When working with molecular models, effectively visualizing changes or processes is often key to better understanding and communication. However, managing the visibility of complex molecular structures during animations can be a challenge, especially when transitioning between keyframes. This is where the Shown animation in SAMSON can help. It allows you to make molecular nodes visible between keyframes, ensuring clarity without using transparency. Here, we’ll explore how to use the Shown animation to streamline your molecular animations and presentations.
What Does the Shown Animation Do?
The Shown animation specifically adjusts the visibility of selected nodes in your molecular model between keyframes. Instead of altering the transparency of the nodes, the animation toggles their visibility, ensuring your audience can focus on the right parts of the model at the right time. This clear visibility control can make animations cleaner and more comprehensible.
How to Add the Shown Animation
Using the Shown animation is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:
- Select the nodes you want to make visible during the animation. You can do this in the model by specifying which parts need emphasis or visibility.
- Open the Animation panel in the Animator.
- Double-click on the Shown animation effect. This will automatically create the start keyframe based on your current frame position.
- Adjust the keyframes as needed to align with your animation timeline. You can move the keyframes to match the specific transitions in your story.
Remember, keyframes are essential for controlling node visibility changes across the animation timeline, and you can easily modify these later to better suit your animation’s flow.
Enhance Your Transitions with Easing Curves
Customization doesn’t stop with basic visibility. You can fine-tune the transition dynamics of your animation by modifying the Easing curve. This allows smoother or more dramatic shifts between frames, depending on your preference, providing more control over how the nodes become visible to the observer.
Notes for Better Workflow
Tip: While the animation menu shown in older resources or videos might no longer be available, you can access all animations (including Shown) in the Animation panel of the Animator. To manage presentation actions, use the Animator’s controls effectively for a seamless experience.
Keep Your Audience Engaged
Animations like Shown are great tools for presenting molecular structure changes, highlighting specific details, or preparing engaging demonstrations. By mastering this simple yet powerful feature, you ensure that your molecular models communicate effectively without overwhelming your audience.
To see this in action and ensure you fully understand how to use the Shown animation, reference the original documentation: Learn more.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get started by downloading SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.