When you’re trying to build a clear and engaging molecular animation, timing is everything. Whether preparing a conference presentation, an educational video, or just showing an interaction mechanism to colleagues, how and when a molecule appears on screen can significantly impact comprehension.
In molecular visualizations using SAMSON, there’s a simple yet highly useful tool for controlling visibility in a precise and intuitive way: the Show animation. This blog post breaks down how it works and how it can help you sequence your molecular scenes in a more effective way.
Why Use the Show Animation?
Imagine this: You’re animating a protein-ligand binding sequence. Initially, you want the protein to be visible, but the ligand should only appear at a specific point during the animation timeline, staying visible afterward. Setting this up might seem tedious… unless you’re using Show.
The Show animation is designed specifically for these scenarios. It allows you to show one or more nodes (which can be atoms, molecules, groups, etc.) at a given keyframe and keep them visible until the end. It’s a handy shortcut that essentially combines two animations — Hidden and Shown — into one.
How It Works
The process is straightforward:
- Select the nodes you want to make appear.
- Double-click the Show animation in the Animation panel of the Animator.
- Three keyframes are automatically created:
- Between keyframes 1 and 2, the selected nodes stay hidden.
- At keyframe 2, the nodes appear.
- From keyframe 2 to 3, the nodes remain visible.
This configuration lets you easily control when specific parts of your molecular system become visible. You’re free to shift the keyframes along the timeline to match your animation’s structure.
Tips for Better Visual Impact
- Use easing curves to smooth transitions and avoid abrupt appearances.
- Combine Show with animation effects like Flash or Pulse to draw attention to newly-shown elements.
- Be strategic with timing to avoid overwhelming the viewer with too many simultaneous changes.
And here’s what it looks like in practice:
When to Avoid It
If you need the visibility to fluctuate multiple times for the same element across your timeline, using Show might not provide enough flexibility. In that case, consider chaining Shown and Hidden animations manually.
Conclusion
The Show animation in SAMSON helps you orchestrate when components of your molecular system appear, making it easier to break down complex processes in animations. With just a few clicks and timeline adjustments, you can guide the viewer’s attention where it matters most.
To learn more and explore detailed step-by-step instructions, visit the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.