When analyzing molecular dynamics simulations or presenting molecular systems, a common challenge is keeping the camera focused on the part of the system that matters. You might be interested in how a ligand interacts with a binding site or how a flexible protein domain moves—but if the molecule drifts or the scene gets crowded, it’s easy to lose track of what you’re looking at.
Enter the “Look at atoms” animation in SAMSON. This feature lets you lock the camera target on selected atoms while keeping the camera position fixed. Whether you’re preparing a video or analyzing a trajectory, this tool helps you keep your visual focus on the region of interest without having to constantly reposition the camera.
Why this matters
Imagine you’re tracking a protein-ligand interaction, and the ligand slowly diffuses across the binding pocket over the course of a simulation. You want to show this journey in a presentation or simply follow it more clearly during analysis. Instead of manually adjusting the camera, or ending up with a jumpy or disorienting viewing experience, you can use SAMSON’s Look at atoms animation to ensure that the ligand stays in the center of the scene, even as it moves. The result is a clean visualization where your audience (or you) never lose sight of what’s important.
How it works
The “Look at atoms” animation works by adjusting the camera target—the point in space your camera is “looking at”—so that it follows the geometric center of the atoms you selected. The camera’s position doesn’t move, which prevents distracting changes in perspective. This is especially useful in presentations or videos where maintaining a constant viewpoint enhances clarity.
How to use it in SAMSON
- Start by selecting the atoms you want the camera to follow.
- Orient the camera how you’d like it (this will be your static viewpoint).
- In the Animator’s Track view, choose the start frame.
- Double-click on Look at atoms in the Animation panel.
- The animation will automatically move the camera target to follow the selected atoms’ geometric center between two keyframes. Your camera view stays unchanged otherwise.
- You can also adjust start and end frames later, and if needed, tweak the active camera in the animation’s properties.
Customize as needed
If you’re using grids or specific camera settings, don’t forget to inspect the animation and check options like Keep camera upwards to make sure the camera behaves how you expect depending on the grid display. For more refined control, manually adjust the camera’s position with animation controllers.
This way, you always keep your structure in view without jumping between tools or confusing your audience with erratic camera motion. It’s a small trick, but a useful one if you’re serious about molecular visualization and communication.
📘 Learn more about the “Look at atoms” animation in the SAMSON Documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON here.