When creating molecular animations, one common challenge is directing the viewer’s attention to a specific part of the system—like the binding pocket of a protein or an active site in a large molecular complex. Static shots often fail to convey spatial relationships or dynamic changes effectively. Zooming in can help, but the standard zoom effect doesn’t always offer the control needed over both position and viewpoint.
This is where the Dolly camera animation in SAMSON can make a tangible difference. Unlike a simple zoom, the Dolly camera allows you to move both the camera's position and its focus point over time, creating a more natural and informative effect. It can be very useful for zooming into a region of interest while keeping other parts of the scene contextually relevant. And if you’re using fog or depth-of-field effects, the ability to shift target points during the animation gives you better control over what remains clear and what fades into the background.
Getting started with the Dolly camera
You can add a Dolly camera animation in just a few steps:
- Select the animation’s start frame in the Animator’s Track view.
- Orient the view manually to your desired starting perspective and focus point.
- Double-click the Dolly camera effect in the Animation panel.
- Set the end frame in the timeline and adjust the camera’s final position and target. You can move the start and end frames later as needed.
This kind of animation is especially useful in presentations, educational materials, and publications, because the motion helps viewers grasp changes and spatial relationships that might be missed in static views.
Fine-tuning your animation
Once the Dolly camera animation is added, you can further refine how the camera behaves:
- Apply to active camera: By default, the animation uses the active camera. To animate another camera, inspect the animation and deselect this option.
- Keep camera upwards: Enabling this helps stabilize the visual experience, especially when transitioning vertically. This setting may behave differently depending on whether the grid is enabled.
- Easing curve: The easing function determines how smoothly the camera transitions between positions and focus points. A linear easing curve results in constant speed, while other curves can create more natural or dramatic movements. Try different settings to see what best suits your molecular story.
Practical example
Here’s a simple example of what a Dolly camera effect looks like in action:
In this animation, the camera moves from an overview of the structure toward a more detailed view, with both the viewing angle and focus point shifting smoothly. This creates a more immersive experience without abruptly cutting between frames.
Conclusion
If you’ve been relying on basic zooms or static views in your molecular animations, the Dolly camera is a small but powerful tool that offers more control and clarity. It helps highlight what matters visually, especially in complex models.
To learn more about using the Dolly camera in SAMSON, visit the original documentation page: Dolly Camera Documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.