When exploring and presenting molecular structures, visual clarity can make a significant difference. Molecular modelers and science communicators often need to rotate a molecule to showcase its shape, symmetry, or orientation relative to other molecules or fields. But executing this kind of motion smoothly without scripting can be time-consuming—or even frustrating—if the software doesn’t offer intuitive tools.
If you’ve ever struggled with rotating molecules precisely around their center, SAMSON offers a quick and efficient solution: the Rotate animation effect.
Why rotate molecules in an animation?
Rotation allows viewers to inspect parts of a molecule from multiple angles, which can help:
- Identify structural symmetry
- Visualize functional regions or binding pockets
- Present clear and engaging molecular animations for publications or teaching
In SAMSON, this is achieved using an animation effect that does exactly what it says — smoothly rotates a group of atoms around its centroid, along an axis aligned with the Z-axis of the scene. Here’s how to make it happen with minimal steps.
Adding the Rotate animation
1. Select particles: First, select the group of atoms you want to rotate. SAMSON lets you do this using a variety of selection tools depending on your structure.
2. Apply the effect: In the Animation panel of the Animator, double-click on the Rotate animation.
This inserts the Rotate effect between two keyframes. By default, the rotation occurs around the group’s geometric center, and the axis of rotation is vertical (along Z).
Control the motion
You can adjust the timing of the animation by repositioning the keyframes in the Animator’s timeline. The speed of rotation is determined by the duration between these frames—the more time between frames, the slower the rotation appears.
If your animation feels too rigid or abrupt, try modifying the easing curve. This changes how the rotation interpolates over time, allowing for slower starts, smooth acceleration, and deceleration. That polish can make a huge difference in educational videos or pitch presentations.
What about Rock, Move, or Hold?
The Rotate effect is complemented by other SAMSON animation tools like Rock, Move atoms, and Hold atoms. These let you simulate additional motion or fix certain atoms in place during the scene, giving you tight control over narrative focus.
Quick Tip
Note: Although older tutorials might mention the Animation menu, all animation effects are now accessible directly through the Animation panel of the Animator. If you’re using newer SAMSON versions, just go to Interface > Animator (shortcut Ctrl+7 or Cmd+7).
The Rotate animation in SAMSON provides an easy-to-use but effective way to produce meaningful molecular visualizations, especially when combined with other animation effects and strategic frame placement. Whether you’re working on a presentation, teaching material, or just exploring a model interactively, try it out and see your molecules from every angle.
To learn more, visit the full documentation page for Rotate animation here:
https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/rotate/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download the platform at https://www.samson-connect.net.