A molecular model can be ready to present, yet the view may shift while you work on the document. That creates a distracting problem in an animation: the system is meant to stay visually steady, but the camera does not. If you want a defined view to remain in place over a stretch of frames, SAMSON’s Hold camera animation can help.
Hold camera keeps the camera parameters fixed between two frames. It is useful when you are not using another camera animation during those frames and want to preserve a particular view of the system. Think of it as a way to give a section of your animation a stable visual anchor, rather than letting changes made while working alter the view you intend to show.
Set the view before you add the hold
Start by choosing the frame where the hold should begin in the Animator’s Track view. At that frame, orient the view and camera to show the system as you want it presented. This step matters: the animation holds the camera parameters you have set, so first establish the composition you want to keep.
- Choose the start frame in the Animator’s Track view.
- Orient the view to the desired position for the system.
- Add Hold camera by double-clicking the effect in the Animator’s Animation panel.
- Set the end frame to cover the interval where you want the view held.
You can move the animation’s start and end frames later, so the interval does not have to be perfect on the first try. That makes it practical to adjust the duration as your presentation takes shape.
When is a camera hold useful?
Use it for a portion of an animation where the audience should focus on the molecular system rather than on a changing viewpoint. For example, you might want to keep one view steady while presenting a sequence of frames, or preserve a chosen composition in a section that has no other camera animation. The key question is simple: “Should the camera move during this interval?” If the answer is no, a hold may be appropriate.
Hold camera is not the same as a camera move. A hold preserves the view between its start and end frames; a Move camera animation is the related option to explore when you want the camera to change. Choosing between them helps make the intent of each part of a presentation clearer: keep the view still, or animate a change in view.
A quick review before presenting
- Check that the start frame is where you want the fixed view to begin.
- Confirm that the camera is oriented as intended at that frame.
- Review the end frame so the hold covers the right interval.
- If the timing needs adjustment, move the start or end frame.
One interface detail is worth knowing if you are following older material: the movie associated with this animation uses an Animation menu that is no longer present in SAMSON. Add animations through the Animation panel in the Animator, and use the Animator’s controls for presentation actions.
For the exact interface steps, see the Hold camera documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.