When preparing presentations of molecular structures, researchers often face the challenge of showing complex architectures and interactions in a way that is visually clear, scientifically accurate, and engaging for a broad audience. Static snapshots may suffice for publications, but they fall short when it comes to teaching, pitching, or demonstrating dynamic interactions and spatial relationships in 3D.
One effective solution is to rotate around the molecular system using camera animations. This technique allows you to control viewers’ perspective without manipulating molecular positions—an excellent way to enhance comprehension without altering the science.
What is a Camera Animation?
In SAMSON, camera animations let you define how the camera (viewer) moves through a molecular scene. These animations help guide the audience’s focus, reveal structural symmetries or docking interactions, and improve the overall storytelling of your work.
There are several types of camera animations available in SAMSON, but the most used ones include:
- Orbit Camera: Automatically rotate the camera around a target structure.
- Move Camera: Translate the camera between two positions.
- Zoom Camera: Zoom in or out on a specific detail of the molecular system.
- Dolly / Truck / Pedestal: Directional movements typically used in cinematography but adapted here for molecular scenes.
- Play Path / Record Path: Define and replay custom motion paths to create detailed presentations.
Common Use Cases
1. Teaching Molecular Geometry:
Spinning around a molecule helps show how different components fit together in 3D—something flat images can’t do.
2. Presenting Docking Results:
Use camera movements to zoom in to the binding pocket, then slowly rotate or move the camera to emphasize key interactions.
3. Enhancing Slide Presentations:
Embed animated molecular views into your slides or videos to turn static diagrams into compelling visual stories.
How to Use Camera Animations in SAMSON
In the latest versions of SAMSON, camera animations are accessed through the Animator panel:
- Open the Animator panel from the main interface.
- Select the camera animation you’d like to add (e.g., Orbit camera).
- Adjust parameters like speed, duration, and the focus point.
- Preview the animation directly in SAMSON and tweak until satisfied.
Note: The earlier “Animation” menu used in the video tutorial is no longer present. The Animator panel centralizes all actions involving scene choreography, camera movement, and presentation flow.
Try It Out
Once added, camera animations can be sequenced with others, such as molecule appearance or background transitions, to create comprehensive scenes that guide your audience through your work step by step.
You can watch the brief video tutorial (How to create molecular animations in SAMSON) to get a demonstration, although note that the interface has since been updated.
To explore all available camera-related and other animation types, visit the animation documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON from www.samson-connect.net.