A molecular presentation can move through the right structures and still be difficult to follow if it advances while someone is trying to understand a view. This is a familiar problem when presenting a model: the audience needs time to inspect a conformation, compare a detail, or simply catch up with the explanation. In SAMSON, a Stop animation provides a deliberate place to hold the presentation at a chosen frame, so you can divide a sequence into slide-like sections.
Use a stop as a presentation checkpoint
Think of a Stop keyframe as a checkpoint in the timeline. When the presentation reaches it, the animation stops. You can then explain what is visible without the presentation continuing on to its next part. When you are ready to proceed, press Space or use the Play button in the Animator controls.
This is useful whenever the sequence contains distinct ideas that deserve separate attention. For example, you might want to pause at a view that introduces a molecular structure, then resume to continue to the next part of the presentation. The Stop animation does not create the explanation or decide what the audience should notice; it gives you a clear point at which to deliver that explanation at your own pace.
Place the checkpoint where you need it
- Move to the frame where you want the presentation to stop.
- In the Animation panel of the Animator, double-click the Stop animation effect.
- Check that the keyframe is at the intended point in the timeline. If it is not, move it to the frame you want.
The keyframe is placed at the current frame when you add the effect. That detail makes the order of operations helpful: first choose the moment where the audience should have time to look, then add Stop. You are not locked into the first placement, however—the animation keyframes can be moved later if you revise the pacing.
Plan the pauses around the story
Before presenting, identify the moments when a viewer may need a little more time. A useful checkpoint is not just an arbitrary break in the timeline; it marks a transition in what you are explaining. If a single view contains several details, consider whether you want to discuss them together or let the presentation proceed between them. Place a Stop at a frame that gives you a natural opportunity to finish one thought before continuing.
It can also help to rehearse the transitions. Let the presentation reach each Stop, explain the view, and resume with Space or the Play button when you are ready. This simple rhythm—show, explain, continue—can make a technical walkthrough easier to follow without changing the molecular content itself. If the timing feels awkward, adjust the keyframe and try again.
Stop is distinct from an instruction to merely wait while the presentation continues: its purpose is to stop the presentation at a given frame until you resume it. SAMSON also documents a separate Pause animation, which may be worth reviewing if you are choosing between animation effects.
For the exact steps and related controls, see the Stop animation documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.