When preparing a molecular model for a presentation, it is easy to end up with a view that is almost right—but not quite. You may want to follow a structure vertically while keeping the camera aimed in the same direction. Rotating the view to do this can change the composition and make a clean transition harder to achieve.
SAMSON’s Pedestal camera animation is designed for this kind of move. It translates the camera’s position and target point together in the vertical direction of the camera reference frame. Because both points shift in parallel, the animation moves the view rather than changing the direction in which the camera looks. The molecular model itself is not what the animation is moving; it is the camera view that travels.
This distinction helps when planning a sequence. If you want a horizontal camera translation, use the related Truck camera animation. Pedestal camera is the vertical counterpart. If the goal is instead to reposition the camera in a more general way, the Move camera animation may be a better fit.
A practical setup
- Choose the starting frame. In the Animator’s Track view, select where the camera move should begin.
- Compose the initial view. Orient the camera as you want the audience to see the structure at the start. The camera’s current position and target point provide the starting setup.
- Add the animation. Double-click Pedestal camera in the Animator’s Animation panel.
- Set the timing. Choose the animation’s end frame to control how long the move takes. You can move the start and end frames later if the timing needs adjustment.
- Review the transition. Play the animation and check that the vertical travel supports the story you want the view to tell. Adjust the easing curve if you want to change how the camera parameters progress between frames.
A useful way to think about this animation is as a camera “lift”: the target point and camera position travel together, so the view can move along a system without the camera independently swinging toward a new target. This can make it easier to keep a continuous viewing direction across a sequence. It is especially helpful when a simple vertical change in viewpoint is more important than introducing a new angle.
Check the camera settings
By default, camera animations apply to the active camera. The animation’s target point is based on that camera’s current target position, which is essentially the center of the current view. If you are working with more than one camera, inspect the animation and check the Apply to active camera option so the animation affects the camera you intend.
Also consider whether the grid is on or off. Camera positioning can behave differently depending on the grid state. The animation’s Keep camera upwards option controls whether this behavior depends on the grid, so inspect that setting if the result is not what you expected.
You can use the animation controllers to adjust camera positions and target points. Pedestal camera has special limitations on how those points can be adjusted, so check the result in the viewport rather than assuming it can be edited like every other camera move.
For the full settings and adjustment details, see the Pedestal camera documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.