Creating compelling molecular animations is often a challenge for researchers who want to clearly communicate dynamic structural changes, interactions, or spatial relationships between molecules. One of the most common frustrations when preparing presentations, videos, or educational materials is how to control what the viewer sees — and from which perspective — especially when trying to follow complex 3D transformations.
That’s where the camera animation tools in SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, come in. Rather than manually repositioning your view or attempting to capture motion with screen recordings, SAMSON’s built-in camera animations allow you to design smooth, customizable motions for your camera — helping your audience focus exactly where you want them to.
Why Camera Animations Matter
In molecular modeling, it’s not only what you show, but also how you show it. Guiding the viewer’s attention through movement makes structural insights easier to understand. Whether you’re highlighting active sites, showcasing docking events, or unveiling the spatial arrangement of molecular assemblies, good camera movement enhances clarity and immersion.
Types of Camera Animations Available in SAMSON
SAMSON offers several predefined camera animations you can use to guide your scene. These include:
- Orbit camera: Rotate the camera around a central point, ideal for showing a molecule’s shape from different angles.
- Move camera: Translate the camera between positions, simulating a fly-by effect.
- Zoom camera: Zoom into or out of your model for focused detail or broader context.
- Truck camera: Pan horizontally, useful for side-by-side comparisons.
- Dolly camera: Move the camera along a straight path toward or away from a model.
- Pedestal camera: Move the camera vertically to reveal structure height or orientation.
- Hold camera: Keep the current camera position, typically used between movements.
How to Use Camera Animations
All camera animations can be added from the Animation panel under the Animator. Each animation can be applied by selecting the element you want to interact with (for example, the scene or a group of atoms) and inserting a camera action via the timeline in the animator panel. You can chain together multiple animations — such as a zoom followed by an orbit — to build a complete scene transition.
Each camera animation node can be configured with custom durations, easing, and target positions or paths. For advanced control, you can also record your camera movements interactively using features like Record Path and play them forward or in reverse using Play Path and Play Reverse Path.
Practical Tip
Pairing camera animations with entrance or exit effects (such as Hide, Appear, or Pulse) can result in smooth storytelling. Show a protein folding by dollying in as the model appears, then orbit around it to emphasize structural domains.
Learn More
To explore the complete list of camera animations and learn how to combine them with other animation types, refer to the official SAMSON documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.