Have you ever wanted to bring your molecular models to life with more than just static visuals? For many molecular modelers, especially those preparing educational content or scientific presentations, adding subtle yet meaningful animations can help convey structure, function, and dynamics more clearly. One such animation technique is the Rock animation in SAMSON.
The Rock animation performs an oscillating movement of a group of atoms around their geometric center, along a direction aligned with the Z-axis. This may sound simple—but it can be surprisingly useful. Whether you’re trying to help viewers see how a domain pivots, highlight structural flexibility, or simply keep the presentation visually engaging without overwhelming motion, Rock animation is a solid go-to option.
When would you use Rock animation?
Imagine you’re showcasing a protein-ligand complex and want to draw attention to the binding pocket without rotating the entire molecule. With Rock, you can isolate a region (say, the ligand or active site residues), and apply this subtle motion to enhance visibility, without disrupting the global orientation of the structure. It works especially well during live presentations or as part of recorded media where continuous movement helps guide the viewer’s eye.
How to add Rock animation in SAMSON
- Select atoms or particles: Use the selection tools in SAMSON to define the region of the molecule you want to animate.
- Open the Animation panel: Go to the Animation panel in the Animator.
- Apply the Rock effect: Double-click on Rock in the list of effects. SAMSON will automatically insert the animation between two keyframes.
- Adjust keyframes: Drag the keyframes along the timeline to control how long the animation lasts. You can change the duration, rhythm, and synchrony of your movements here.
Fine-tuning: Easing curves
Animations in SAMSON support easing curves to adjust the rate of interpolation between frames. With Rock animations, a standard linear easing might look too mechanical. Switching to an ease-in-out curve can add more realism by gradually starting and slowing the movement. Learn more about easing curves here.
Quick example
Here’s how a protein structure looks with Rock animation applied to a selected domain:
This rocking motion draws attention to the animated region while keeping the overall structure recognizable and fixed in space.
Ready-to-use demos
If you’d like to see working examples, check out this interactive presentation on SAMSON Connect:
2BRD – Rock animation
To explore this feature in more detail, visit the official documentation page: Rock Animation Documentation
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.