When working with complex molecular structures, navigating a 3D environment efficiently can save time and effort. It’s common for molecular modelers to find themselves constantly adjusting the view—zooming into a reaction site, switching to a side angle, or stepping back to see the whole system. This repetitive camera movement can be a minor but persistent friction point throughout long modeling sessions.
Fortunately, SAMSON provides a useful and underutilized feature: multiple cameras within a single document. This means you can easily set up custom viewpoints, switch between them instantly, and focus on different areas of your system without constantly repositioning a single camera.
Why Use Multiple Cameras?
Think of cameras in SAMSON like bookmarks for 3D space. You can have one focused closely on a protein-ligand interface, another displaying a top-down view of a crystal structure, and yet another providing a full overview of your molecular assembly. Switching between these takes just a double-click or context menu selection, allowing you to keep your workflow smooth.
This is particularly helpful when:
- Comparing conformations from different angles
- Visualizing multiple regions of interest during presentations or analysis
- Switching back and forth during interactive editing and design
How to Add and Use Multiple Cameras
To add a new camera in SAMSON:
- Go to Visualization > Camera, or press Ctrl+Shift+C (Cmd+Shift+C on macOS).
The new camera will automatically be placed at a default position, which you can later adjust or fine-tune.
To switch between cameras, open the Document view, right-click on a camera, and choose Set as active camera. Alternatively, just double-click on the camera you want to activate.
Context Menu Options for Each Camera
Right-clicking a camera in the Document view gives you options to:
- Center the view on a selection or on the entire document
- Enable camera inertia for smoother movement
- Switch to orthographic projection (useful for crystals & projections)
- Set that camera as the active one
- Move the camera position
Fine-Tuning with the Inspector
You can also customize camera properties in detail, such as position, projection type, and movement inertia, via the Inspector window:
This is especially useful if you want to make small angle changes or replicate exact camera settings across documents or sessions.
If managing your molecular models involves a lot of viewpoint juggling, customizing multiple camera perspectives in SAMSON can help you stay focused and reduce unnecessary clicks.
To learn more, visit the full documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/camera/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.