A dense molecular structure can be difficult to explain when every atom is visible from the start. The audience may not know where to look, and simply making parts transparent can leave the scene visually busy. A progressive reveal offers another approach: show the structure in stages so viewers can follow how selected atoms and their bonds enter the scene.
In SAMSON, the Reveal atoms animation changes the visibility of nodes; it does not animate their transparency. That distinction matters. The selected atoms are hidden and then shown progressively, rather than fading from transparent to opaque. If your goal is to introduce a structure in a deliberate sequence, this makes the animation’s logic easier to understand.
Plan the reveal before you animate
Start by deciding what the viewer should notice first and what can wait. Select the atoms and bonds you want the animation to affect. Their order in the selection determines the order in which atoms appear during the progressive part of the animation. A little planning at this stage can turn an arbitrary sequence into a useful visual guide.
For example, you might arrange your selection to introduce a region in a meaningful order, rather than revealing scattered atoms that are hard to interpret. The documentation does not prescribe a particular selection strategy, so choose an order that supports the story you want the structure to tell. If the sequence feels confusing, revisit the selection order before changing the animation timing.
Understand the four keyframes
Double-click Reveal atoms in the Animation panel of the Animator to add the effect. It has four keyframes, with three distinct stages:
- Keyframes 1–2: The specified atoms and bonds are hidden.
- Keyframes 2–3: The atoms progressively appear according to their order in the selection. Bonds between atoms that have appeared are shown as well.
- Keyframes 3–4: All specified atoms and bonds are shown.
This structure is useful when you want a clear beginning, a paced reveal, and a fully visible ending. It also helps diagnose a common source of confusion: the reveal does not begin as soon as the animation starts. The first interval establishes the hidden state, the middle interval performs the staged appearance, and the final interval completes the shown state.
Adjust timing to help viewers follow
You can move the animation’s keyframes. Use that flexibility to give the progressive section enough room for the audience to see the sequence, or to shorten it when the reveal is only a brief transition. The keyframes control when the stages occur; the selection order controls which atoms appear in sequence. Treat these as separate choices when refining the result.
You can also change how parameters are interpolated between frames by modifying the animation’s Easing curve. If the reveal seems too abrupt or too gradual, review the easing as well as the keyframe placement. Preview the animation and ask a simple question: can someone unfamiliar with the model tell what is being introduced, and in what order?
Reveal atoms is most useful when you want visibility to communicate sequence—not when you need a transparency fade. For complementary effects, see Conceal atoms. For the full procedure and details, read the Reveal atoms documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.