For molecular modelers, creating compelling and communicative visualizations of molecular processes is a key part of their work. In particular, being able to reveal specific features, such as atoms and bonds, progressively in animations can help emphasize insights or guide presentations for audiences. The Reveal atoms animation in SAMSON answers this need by allowing users to make atoms (and bonds) progressively appear between keyframes, offering precision and clarity in illustrating molecular systems.
Why Use the Reveal Atoms Animation?
When presenting complex molecular models, it is often essential to control how elements are introduced visually. This is where the Reveal atoms feature comes into play:
- It systematically unveils molecular components, making presentations easier to follow.
- It highlights particular areas of interest in molecular systems.
- It ensures an engaging, step-by-step visualization for educational or professional presentations.
The animation uses the visibility of nodes (rather than transparency) to bring the atoms and their bonds into view.
How to Apply the Reveal Atoms Animation in SAMSON
Here’s a step-by-step guide to integrate the Reveal atoms animation into your molecular visualization:
- Select the atoms and bonds you want to progressively reveal.
- In the Animation panel of the Animator, double-click on the Reveal atoms animation effect.
- The animation comes with 4 keyframes:
- Between keyframes 1 and 2: The chosen atoms and bonds will remain hidden.
- Between keyframes 2 and 3: The atoms and bonds will progressively appear based on their order in the selection.
- Between keyframes 3 and 4: All the chosen atoms and bonds will be entirely visible.
- Adjust the placement of these keyframes along your timeline to synchronize the visualization with your narrative.
Pro tip: You can flexibly move the animation’s keyframes at any point, enabling easy modifications to your workflow.
Fine-Tune the Animation Behavior
To further control how this animation plays out, SAMSON allows you to modify the Easing curve. This lets you define how smoothly the transition occurs between frames, providing an extra layer of customization and precision to your animations.
Get Started
If you’re a molecular modeler aiming to create presentations that stand out with clarity and precision, the Reveal atoms animation is an essential tool. Its intuitive approach to progressive visualization blends seamlessly into SAMSON’s powerful toolkit, providing professional-grade molecular animations for your work.
To explore this feature further, visit the official documentation page: Reveal Atoms Animation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at SAMSON Connect.