For molecular modelers, creating accurate and visually compelling animations often requires precise control over atomic positions. Have you ever wanted certain atoms or groups of particles to remain completely fixed during transitions between animation frames? The Hold atoms feature in SAMSON offers the perfect solution for this common challenge. This blog post will walk you through how to use this tool effectively, ensuring your molecular animations reflect exactly what you need.
Why Use the ‘Hold Atoms’ Feature?
When creating molecular animations, one might wish to freeze the positions of a specific set of atoms while other parts of the system evolve dynamically. For example, in dock or assemble animations, freezing certain atoms can help clarify structural dynamics without introducing unwanted motions. Hold atoms empowers you to lock atom positions between defined keyframes, providing the precision you demand.
How to Add the Hold Atoms Animation
Here’s how you can use the feature conveniently within SAMSON:
- First, select the group of atoms or particles you want to hold still during the animation. For example, in a docking animation, you might want to immobilize part of a receptor molecule.
- Next, open the Animation panel in the Animator. You’ll find the Hold atoms effect listed there. Simply double-click on it to apply the animation to your selection.
- Finally, adjust the keyframes in the Animator to fit the desired timing of your animation sequence. The selected atoms will remain completely fixed between these keyframes, regardless of what happens around them.
A Couple of Notes for Smooth Workflow
Here are some important tips to make the most of this feature:
- You can freely move the animation’s keyframes anytime in the Animator, allowing you to tweak the timing of when atoms are held fixed.
- While using older animations shown in example videos, remember that the Animation menu has been phased out in favor of using the Animation panel in the Animator. This updated workflow streamlines access to animation options.
Explore Real-World Examples
If you want to see how the Hold atoms animation is used in real applications, check out some of the example presentations available on SAMSON Connect – Documents:
Conclusion
The Hold atoms feature in SAMSON is an essential tool for molecular modelers who need full control over atomic positions in animations. Whether you are demonstrating docking mechanisms or assembling molecules, this feature helps you clearly communicate molecular dynamics while isolating points of interest. For more details, visit the official documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/hold-atoms/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Download SAMSON today at https://www.samson-connect.net and start your journey into integrative molecular design.