One of the most common frustrations when working with molecular systems is the time and effort it takes to get a clear, informative visualization. Whether you’re showcasing a protein-ligand interaction, analyzing docking results, or preparing images for publication, manually adjusting representations and coloring schemes for each component can be tedious and error-prone.
The good news? You don’t have to start from scratch every time. SAMSON’s Visual Presets feature lets you quickly apply a combination of visual styles and color schemes to your molecular systems — with just a few clicks.
What is a Visual Preset?
A visual preset is essentially a saved visualization workflow: it contains several steps that define how different parts of your system should look, and optionally includes actions like zooming, labeling atoms, or hiding components. Applying one ensures consistency and saves you from repetitive tasks.
SAMSON comes with several built-in visual presets. You can also create your own from scratch or modify existing ones to match your preferences or the requirements of a specific project.
Fast-Track Your Visualization
To apply a visual preset in SAMSON, go to Home > Visual preset or Visualization > Visual preset. From there, select the desired preset.
For instance, applying the Protein-ligand preset to structure 1AA1 instantly creates a clean and informative layout of both the receptor and the ligand, using appropriate visual representations and color coding.
What Gets Created?
When a visual preset is applied, SAMSON automatically creates a folder in the Document with a name matching the preset. This folder contains all the visual models and node groups that were generated, making it easy to revisit or edit the visualization later.
For example, if you select a group of atoms and apply the preset, only your selection will be modified. If nothing is selected, the preset will be applied to the whole document.
Why Use Visual Presets?
- 📌 Save time by avoiding repetitive setup steps
- 🎯 Ensure consistency across multiple structures or presentations
- 🧠 Focus on analysis rather than technical details
- 🧪 Create tailored visuals suitable for specific molecular components like ligands, waters, or receptors
Helpful Tip
Even though presets come with default color schemes and models, you can update them to match your own visual style. Whether it’s ribbons for backbone visualization or a constant color scheme for clarity in presentations, presets are flexible and customizable.
If you’re often switching between different representations, using visual presets will feel like discovering a shortcut you never knew you needed.
Explore more details about visual presets, how to customize them or build new ones, and all related options in the full documentation here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/visual-presets/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.