Presenting complex molecular models can be a challenge when important parts of the structure overlap or obscure one another. Whether you’re preparing a presentation, recording a molecular animation, or just trying to better understand your system, being able to temporarily separate parts of a molecule without permanently altering it is essential.
One practical solution inside SAMSON is the Disassemble animation effect. This animation makes selected groups of atoms or structural nodes disperse away from their original position. The movement is automatically calculated, providing a hands-free way to create clear visual separations in molecular assemblies — without needing to reposition atoms manually.
What’s the Use Case?
Let’s say you have a large protein complex or an assembly like a virus capsid. You might want to illustrate how its chains or subunits are spatially organized, or just get a clearer view into its interior. Disassembling parts of the structure between keyframes lets you do exactly that — and then reassemble them smoothly later.
This approach is useful for:
- Demonstrating how different parts fit together
- Creating visual clarity in dense molecular systems
- Adding dynamic flair to structural biology presentations
How to Use the Disassemble Animation
Step 1: Select the group of atoms, structural nodes, or meshes that you want to disassemble. If you don’t select anything, SAMSON will try to guess what should be affected — but explicit selection offers better control.
Step 2: Open the Animation panel in the Animator.
Step 3: Double-click on Disassemble. The selected nodes will move outward between the current two keyframes in your animation timeline.
Step 4: Adjust timing or motion by moving the keyframes as needed. You can inspect and modify properties such as the amplitude in the Inspector.
Customize the Motion
The distance by which the components move (amplitude) is set automatically, but it can be edited based on your preferences. You can also fine-tune the timing of how atoms separate by modifying the Easing curve, giving you control over acceleration and smoothness.
Reminder: Disassemble Is Reversible
This animation doesn’t change the molecular structure. It only affects visual presentation between keyframes, which makes it safe for explanatory and educational uses. It’s easy to return to the original configuration by moving back in your animation.
See it in Action
Need Inspiration?
Explore animations using similar features in shared presentations on SAMSON Connect, such as:
To learn more, visit the original documentation page here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/disassemble/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.