When presenting complex molecular models, especially large assemblies, one common challenge molecular modelers face is visual clutter. Whether you’re showcasing interactions, functional units, or structural domains, it’s easy for your visual narrative to become overwhelming with too many overlapping components. This is where the Disassemble animation effect in SAMSON can help.
The Disassemble animation is designed to automatically separate selected structural nodes or meshes from their original positions, spreading them apart to provide a clearer view of individual components within molecular systems. This animation does not require manual repositioning; it computes final positions automatically, allowing you to focus on presentation and storytelling.
When to Use Disassemble
Here are a few common use cases where Disassemble improves the clarity of molecular presentations:
- To highlight different domains of a protein complex or macromolecular assembly.
- To create educational content explaining how subunits fit together.
- To prepare figures for publication where individual components need clear labeling and separation.
- To perform before-and-after animations of an assembly process (using Disassemble in combination with the Assemble effect).
How It Works
Begin by selecting the nodes or meshes you wish to disassemble. You can select them manually or let SAMSON guess the appropriate nodes if none are selected. Then, simply double-click Disassemble in the Animation panel within the Animator. This will insert a disassembly movement between two keyframes of the timeline, automatically computing their final positions away from the starting point.
The movement amplitude is determined at animation creation, but you can refine it later by using the Inspector. For further control, SAMSON allows you to edit the easing curve to determine how the animation interpolates between keyframes — for example, you could slow the disassembly at the end or make it bounce slightly back before settling.
What to Watch Out For
While the Disassemble effect provides an automated way to reduce clutter, it’s important to plan your animation so that the separated parts remain informative and relevant. Here are a few tips:
- Use Disassemble in combination with Hold or Move animations to create pauses or transitions around key points in your narrative.
- Group functionally related areas or interacting domains before applying Disassemble to emphasize their spatial relationships.
- Consider using consistent color schemes to maintain idea continuity post-disassembly.
Lastly, note that older videos or tutorials may refer to a now-removed “Animation” menu. All animations are accessible via the Animation panel in the Animator (shortcut: Ctrl + 7 or Cmd + 7).
Animations like Disassemble offer a simple, elegant solution to one of the most persistent presentation problems in molecular modeling. Instead of wrestling with complex manual rearrangements, SAMSON gives you a way to unpack detailed structures, making your animations more digestible and effective.
Learn more from the full documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.