When dealing with complex molecular models, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the intricacies of visualizing these systems effectively. Tailoring multiple visual representations and color schemes with precision takes time and expertise—exactly what most molecular modelers wish they had more of. Fortunately, SAMSON’s Visual Presets bring a convenient solution to this challenge, allowing modelers to quickly create stunning and informative visualizations.
What Are Visual Presets?
Visual presets in SAMSON are pre-configured combinations of visual representations and color schemes that can be applied easily and efficiently to molecular systems. The idea behind them is simple yet impactful: instead of manually customizing numerous settings, you can apply default or custom presets with just a few clicks. This makes them especially useful for molecular modelers handling complex systems like proteins, ligands, and other biomolecules.
How to Apply Visual Presets
Applying a preset in SAMSON is straightforward. You can access visual presets under the Home or Visualization menus:
- Go to Home > Visual preset or Visualization > Visual preset.
- Choose a desired visual preset from the list.
For example, the Protein-ligand preset provides a focused and clear visualization of biomolecular complexes. Here’s how this preset looks when applied to the PDB code 1AA1:
Customizing Your Visual Presets
Beyond just using default presets, SAMSON allows you to create and save custom visual presets. Whether you want to modify an existing preset or build one from scratch, the process is intuitive with the Visual Preset Editor.
A custom visual preset consists of multiple steps, and each step includes configurable options:
- A selection of nodes to which the step applies (e.g., receptor, ligands, water molecules).
- Optional actions like hiding, labeling atoms, or zooming on selections.
- An optional visual model to apply (e.g., ribbons, van der Waals).
- An optional color scheme (e.g., per chain, per occupancy).
Here’s an example of the Visual Preset Editor interface:
You can add, remove, or re-order steps as needed to achieve your desired visual style. To create your first custom preset:
- Navigate to Home > Visual preset > Create… or Visualization > Visual preset > Create….
- Click the
button to add steps with specific settings. - Save your preset for future use by clicking the Save visual preset button.
A Time-Saver for Molecular Modelers
Whether you’re creating publication-quality images, giving a presentation, or simply exploring molecular systems, visual presets save you time and streamline your tasks. By applying a shared style across different molecular systems, you can maintain consistency and improve communication of your findings.
To learn more about visual presets and how to use them, make sure to visit the official documentation at https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/visual-presets/.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Explore what SAMSON can do by visiting https://www.samson-connect.net.