Long modeling sessions, late-night analysis, or extended scripting in SAMSON can take a toll on your eyes—especially in brightly-lit interface environments. Many molecular modelers have found themselves squinting at atomistic details under stark white UIs. Thankfully, SAMSON provides a simple way to switch to a more eye-friendly interface: Dark Mode.
Not just an aesthetic preference, dark mode helps reduce visual fatigue, especially when working in dim environments. For researchers juggling between molecule rendering, parameter tuning, and plugin development, keeping the UI easy on the eyes can translate into better focus and fewer headaches.
How to Enable Dark Mode in SAMSON
Access the dark mode settings via:
- Interface > Preferences, then navigate to Interface > Dark mode
- Or simply use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + K on Windows/Linux or Cmd + , on Mac to open Preferences
From there, toggle the Dark Mode option to switch the interface theme.
When is Dark Mode Most Useful?
If you’re working under any of these conditions, consider enabling dark mode:
- You’re performing overnight simulations or scripting tasks
- You’re presenting molecular models in a dim environment (e.g., conferences or online calls)
- You’re already using OS-level dark mode and want SAMSON to visually integrate with it
- You’re using SAMSON on a laptop and want to reduce screen brightness to save battery
Does Dark Mode Affect Molecular Rendering?
No, enabling dark mode only changes the graphical interface like menus, panels, and toolbars. Your viewport appearance, molecules, and render settings remain untouched—unless you also decide to tweak rendering backgrounds or lighting through the Rendering section of the Preferences.
Extra Tip: Combine with Background Settings
To further enhance the low-light experience, you can also change the Rendering > Background to a darker style:
- Select Black background
- Or use Custom with a dark gradient
This can greatly improve contrast and clarity, especially when preparing visuals for publication or presentations.
Switching to dark mode in SAMSON is a small but effective change that can improve your comfort while navigating complex molecular data. By combining interface preferences with rendering tweaks, you can create an environment that supports focus and visual clarity without sacrificing detail.
To learn more, check out the full Preferences documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Download SAMSON here.