A molecular model can contain more information than a viewer can absorb at a glance. A complex structure may be scientifically meaningful, yet difficult to explain when everything appears at once and the camera stays still. Animation can help guide attention, show a change in arrangement, or make a presentation easier to follow—but only when the effect supports the point you want to make.
SAMSON includes animations for different kinds of objects. Some act on cameras; others act on nodes such as structural models, visual models, meshes, and labels. That distinction is a useful starting point: before choosing an effect, ask whether you want to change the viewpoint, change what the audience sees, or emphasize something that is already visible.
Match the effect to the communication problem
- To guide the viewpoint: camera animations include orbiting, moving, zooming, dollying, and following a path. These can help viewers inspect a model from a chosen angle or move between views.
- To show a structural change: motion animations include moving atoms, docking, assembling, disassembling, and simulating. These effects are relevant when the change itself is central to the explanation.
- To control what appears: entrance and exit effects include showing, hiding, appearing, disappearing, revealing atoms, and concealing atoms. They can help introduce parts of a model in stages rather than presenting every element at once.
- To draw attention: highlighting effects such as pulsing can make a particular element stand out without changing the overall subject of the presentation.
- To manage the presentation: other animations include pausing or stopping, changing backgrounds, and displaying background images such as presentation slides.
A simple planning routine
Start with the question a viewer should be able to answer after watching. For example: “Where is this feature?”, “How does this part move?”, or “What should I look at next?” Then choose the smallest set of effects that helps answer that question.
- Choose the subject. Decide whether the animation should act on the camera, on model elements, or on the presentation’s appearance.
- Choose the change. If the goal is to reveal something, consider a show or reveal effect. If the goal is to compare positions or depict motion, consider a movement-related animation. If the viewer needs a better angle, consider a camera animation.
- Keep the sequence readable. Avoid asking viewers to follow several unrelated changes at the same time. A clear camera move, a focused reveal, or a deliberate pause can each serve a distinct purpose.
- Review the presentation as a viewer. Check whether the sequence makes it obvious what changed and where attention should go next. If an effect does not help communicate the point, leave it out.
These are planning guidelines, not a fixed recipe: the right choice depends on the model and the story you need to tell. The animation reference lists effects individually, so you can look up a specific option once you know what kind of change you need.
Where to find the controls
Animations are accessed through the Animation panel in the Animator. The older tutorial video shows an Animation menu that is no longer present in SAMSON; the Animator also provides the controls for presentation actions. If you are new to the overall process, the Presenting and animating guide covers creating presentations, adding animations, and exporting movies. You can also watch the video tutorial on creating molecular animations in SAMSON.
For the complete list of effects and links to their individual references, see SAMSON animations.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.