When exploring complex molecular systems, visuals often speak louder than numbers. Whether you’re showcasing structural transitions, highlighting reaction pathways, or simply presenting a model to colleagues, how you move the camera during a molecular animation can significantly affect how your audience interprets the information.
One common challenge? Smooth vertical transitions that maintain focus on a region of interest. That’s exactly where the Pedestal camera animation in SAMSON comes in handy.
What’s a Pedestal Camera Move?
The Pedestal camera animation moves the camera vertically between two keyframes, while keeping the direction of the view consistent. Both the camera’s position and its target point (i.e., what the camera is looking at) shift vertically by the same amount, producing an intuitive view that follows a molecular object or process from above or below like an elevator ride—but for atoms. 🎥🧬
Why Molecular Modelers Use It
Molecular animations are more than just pretty pictures. They’re essential for communicating spatial relationships in 3D structures—especially in presentations, research videos, or interactive publications. Horizontal transitions (like the Truck camera) are useful, but for layered or symmetrical systems (think membrane proteins, nano-layers, stacked materials), vertical movement gives a better perspective shift.
The Pedestal camera effect helps you:
- Visually scan along crystallographic axes
- Reveal structural motifs hidden in a vertical plane
- Present layered biological systems or materials
How to Use It
Here’s how to apply the Pedestal camera animation in SAMSON:
- In the Animator’s Track view, choose your start frame and orient the camera as you like.
- Double-click on the Pedestal camera animation effect in the Animation panel.
- The start and end frames will use the same view, but with the camera shifted vertically upward for the end frame.
- Set the end frame to control the animation duration.
Adjustments and Customization
Like other camera effects, you can adjust the Pedestal animation settings:
- Apply to active camera: By default, the animation affects the currently active camera, but you can select others.
- Keep camera upwards: This determines how the animation reacts to the display grid—important for keeping consistent orientation.
- Easing curve: If your animation needs a smooth start-stop or a more dramatic effect, tweak the easing curve to interpolate between frames differently.
Just note: compared to other camera motions, the Pedestal animation has specific constraints on how its target points and positions can be adjusted using animation controllers.
One Tip Before You Start
Don’t forget to test your animation with the grid both on and off to ensure consistency across different orientations—especially if you rely on spatial alignment in biomolecular structures.
In short, next time you’re preparing a molecular animation, consider adding a vertical motion. It might be the subtle touch you need to guide the viewer’s attention through a complex system.
To learn more about the Pedestal camera animation and see additional examples, visit the official documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.