In molecular modeling, clarity is key. Whether you’re presenting a simulation, building an educational video, or simply exploring complex biomolecular structures, drawing attention to specific components while minimizing distractions can greatly improve communication.
One common challenge modelers face is how to gradually remove parts of a structure from view – not just hiding them instantly, but fading them out smoothly to direct attention elsewhere. That’s where SAMSON’s Disappear animation comes in handy. Unlike the Hide animation, which makes nodes invisible instantly, Disappear progressively increases their transparency, making for a more natural and professional effect.
Use Case: Focused Molecular Storytelling
Imagine you’re showcasing how a ligand moves into a protein binding pocket. You want the surrounding residues to slowly fade as the trajectory plays, emphasizing the key interactions without abruptly removing visual context. Perfect candidates for this treatment are structural models, visual models, labels, and meshes—all of which support the transparency attribute required for the Disappear animation.
How Disappear Works
The Disappear animation has a well-defined four-keyframe system:
- Keyframes 1 to 2: Your selected nodes remain fully visible (fully opaque).
- Keyframes 2 to 3: The transparency gradually increases, providing the fade-out effect.
- Keyframes 3 to 4: The nodes remain fully transparent (faded out).
This structure gives you freedom over when the fade-out starts and ends. You can reposition the keyframes in SAMSON’s Animator to time the transition just right for your story.
How to Apply It
- Select the nodes you want to fade.
- Open the Animation panel in the Animator.
- Double-click on the Disappear animation from the list.
- Adjust keyframes in the timeline to control when the fade happens.
Pro Tips
If you’re applying this to atoms or bonds, remember that they don’t have their own transparency attribute. Instead, apply the animation to their corresponding structural models to achieve the fade-out effect.
You can also fine-tune how the transparency changes over time by adjusting the Easing curve between the frames, giving you smooth or sharp transitions depending on your needs.
Final Thoughts
The Disappear animation is a simple yet effective tool to make your animations easier to follow and more visually coherent. It’s especially useful in presentations, tutorials, or publications where pacing and visual hierarchy can help guide your audience.
To learn more about the Disappear animation and how to integrate it into your projects, visit the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.