Solve?
Many users of molecular modeling platforms struggle to interpret spatial arrangements in models, especially when multiple atoms or molecules overlap. This issue can lead to time-consuming errors during modeling or animation. Ambient occlusion provides subtle but effective shading that helps users better understand the depth and structure of molecular scenes, especially in large or intricate models.
Where to Find It in SAMSON
You can control this feature easily within SAMSON’s Preferences panel:
- Open Preferences via Interface > Preferences or press Ctrl + K (on Windows/Linux) or Cmd + , (on Mac).
- Go to Rendering > Ambient occlusion.
Two Options to Choose From
SAMSON offers two types of ambient occlusion:
- Screen-space ambient occlusion (SSAO): Fast and efficient. Ideal if you want real-time feedback while working. Note: it’s dependent on the camera’s position.
- Object-space ambient occlusion (OSAO): More precise and realistic, but computing it takes more time. It’s suited for preparing high-quality renders or presentations.
When Should You Use It?
Use ambient occlusion when:
- You’re exploring dense molecular systems and need better visual separation of layers.
- You’re preparing renderings for publication or presentations and want a clearer 3D look.
- You want real-time navigation feedback while modeling in 3D space with less eye strain.
Tips and Considerations
- You can toggle this on and off at any time to compare results.
- If you’re working on a machine with limited GPU power, start with screen-space AO to avoid performance lags.
- Combine AO with shadows and bloom for a more realistic rendering.
- Remember, even subtle changes in shading can vastly improve your depth perception.
Enhanced rendering doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple setting like ambient occlusion can deliver much more readable and visually pleasing results without adding complexity to the model itself.
To dive deeper into rendering options in SAMSON, visit the full documentation for Preferences.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.