A molecular presentation can move too quickly even when every camera move and transition is correct. A structure appears, the viewer starts to notice a binding pocket or an interaction, and the next part of the presentation is already underway. That is a pacing problem: important visual information needs a moment to register.
In SAMSON, the Pause animation lets you hold the presentation at a chosen frame for a specified number of seconds. It is a small timing adjustment that can make a complex molecular view easier to follow—without adding more explanation to the screen.
Choose the moment worth holding
Think about what you want your audience to see before adding a pause. It might be a newly revealed part of a molecule, a view that helps orient the audience, or a frame where a structural feature is clearly visible. The pause is most useful when the presentation has already reached that view and the viewer needs time to examine it.
It can help to review the presentation from the audience’s perspective. Ask: if someone has not seen this structure before, would they have enough time to understand what is on screen before the presentation moves on? If the answer is no, consider placing a pause at that point.
Add a pause at the right frame
- Open the Animator and its Animation panel.
- Double-click the Pause animation effect. Its keyframe is placed at the current frame.
- If the pause belongs somewhere else, move its keyframe to the frame where you want the presentation to hold.
You do not need to get the timing location perfect before inserting the animation: the keyframe can be moved afterward. This makes it practical to add a pause during an initial timing pass, then refine its placement as you review the sequence.
Set the duration
The pause duration is specified in the Inspector. Select the Pause animation node in the Document view, then inspect it using the Inspector. Adjust the duration to suit the amount of visual information the audience needs to take in.
There is no single duration that fits every presentation. A simple orientation view may need only a brief hold; a dense molecular scene may benefit from more time. Review the result in context: a pause that feels comfortable on its own can feel too long or too short when it follows the preceding animation. Make small adjustments and replay the sequence rather than guessing from the Inspector alone.
Use pauses with intention
A pause is not just empty time. It gives viewers space to compare what they have just seen, orient themselves, or focus on a detail before the presentation continues. On the other hand, adding a pause at every transition can make a presentation feel stop-start. Reserve holds for moments where extra viewing time contributes to understanding.
When reviewing, check both the location of the keyframe and the duration set for the animation. If a pause happens at the wrong moment, move the keyframe; if it happens at the right moment but feels rushed or prolonged, adjust its duration in the Inspector. These are separate parts of the timing, and checking both makes revisions easier.
For the step-by-step reference, see the Pause animation documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.