Are You Spending Too Much Time on Molecular Visualization?
If you’re a molecular modeler, chances are that visualizing complex molecular systems often feels like a time-consuming process. Manually setting up multiple visual representations, adjusting color schemes, and organizing layers can leave you wishing for a more streamlined approach. Fortunately, SAMSON offers a solution: its Visual Presets feature, which lets you visualize intricate molecular systems effortlessly in just a few clicks.
What Are Visual Presets?
Visual Presets enable you to apply multiple visual representations and color schemes simultaneously to a molecular system. This means you don’t have to fiddle with tedious manual setups for every project. Default visual presets are available right out of the box in SAMSON, and you even have the flexibility to create and save your own for consistent, personalized workflows. Simply put, Visual Presets allow you to focus on interpreting results rather than configuring visualizations.
Here’s How to Apply Visual Presets
Accessing and applying visual presets is incredibly simple:
- Go to Home > Visual preset or Visualization > Visual preset from the menu.
- Select one of the pre-defined presets to instantly apply it to your molecular system.
The visual preset can be applied to selected nodes within your molecular document or, if no selection is made, to the entire system.
For example, the “Protein-ligand” preset highlights the key interaction areas of a protein-ligand complex beautifully. Take a look below to see the preset applied to PDB code 1AA1:
Once applied, the preset organizes visual models and node groups into a dedicated folder in your molecular document, keeping everything tidy and easy to navigate.
Want to Customize Your Visualizations? Build Your Own Presets!
If the default presets don’t meet your specific needs, SAMSON makes it easy to create customized visual presets with the Visual Preset Editor. Each preset consists of several steps, with each step specifying:
- Node selections: Define which molecules or regions to include.
- Actions: Perform operations like hiding elements, labeling atoms, or zooming in.
- Visual models: Apply representations such as van der Waals, ribbons, or licorice styles.
- Color schemes: Add colorization by chains, occupancy, atom elements, or custom palettes.
Whether you’re tweaking an existing preset or building one from scratch, the process is intuitive. Simply go to Home > Visual preset > Create… or Visualization > Visual preset > Create… to start. To make it even easier, SAMSON allows you to manage steps—add, rearrange, or delete them as needed for fine control of your visual output.
Here’s how the Visual Preset Editor looks:
Every time you launch SAMSON, your saved presets will be ready, offering you a tailored visualization experience in no time.
Conclusion
SAMSON’s Visual Presets empower molecular modelers to save time and effort when visualizing complex molecular systems. Whether you’re using pre-built presets or creating your own, this feature ensures you can focus on what truly matters: gaining valuable insights into molecular interactions.
To dive deeper and explore advanced customization options, visit the official documentation at https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/visual-presets/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Download SAMSON today at https://www.samson-connect.net.