Molecular modeling often necessitates precise visualization. It's not only about creating elegant renderings but also about efficiently working with complex scenes. If you've ever struggled with managing the appearance and visibility of light nodes in your molecular environment, SAMSON's ‘light’ attributes could save you a lot of frustration.
The light attribute space (short name: li) in SAMSON is specifically designed for manipulating light nodes. This functionality can improve not only the aesthetics of your scene but also its usability when you need clear distinctions between molecular components. Let's explore the key attributes that will fine-tune your control over light elements in your modeling workflows.
Essential ‘light’ Attributes
The light attribute space inherits some useful attributes from the node attribute space but is tailored specifically for light nodes. Here's a quick overview:
| Attribute Name | Short Name | Possible Values | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| hidden | h |
true, false |
li.h, not li.h |
| name | n |
strings in quotes | li.n "A", li.n "L*" |
| selected | true, false |
li.selected, not li.selected |
|
| selectionFlag | sf |
true, false |
li.sf false, li.sf |
| visibilityFlag | vf |
true, false |
li.vf false, li.vf |
| visible | v |
true, false |
li.v, not li.v |
Improving Efficiency with Visual Controls
The most directly impactful attributes for many users are the hidden, visibilityFlag, and visible controls. Together, these allow you to toggle individual light nodes or groups of them on or off as you adjust your scene’s focus. For instance:
- Hide unnecessary lighting: Use the
li.hattribute to temporarily disable lights you don't need, reducing visual noise. - Focus on specific nodes: Highlight specific areas in your scene without entirely removing or deleting other light nodes using
li.v. - Rapid toggling for test environments: The
sfvisibility flags make it simpler to test a range of setups without committing to permanent changes.
With a combination of these tools, you can hone in on details of your molecular environment while keeping your workspace clean and manageable—all without losing crucial information.
Advanced Filtering with Names and Patterns
For users managing large and intricate models, the ability to use the name attribute provides a powerful solution. By assigning meaningful names to light nodes and using string filters (e.g., li.n "L*"), you gain an intuitive way to toggle specific categories of nodes. This can simplify recurring setups and speed up workflows that involve frequent adjustments to similar scenes.
If you're unsure where to start, try systematically naming your nodes based on their function—then filtering them during the visualization process.
Discover More
For a deeper dive into the full potential of these attributes, visit the documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/nsl/light/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at SAMSON Connect.