Creating meaningful molecular animations goes beyond simply rotating around a structure or zooming in. A common frustration that many molecular modelers face is adding subtle but effective camera motion that draws attention to specific processes or interactions. This is particularly important when preparing animations for presentations or educational content where both clarity and visual engagement matter.
While a standard zoom animation gets the job done in some contexts, it often lacks the flexibility needed to reposition the view dynamically. That’s where the Dolly camera animation in SAMSON comes in handy. By adjusting both the camera position and the target point from the start to the end of an animation, this feature allows users to create fluid, more lifelike motion — ideal for highlighting complex spatial relationships in molecular systems.
What makes the Dolly camera different?
Unlike the Zoom camera animation that zooms toward a fixed point, the Dolly camera moves the camera closer to (or farther from) an object while also changing what it’s looking at. This enables you to simulate camera movement much like in professional cinematography — following a ligand entering a binding pocket, or slowly navigating from a membrane surface down into the cytoplasmic space.
This effect becomes especially powerful when combined with rendering effects like Fog or Depth-of-field that emphasize spatial depth.
How to add a Dolly camera animation
- Open the Animator’s Track view and select your desired start frame.
- Use the mouse or navigation tools to set the view and camera position.
- Double-click the Dolly camera animation in the Animation panel to insert the effect.
- Navigate to the desired end frame and reorient the camera to how you’d like the sequence to end.
Tips for a smoother animation
- You can move the start and end frames freely after insertion to change timing.
- Use the Easing curve to smooth the camera transitions—linear movements can feel mechanical, while ease-in/out curves add subtle realism.
- If needed, inspect the animation to target a different camera or disable the “Apply to active camera” setting.
- Consider whether to keep the camera upwards relative to the grid—depending on your project, rotating freely or maintaining verticality may better highlight the dynamics.
When to use it?
Try the Dolly camera when you want to:
- Visualize how a ligand approaches its binding site
- Transition focus between two active regions within a protein
- Simulate the movement of the viewpoint along a molecular channel
In sum, the Dolly camera effect offers a practical and flexible tool for making molecular animations that better communicate scientific ideas. By paying attention to target point dynamics in addition to camera position, it is easier to guide viewers’ attention and tell more compelling molecular stories.
To learn more about the Dolly camera animation, visit the full documentation page here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/dolly-camera/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.