A molecular animation can move through important structural changes so quickly that viewers miss what they are meant to notice. This is especially frustrating when presenting a result: the model reaches a useful pose, but the audience has no time to take it in. A deliberate pause can turn that fleeting frame into a clear moment for observation.
In SAMSON, the Pause animation holds the presentation at a chosen frame for a specified number of seconds. It is a simple way to make room for a structure, transition, or comparison to register before the presentation continues.
Choose the moment you want people to notice
Start by identifying the frame that deserves attention. It might be a point where a molecular component has moved into a meaningful position, or simply a view that you want your audience to examine before moving on. The pause is attached to a keyframe, so its position in the presentation matters: place it at the moment when viewers should stop following motion and start looking closely.
To add one, open the Animation panel in the Animator and double-click the Pause animation effect. SAMSON places its keyframe at the current frame. If that is not the frame you had in mind, move the keyframe to the right point. You can move animation keyframes, so you do not have to get the placement perfect on the first try.
Set a useful duration
After placing the pause, set its duration in seconds. Select the Pause animation node in the Document view, then inspect it in the Inspector. The duration is a presentation choice, not a universal number: a brief pause may be enough for a simple visual beat, while a more detailed view may need longer for people to orient themselves.
A practical way to decide is to play through the sequence and ask what a viewer needs to do at that point. Do they need to notice a change, examine the current molecular arrangement, or simply catch up with the sequence? Adjust the duration based on that viewing task. The aim is not to make every moment slower; it is to give the most informative frames enough breathing room.
A quick review workflow
- Play the presentation and note any frame that passes before its significance is clear.
- Add a Pause animation from the Animation panel at the current frame.
- Move its keyframe if needed so the pause occurs at the intended moment.
- Select the animation node in the Document view and set the duration in the Inspector.
- Play the sequence again and check whether the pause feels long enough for the intended observation.
This small edit can also help you spot pacing problems in the surrounding sequence. If a pause feels awkward, the keyframe may be misplaced, or the chosen duration may not suit what is on screen. Adjusting the position or the duration gives you a straightforward way to refine the timing without changing the molecular content itself.
Use pauses selectively: a presentation made entirely of holds can lose its sense of progression, while a presentation with no breathing room can be difficult to follow. A pause is most helpful when it supports a clear viewing purpose.
For the full instructions, see the Pause animation documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.