If you’ve ever tried to present a complex molecular structure using static screenshots or default camera angles, you know how challenging it can be to convey 3D relationships clearly. Molecular modelers often spend hours setting up the perfect orientation, only to realize that audiences might still struggle to grasp the spatial layout and dynamic behavior. This is where camera animations in SAMSON can make a real difference.
In SAMSON, camera animation tools give you precise control over how viewers see and experience a molecular system. You can guide the viewer’s attention, emphasize key interactions, and create fluid sequences for presentations, videos, or lectures.
Types of camera animations
SAMSON offers a range of camera animations that can help you build clean and informative visual narratives:
- Orbit camera: rotate smoothly around a target to explore molecules from all angles.
- Move camera: translate the camera along a straight path.
- Dolly camera: zoom in or out without altering perspective.
- Pedestal camera: move the camera up or down in vertical space.
- Truck camera: move the camera sideways, like a sideways panning motion.
- Look at atoms: automatically center the camera view on selected atoms.
- Hold camera: freeze the camera at one position for dramatic pauses or highlights.
- Play/Record path: create advanced custom paths for the camera and replay them smoothly.
Why use camera animations?
Animations are not only about aesthetics — they are a powerful communication tool:
- Emphasize steric hindrance by rotating around binding pockets.
- Depict docking pathways by zooming into specific interaction sites.
- Compare conformations dynamically by orbiting structured models before and after transformations.
- Guide teaching sessions with controlled transitions from one molecular area to another.
Creating camera animations in SAMSON
All camera animations can be accessed from the Animation panel in the Animator. There, you can select from the list of animations and configure parameters such as duration, direction, and specific targets (for instance, certain atoms or node groups).
Here is what the Animation panel looks like:
For advanced effects, combine multiple animations sequentially. For example, orbit around a ligand, hold the camera, then zoom into the interaction site. By combining simple camera motions, you can convey complex mechanisms clearly and simply.
Things to keep in mind
Note that the video tutorial found in the documentation uses an earlier version of the interface. The Animation menu shown in the video has been replaced by the Animation panel available in the current Animator.
To learn more about camera animations and explore the full list of available types, visit the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download the platform from https://www.samson-connect.net.