A molecular presentation can move through a structure faster than an audience can take it in. That is especially noticeable when you need to explain a binding site, point out a change, or give people time to compare what they see. If the presentation continues while you are speaking, the key moment may already be gone.
The Stop animation offers a simple way to pace a presentation: it stops playback at a chosen frame. You can use stops to divide a continuous presentation into slide-like sections, then resume when you are ready to continue.
Build pauses into the story
Think of a Stop keyframe as a cue for the person presenting: “Pause here and explain this.” Before adding one, decide which frames deserve discussion. For example, you might want to stop when a molecular view first makes an important feature clear, or after a transition that changes what the audience should focus on. The animation itself does not create the explanation; it gives you time to provide it.
This can help with a common presentation problem: trying to narrate a moving sequence while also answering questions. A deliberate stopping point lets you finish a thought, invite discussion, or give viewers time to inspect the current view before moving on.
Add a Stop animation
- In the Animator, open the Animation panel.
- Double-click the Stop animation effect.
- The keyframe is placed at the current frame. If the stop should happen elsewhere, move the keyframe to the frame that best fits your presentation.
- Play through the presentation and check that the stop falls at the point where you want to pause and speak.
Keyframes for this animation can be moved, so you can adjust the timing as you refine your presentation. That is useful when your explanation changes or when you discover that a pause would make more sense slightly earlier or later. You do not have to treat the first placement as final.
Resume when the audience is ready
When playback reaches the Stop animation, resume the presentation by pressing Space or clicking the Play button in the Animator’s controls. This gives you a straightforward rhythm: play to the next key moment, stop to explain it, and continue when the group is ready.
For a clearer presentation, use stops with intention rather than placing one at every small change. A few well-chosen pauses can create natural sections without interrupting the overall flow. Before presenting, review the sequence from beginning to end and ask: Is there enough time to understand each important view? Does each pause happen where I need to talk? Can I resume smoothly after questions?
The Stop animation is a small control, but it can make a molecular walkthrough easier to follow by putting the presenter—not the playback speed—in charge of when the story continues.
Learn more about the Stop animation in the SAMSON documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.