A molecular presentation can move quickly: a structure changes, a camera shifts, or the explanation moves to a new idea. When several things happen in sequence, viewers may not have enough time to take in one point before the next begins. That can make a carefully prepared presentation feel rushed, even when the underlying model is clear.
A simple way to create breathing room is to stop the presentation at a chosen frame. In SAMSON, the Stop animation does exactly that: it stops the presentation at the frame where its keyframe is placed. The presenter can then resume when ready by pressing Space or clicking the Play button in the Animator’s controls.
Use a stop as a deliberate pause in the story
Think of a stop as a boundary between parts of your explanation. For example, you might let an animation reach a view you want the audience to study, then stop there before moving on to the next section. That gives you a natural opportunity to explain what is visible, point out a detail, or let viewers orient themselves.
This is especially useful when a presentation contains several distinct ideas. Instead of asking the audience to follow an uninterrupted sequence, you can divide the presentation into slide-like sections: introduce one view, stop to discuss it, and continue when the audience is ready. The stop does not explain the molecular feature for you; it simply gives you control over when the presentation proceeds.
Place the stop where you need it
To add one, open the Animation panel in the Animator and double-click the Stop animation effect. SAMSON places its keyframe at the current frame. If that is not the moment you want, move the keyframe to the appropriate frame.
A practical way to plan this is to decide where you want your audience to stop and look before adding the effect. Then position the presentation at that frame and add the stop. If you later discover that the pause interrupts the explanation too early or too late, you can move the keyframe rather than rebuilding the presentation from scratch.
Make the pause easy to present
Before presenting, consider what you want to say or show while the animation is stopped. A pause is most helpful when it supports a clear moment in the explanation, rather than appearing unexpectedly. You might use it to finish describing the current view, invite a question, or give people a moment to inspect what is on screen. When you are ready to continue, press Space or use the Play button in the Animator’s controls.
It is also worth checking the stop in context. Play through the section leading up to it, confirm that the presentation stops at the intended frame, and then resume it. If the keyframe needs adjustment, move it and check again. This small review can prevent a pause from landing in the middle of a transition or before the point you meant to discuss.
The Stop animation is a modest presentation tool, but it addresses a common communication problem: viewers need time to absorb what they are seeing. Used at a meaningful point, a stop can make a molecular presentation easier to follow without changing the content of the model.
For the exact steps, see the Stop animation documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.