A molecular model can contain more detail than an audience can absorb at once. When every atom and bond is visible from the beginning, it may be difficult to see which part of the structure matters or how one region relates to another. Hiding detail permanently is not always the answer: viewers may need to see the full structure after they understand its parts.
The Reveal atoms animation offers a way to guide that progression. It makes selected atoms—and bonds between them—appear progressively between two frames. Importantly, this is done by changing node visibility, not by fading atoms through transparency. That makes the effect a staged reveal rather than a see-through transition.
Build the explanation around a selection
Start by choosing the atoms and bonds you want the animation to reveal. The selection matters because the atoms are shown progressively according to their order in the selection. In other words, the sequence is connected to how the selected items are ordered; it is not simply a uniform fade of the entire structure.
This can be useful when presenting a structure in stages. For example, you might want viewers to first see a smaller portion of the model and then follow as additional selected atoms and their associated bonds appear. Before setting up the animation, consider what order will make the structure easiest to understand. A deliberate sequence can help an audience track the build-up instead of confronting the complete model all at once.
Use the four keyframes to shape the reveal
After selecting the atoms and bonds, double-click Reveal atoms in the Animation panel of the Animator. The effect uses four keyframes:
- Keyframes 1–2: the specified atoms and bonds are hidden.
- Keyframes 2–3: they progressively appear, with the reveal following the order of the selection.
- Keyframes 3–4: all specified atoms and bonds are shown.
This structure separates the start, the progressive change, and the completed view. It gives you room to decide when the reveal begins and when the audience should see the entire selected set. You can move the keyframes as needed, so the animation’s timing can be adjusted to suit the pace of your explanation.
A practical approach is to preview the sequence and ask a simple question: can someone follow what is appearing without losing sight of the point you are making? If the reveal feels rushed or leaves too much time before it starts, reposition the keyframes. The documentation also notes that the interpolation between frames can be changed with the animation’s easing curve. This lets you adjust how the transition progresses between frames.
Visibility is different from transparency
Because this animation uses visibility, selected atoms and bonds are hidden and then shown; they do not gradually become transparent. That distinction is useful when choosing an effect. If your goal is to reveal structural detail in a sequence, Reveal atoms is designed for that. If you instead want an appearance or disappearance effect based on transparency, consider whether another animation—such as Appear or Disappear—better matches the visual explanation you want to make.
The animation is most effective when the reveal order supports the scientific story: choose the relevant atoms and bonds, check the selection order, and adjust the keyframes until the pacing is clear. For the complete instructions, see the Reveal atoms documentation.
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