A molecular presentation can move too quickly even when every camera view and animation is correct. A structure changes, an important feature appears, and the viewer has little time to understand what just happened before the next step begins. That is a pacing problem—not necessarily a problem with the molecular model.
SAMSON’s Pause animation offers a simple way to create breathing room: it pauses the presentation at a chosen frame for a specified number of seconds. Use it when an important view deserves attention, such as a point in your presentation where you want viewers to examine the current molecular scene before continuing.
Place the pause where attention is needed
In the Animator, open the Animation panel and double-click the Pause animation effect. SAMSON places its keyframe at the current frame. If that is not the moment where you want the presentation to pause, move the keyframe to the appropriate frame. You can move animation keyframes later as well, so you do not need to get the timing exactly right on the first try.
A useful way to plan is to identify the moments where a viewer may need extra time: a transition has just revealed a new view, a change in the scene needs to be noticed, or you want the audience to take in a particular arrangement before the presentation proceeds. Place the pause at the frame that best supports that moment, then review the presentation and adjust the keyframe if the pause feels early or late.
Set the duration in the Inspector
The keyframe determines when the pause occurs; the animation’s properties determine how long it lasts. To set the duration, select the Pause animation node in the Document view and inspect it in the Inspector. The duration is specified in seconds.
When choosing a duration, consider what the viewer is being asked to do. A brief pause may be enough to register a new view; a longer one may be appropriate when the audience needs time to examine the scene. The right value depends on the presentation and its audience, so previewing the timing is more useful than treating one duration as suitable for every case.
Pause or stop?
A pause is for holding the presentation at a frame for a set amount of time. If you need a different ending behavior, see SAMSON’s Stop animation. Keeping the distinction in mind helps you choose the animation that matches the intended flow: a temporary hold when the presentation should continue, or a stop when it should end.
In short: add the Pause effect from the Animation panel, position its keyframe at the moment that needs attention, and set its duration in the Inspector. This small timing adjustment can make a molecular presentation easier to follow without changing the molecular content itself.
Learn more in the Pause animation documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.