Are you struggling with visualizing complex molecular systems in a way that’s both quick and intuitive? As molecular modelers often deal with large datasets and intricate structures, creating meaningful visualizations can be time-consuming. SAMSON’s visual presets provide a solution that simplifies this process, saving you time and effort while enhancing your workflow.
Visual presets are pre-configured settings that apply multiple visual representations and color schemes to your molecular system in one go. Whether you’re working with proteins, ligands, or entire molecular assemblies, this feature enables you to generate publication-ready visuals—or explore your data interactively—with just a few clicks.
How to Apply Visual Presets
Accessing and using visual presets in SAMSON is straightforward. From the Home menu or the Visualization menu, simply navigate to Home > Visual preset or Visualization > Visual preset and choose your desired preset from the list.
For instance, applying the Protein-ligand preset to a structure such as PDB code 1AA1 can instantly highlight the receptor, ligands, and interactions in a clean and visually appealing way:
When a visual preset is applied to a molecular document or selected nodes, SAMSON automatically generates a dedicated folder within your project structure. This folder organizes visual models and corresponding node groups, ensuring that your work remains structured and accessible.
Customization: Tailor Visual Presets to Your Needs
The true power of SAMSON’s visual presets shines when you customize them. By using the Visual Preset Editor, you can tweak existing presets or craft entirely new ones. Each visual preset is composed of steps, and each step includes:
- A specific selection of nodes, such as “Ligands” or “Receptor”
- Optional actions like “Zoom on selection” or “Hide”
- An optional visual model (e.g., “Van der Waals” or “Ribbons”)
- An optional color scheme (e.g., “Constant” or “Per element”)
To create a new visual preset from scratch, click the plus button next to the preset list. Adding a new step involves choosing nodes, actions, visual models, and color schemes, as shown below:
If you’re modifying existing presets, you can rearrange the order of steps, delete steps, and add multiple actions within the same step. This level of control ensures that you can build presets perfectly tailored to your project.
Save and Reuse Visual Presets
Once you’ve created or customized a visual preset, it can be saved for future use. SAMSON automatically loads your saved presets—alongside the default ones—every time you open the platform. This means that your preferred visualizations are always ready, enabling you to focus on analysis rather than repetitive setup tasks.
For users who believe their customized presets might benefit the broader molecular modeling community, SAMSON also offers the option to share them. Simply use the Send feedback button in the application to submit your presets for review.
Conclusion
SAMSON’s visual presets offer a practical and efficient solution to molecular modeling challenges, helping you visualize even the most intricate systems in seconds. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran modeler, this feature can revolutionize the way you handle and present your molecular data.
Discover the full range of visual preset capabilities and step-by-step guides at the official SAMSON documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Start exploring molecular systems today by downloading SAMSON at samson-connect.net.