When working with complex biomolecular systems, labels are powerful tools. Whether highlighting residues of interest, displaying atomic distances, or tracking a subset of molecules, well-placed labels bring clarity. But when zooming in and out of large systems, things can quickly become chaotic: overlapping text, unreadable font sizes, or vanishing details.
The label visibility system in SAMSON addresses this. By dynamically adjusting which labels are shown depending on zoom level and user-defined radius parameters, it helps you focus on the right level of detail—without clutter.
Why label visibility matters
Imagine you’ve labeled every residue in a protein to track their functions, but when you zoom out to inspect the larger structure or view binding interactions, all you see is a small storm of overlapping text. Not only is this unreadable, it’s distracting and obscures your model.
This is where SAMSON’s label visibility filters come in. Labels are rendered selectively, based not only on your zoom level, but also on minimum and maximum display radii you can customize. This way, labels on atoms appear only when zoomed in close enough, while those on entire molecules or residues remain legible as you zoom out.
How it works in SAMSON
Label visibility in SAMSON is tied to the system’s hierarchical model. As you zoom in on smaller nodes—like atoms—their labels gradually appear, while those tied to larger nodes fade out, and vice versa. This behavior is automatic, but also customizable.
To fine-tune the visibility of any label:
- Select the label in the Document view or directly in the Viewport.
- Open the Inspector panel.
- Adjust the Minimum display radius and Maximum display radius.
The display radius controls define the distance (in screen units) at which the label begins to appear or disappear. For instance, to make a label remain visible only when zoomed closely (for detailed editing), reduce its maximum display radius.
Visual feedback as you zoom
SAMSON gives clear, gradual feedback as you zoom, allowing you to notice which annotations you’re focusing on. Here’s an example of how label visibility adapts during zoom interactions:
Use cases
- Focus on function: Show mutation sites when zoomed in, while keeping overall domain labels visible at a higher level.
- Minimize visual clutter: Limit atom or bond labels to close-up views, hiding them automatically when viewing higher-order structures.
- Presentation-ready models: Prepare clean, informative graphics by dynamically managing your annotations without constant manual toggling.
Tips:
- Use consistent display radius settings for related labels to harmonize visibility across multiple annotations.
- Group-select labels to set a shared visibility range via the Inspector.
Want more control over what’s shown and when? Or want to refine labels during interactive presentations? Exploring label visibility settings is a quick way to improve communication and streamline the experience—for both you and others reviewing your model.
🔍 Explore the full documentation here to learn more about labeling in SAMSON.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON here.