Have you ever wanted to visually simplify your molecular model during a presentation or animation, progressively concealing certain parts of the structure for enhanced focus? The Conceal Atoms animation in the SAMSON platform offers just that – a clean and seamless way to make selected atoms, along with bonds between them, progressively disappear across frames.
Why use the Conceal Atoms animation?
Molecular modelers often face the challenge of directing their audience’s attention to critical parts of a structure. Instead of overwhelming viewers with too much information on a single frame, the Conceal Atoms animation helps guide focus by allowing atoms and their bonds to vanish in an orderly and progressive manner. Since this process is based on the visibility of nodes rather than transparency, the effect remains sharp and unambiguous.
How to add the Conceal Atoms animation
Setting up this animation in SAMSON is straightforward:
- Select the atoms and bonds you’d like to hide as part of the animation.
- In the Animation panel of the SAMSON Animator, double-click on the Conceal Atoms animation effect.
Once added, this animation provides 4 keyframes:
- Keyframe 1 to Keyframe 2: All selected atoms and bonds are fully visible.
- Keyframe 2 to Keyframe 3: The selected atoms and the bonds connecting them progressively disappear based on their order in the selection.
- Keyframe 3 to Keyframe 4: All selected atoms and bonds are fully hidden.
You can rearrange the keyframes according to your specific requirements, allowing you to control the timing and sequence of the animation for smoother transitions during presentation.
Adjusting animation properties
Customization doesn’t stop at the keyframes. For more sophisticated control, you can tweak the parameters of the animation using the Easing curve. This allows you to modify how smoothly or sharply the transition between frames occurs, fitting the animation’s dynamics to your presentation style.
See it in action
The Conceal Atoms animation is best appreciated through visual examples. When used effectively, it can highlight important molecular processes or structural elements in a compelling way. For instance, take a look at this illustration:
As demonstrated, this animation can be paired with related effects like Reveal Atoms to create seamless storytelling transitions. Whether you’re emphasizing sequential changes or simply decluttering a complex visualization, this approach provides clarity and flexibility.
Where to explore more
For inspiration, check out some pre-prepared molecular models utilizing the Conceal Atoms animation on SAMSON Connect – Documents. Notable examples include:
These examples showcase the versatility of the Conceal Atoms animation and how it can enhance molecular presentations.
To learn more about the Conceal Atoms animation, visit the official documentation at this link.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.