When creating molecular animations or presentations, one recurring challenge is how to selectively remove elements from view to simplify the message or highlight specific molecular features. Whether you’re presenting a simulation, comparing molecular states, or narrating a process, clear visual transitions can make or break the story. This is especially important when dealing with complex structures—where too much information on screen can confuse rather than clarify.
The Hidden animation in the SAMSON platform addresses this need by allowing users to hide molecular nodes between two keyframes. Crucially, this is done not by adjusting transparency (which can still leave visual clutter), but by controlling visibility directly. Think of it as turning components ‘on’ or ‘off’ at key moments in your storyboard.
Why Hide Instead of Fade?
Fading out elements via transparency can be visually confusing when multiple overlapping structures are involved. A hidden element, on the other hand, completely disappears from view, giving you full control over what’s in focus. This reduces cognitive load for your audience and creates more impactful visual narratives, especially during state transitions.
Adding the Hidden Animation Effect
Here’s how to hide nodes in your molecular animations using SAMSON’s Hidden effect:
- First, select the nodes in your molecular model that you want to hide.
- Then, double-click on the ‘Hidden’ animation in the Animation panel in the Animator.
- The starting keyframe is automatically set at the current frame.
- Adjust the keyframes as needed to define the time interval during which the nodes remain hidden. You can drag them across the timeline to fit your scenario.
This animation shows how the Hidden effect can be combined with the Shown effect for more dynamic narratives. For instance, you can use Hidden to make a complex protein subunit disappear after highlighting it, while simultaneously revealing another key region.
Fine-Tuning: Easing Curve
If you’re aiming for smooth transitions between frames, consider modifying the Easing curve. This lets you control the interpolation of parameters like speed, ensuring the disappearance of nodes feels more natural—or more abrupt—depending on your story.
When to Use Hidden Over Other Animation Types
While animations such as Disappear or Fade may seem similar, Hidden provides a binary, clean visual cut. It’s helpful when you:
- Want to fully eliminate an element from the view
- Are building toggling mechanisms between structures (e.g., state A vs. state B)
- Need to reduce clutter quickly before focusing on another structure
To avoid confusion, it’s worth noting that older versions of SAMSON referred to an Animation menu that no longer exists. All animations are now easily accessible directly inside the Animation panel in the Animator.
To learn more, visit the full Hidden animation documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.