A common challenge for molecular modelers when creating visual narratives or science presentations is controlling exactly when molecular structures appear in an animation. Whether you’re showcasing a complex assembly process, a ligand binding sequence, or a molecular revelation, precise timing is key to keeping your audience focused and improving comprehension.
The Show animation in SAMSON addresses this issue in a clear, straightforward way. Unlike opacity-based tricks or manual scene switching, the Show animation handles visibility explicitly by toggling node visibility — not transparency — during a defined animation interval. This keeps your visuals clean and intentional.
Why Visibility Control Matters
Say you’re preparing a conference video or a lecture recording. You want parts of your molecular system to appear only after a certain process is introduced. With default visibility, you may end up juggling multiple animation types like Hide and Shown, which complicates the timeline and makes editing harder.
The Show animation solves this by bundling the intended behavior into one action:
- Before keyframe 2: nodes are hidden
- From keyframe 2 onward: nodes are visible
This simplicity makes a big difference when you’re managing multiple elements on the screen and need predictability.
How to Use the Show Animation in Your Project
Here’s how to add the Show animation in SAMSON:
- Select the nodes you want to reveal during the animation.
- In the Animation panel inside the Animator, double-click Show.
- The effect automatically sets three keyframes:
- Frames 1–2: your nodes stay hidden.
- At frame 2: nodes become visible.
- Frames 2–3: nodes remain visible.
- You can drag these keyframes along the timeline to adjust the animation’s timing.
Fine-Tuning the Animation
Want a smoother or more dynamic transition? Although the Show animation relies on visibility toggling (not fading), you can still adjust the Easing curve for more visual rhythm when combining it with other animations (e.g., rotations, translations, or camera movements).
Example in Action
Watch how the Show animation plays out in the animation timeline in this example:
Notice how the molecule elements pop in exactly when intended, without any extra steps like layering or toggling multiple properties. This saves preparation time and avoids visual clutter during complex scenes.
Helpful Tip
Some older tutorials might mention the Animation menu. This was replaced with the Animation panel inside the Animator (you can open it using Ctrl + 7 on Windows or Cmd + 7 on macOS).
To learn more, visit the full documentation page for the Show animation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/show/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.