When preparing molecular presentations, clarity can get lost in complexity. Dense structures, overlapping atoms, and compact geometries are common in biological and supramolecular models—and they easily confuse viewers who aren’t familiar with the detailed layout of a molecule. For researchers, educators, and students alike, this raises a frequent question:
How can I clearly show how different parts of a molecular system relate to each other?
Disassembling the structure—not chemically, but visually—can dramatically improve comprehension. That’s where SAMSON’s Disassemble animation effect comes in. In just a few clicks, you can make even the most intricate structures visually accessible.
Why Use the Disassemble Animation?
Whether you’re teaching protein-protein interactions or showcasing molecular assemblies in a presentation, it helps to deconstruct the visual clutter. The Disassemble animation allows you to separate parts of a model in space, so audiences can focus on each piece of the assembly individually—without altering the molecular structure itself.
Unlike manual manipulation, which can be time-consuming and imprecise, this animation automatically computes final positions that radiate components outward from their original location. Everything stays in context, but looks much clearer.
How to Set It Up
- Select the group of nodes or meshes you’d like to disassemble. If you forget, SAMSON will suggest candidates automatically.
- Open the Animator panel by navigating to the Animator section.
- Double-click on the Disassemble animation from the Animation panel. This adds the effect between two keyframes in your timeline.
- You can adjust keyframes to control when the disassembly begins and ends. These can be moved at any time.
- To change the amplitude (how far apart components separate), select the animation and inspect its properties using the Inspector panel.
Fine-Tune for Better Results
SAMSON offers extra flexibility by letting you customize how things move between keyframes. By modifying the Easing curve, you can add smoother, more organic motion to your animations—which may be especially useful in educational videos or scientific explanations.
See It in Action
Wondering how it looks? Here’s a real-time capture of the Disassemble animation in SAMSON:
Pro Tips
- Combine the Disassemble animation with rotation cameras to create orbit-style presentations.
- Use it early in your animation sequence to introduce a system gradually, then transition to close-up views or annotations.
- Integrate with other animation effects like Hold atoms or Move atoms for more complex storytelling.
Overall, the Disassemble animation offers an elegant way to declutter visuals and make your molecular presentations more accessible and more engaging—without changing a single atom or bond.
To learn more and access detailed documentation, visit the official Disassemble animation documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.