One common challenge in molecular modeling and visualization is keeping audiences visually engaged during presentations—especially when presenting static structures. While it’s easy to become absorbed in your own structural analysis, collaborators or students may struggle to connect with the material if the visualization lacks movement or interactivity.
That’s where simple animation techniques come in. Among these, the Rock animation effect in SAMSON offers a subtle and effective way to breathe life into molecular structures by adding small rocking movements that highlight spatial relationships without overwhelming the viewer.
Why Add Rock Motions?
Small oscillatory movements—like rocking—help reveal depth and relative positioning in structures, which can otherwise appear flat in still renderings, especially for symmetric or densely packed assemblies. This technique is particularly useful when preparing animations for teaching, publications, or during live molecular design sessions with colleagues.
How the Rock Animation Works
The Rock animation makes a group of selected particles oscillate (or rock) around their geometric center. The rocking is performed about an axis that is aligned with the Z-axis by default and passes through the group’s centroid. This creates a pivot-style movement that gives the impression of gentle side-to-side rotation.
How to Use It
To apply the Rock animation in SAMSON:
- Select the group of atoms or particles you wish to animate.
- Open the Animation panel within the Animator.
- Double-click on the Rock animation effect to apply it to the selection.
- The animation is performed between two keyframes by default. You can drag these keyframes on the timeline to control duration and timing.
Tuning the Animation
SAMSON allows users to customize animations further by modifying the easing curve between keyframes. This means you can control how the motion ramps up or slows down over time, adding a natural feel to the rocking action. Adjusting these curves is especially useful when synchronizing multiple animations or choreographing complex motion sequences.
Example in Action
Here’s a real-world example of the Rock animation in a molecular presentation involving the protein structure 2BRD. The gentle rocking makes domains more distinguishable and maintains visual attention during the scene.
When to Use Rock Instead of Rotate
Rotate animations offer continuous spinning, which can be too aggressive or artificial for some contexts. In contrast, the Rock effect preserves the orientation while offering just enough movement to enhance spatial perception. It’s ideal for subtle emphasis without distraction.
To learn more about the Rock animation and its usage, visit the full documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/rock/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.