One of the frequent challenges faced by molecular modelers and presenters is finding effective and visually consistent ways to explain structural transformations and mechanisms. Whether you’re preparing a conference presentation or animating molecular trajectories, integrating your molecular visuals seamlessly with narration or slides can greatly improve comprehension and engagement.
In SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, one subtle but highly effective tool that helps with this challenge is the Set background animation. It allows you to change the background of your presentation in a smooth and controlled manner, including setting background images like slides. This can be particularly helpful if you’re matching molecular transitions with narrated presentations or want to create a visual storytelling sequence with structural insights.
Why use background animations?
Background transitions help build a narrative by visually separating sections of your animation. For example:
- Start with a dark background when introducing a protein complex.
- Switch to a themed background image to highlight a domain-specific interaction (e.g., pharmacology, biochemistry).
- Overlay presentation slides behind a molecular mechanism to reinforce key points.
With the Set background animation in SAMSON, each new background can smoothly transition into the next, bringing a polished look to your video without requiring post-processing in another tool.
Setting a background
To add a background animation in your presentation:
- Open the Animation panel in the Animator.
- Double-click on the Set background animation to insert the effect at the current frame.
- Move the begin and end keyframes to define when the background transition occurs.
- From the Inspector, choose the background image or color and interpolate between backgrounds using the easing curve.
Interpolation for smooth transitions
SAMSON interpolates between sets of background values when multiple Set background animations are used in a presentation. The transition is not abrupt — it blends from one background to the next, based on the timing of your keyframes and the easing curve you select.
These transitions give your animations a professional touch without requiring advanced video editing skills. The result is a self-contained molecular animation that can be shared or included in conference talks, video lessons, or online content.
Things to consider
- Make sure your images have suitable contrast with the molecular content to avoid visual confusion.
- Use high-resolution slides or images to prevent pixelation during zoom-ins.
- If using background images for educational presentations, try aligning their content with the molecular structure timeline for coherence.
To learn more, visit the official documentation page at https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/set-background/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON from https://www.samson-connect.net.