Have you ever created a molecular animation, only to feel like it didn’t quite bring the attention exactly where you intended? Maybe you tried using a simple zoom, and while the camera got closer, the movement lacked fluidity or precision toward a specific region of interest. This is a common issue in molecular modeling and visualization, especially when trying to guide the viewer’s focus effectively during a presentation or video.
The Dolly camera animation in SAMSON offers a simple yet versatile solution to this. Unlike a standard zoom effect that brings the camera closer to a fixed target point, the dolly animation changes both the camera position and the target point—giving you dynamic control of what your audience sees.
For molecular modelers, this means you can animate the camera to move in such a way that it draws attention to a binding site, active region, or any area of interest in your system, while offering a sense of movement and foreshadowing of where the viewer should look. Let’s unpack how to apply this animation effectively within your molecular presentations.
When to Use the Dolly Camera
The dolly camera is ideal when you need to:
- Zoom in on a molecule while changing the focus point
- Shift the viewer’s attention from one part of a complex to another
- Highlight a region affected by effects such as fog or depth-of-field
This kind of animation mimics the cinematic technique of placing a physical camera on a dolly track—producing camera movement that feels intentional and directed.
How to Add a Dolly Camera Animation
- Select your desired start frame in the Animator’s Track view.
- Manually orient the camera to the position and angle you’d like to begin with.
- Double-click the Dolly camera effect in the Animation panel.
- Set your end frame and adjust the camera again to its final position and view target.
You can move the start and end frames freely afterward, and adjust the viewing experience as needed.
Customizing the Effect
If you’re feeling limited by the default camera behavior, there are several useful properties hidden just under the surface:
- Apply to active camera: This is usually enabled by default but can be adjusted so the effect applies to another camera.
- Keep camera upwards: Controls whether the camera maintains upward orientation—especially useful when using grids.
- Easing curve: Defines how smoothly the camera transitions between key frames. Use this to create more natural effects.
Fine-Tuning Your Animation
To gain more control over how the Dolly camera animates, use the animation handles and controllers in the scene. These allow you to position the start and end camera positions and target points interactively. If you’re curious how these adjustments play out in the visual, toggling the fog or depth-of-field effects can give a more dramatic sense of motion and focus.
Compared to the Zoom camera, which focuses only on changing distance to a fixed point, the Dolly camera is like an evolving viewpoint—letting you tell a better visual story.
To learn more and explore additional settings, 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 here: https://www.samson-connect.net