Molecular modelers often struggle with visual clutter when working with large biomolecular systems. Zooming in on an area of interest can still leave the background fully detailed and distracting, which makes presentations or publications less effective. A simple yet powerful visual strategy to overcome this issue is leveraging the depth of field rendering effect.
This feature, available in SAMSON, helps create a photographic effect where areas outside the focal region are blurred, guiding the viewer’s eye where it matters most.
Why Depth of Field Matters
When visualizing complex molecular structures, not every atom or residue needs equal visual weight. Depth of field emulates a real camera’s behavior by blurring the parts of the structure that are farther from the focal point. This technique is particularly valuable when making explanatory figures, submission graphics, or teaching materials where clarity is key.
How to Enable Depth of Field in SAMSON
To access the depth of field controls in SAMSON, navigate to:
- Interface > Preferences > Rendering > Depth of field
Or enable it quickly using Visualization > Options.
The parameters you can adjust include:
- Strength: Controls the intensity of the blur effect.
- Focal distance: Determines where the focus lies in relation to the camera.
- Focus range: Adjusts how deep the focal zone is before the blur begins to take effect.
For example, setting the strength to 80 creates a focused foreground with smoothly fading depth, replicating the feel of a microscope’s focus plane.
Combining Effects for Greater Emphasis
Depth of field works great on its own, but in some cases, combining it with other effects like fog can enhance spatial separation even more. Fog gently fades out structures based on camera distance, making distant elements appear to vanish into the background.
Here’s an example showing both depth of field and fog to help emphasize a focused region clearly:
Performance Consideration
Enabling depth of field requires some additional GPU resources. If you experience slower performance when working with large molecules or complex assemblies, consider turning down the strength or disabling other effects temporarily.
When Should You Use It?
Use depth of field when you want to:
- Draw attention to a specific binding site or interaction
- Create figures for publications or presentations
- Simplify crowded molecular environments
- Visually separate foreground from background in large simulations
To ensure consistent styling across your visualizations, remember that rendering presets can be saved and reused in SAMSON, allowing you to establish visual standards for your work.
Learn more about controlling rendering effects in SAMSON at the official documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/rendering-effects/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get the latest version of SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.