When showcasing complex molecular systems, clarity is key. Elements in the foreground may obscure parts of the structure you want to highlight, and simply hiding them can feel too abrupt. That’s where the Disappear animation in SAMSON becomes valuable: it allows for a smooth, progressive transition to transparency, enhancing visual storytelling in scientific presentations and videos.
This blog post introduces the Disappear animation effect, explains how it works, and guides you through its most effective use cases—especially for structural modelers who want more control over what their audience focuses on. Let’s dive in.
Why “Disappear” Matters
When presenting a molecular mechanism, you might want certain models—like membranes, surfaces, or labels—to gradually vanish to reveal underlying features. A simple hide command jumps too suddenly from visible to invisible. A disappearing transition, on the other hand, is fluid and gentle on the viewer’s eye.
With the Disappear animation, elements like structural models, visual models, 3D meshes, and labels can smoothly fade out by changing their transparency over time. It’s important to note that individual atoms and bonds cannot be animated this way—but their parent structural models can.
How to Use the Disappear Animation
To animate transparency:
- Select the nodes you want to fade out (e.g. a surface model or 3D label).
- In the Animation panel of the Animator, double-click the Disappear effect to apply it.
The animation comes with four keyframes for precise control:
- Keyframe 1–2: nodes remain fully visible
- Keyframe 2–3: nodes gradually become transparent
- Keyframe 3–4: nodes are fully transparent
Dragging keyframes along the timeline lets you time the transition exactly when you want it. If you’re layering several animations, this flexibility helps synchronize fading effects with other actions such as camera movement or label appearance.
Tips for Better Animations
- Combine Disappear with the Appear effect to cycle focus between two regions of a model.
- Animate labels with Disappear to declutter a scene mid-presentation.
- Tune the animation’s easing curve for different pacing styles—linear, ease-in, or ease-out transitions can greatly impact the visual rhythm.
When to Use Disappear vs. Hide
Although the Hide animation is also useful, it results in an immediate disappearance with no transition. For presentation videos or interactive animations, the Disappear effect adds polish and makes sequences easier to follow.
Conclusion
The Disappear animation in SAMSON is a practical addition to your molecular presentation toolbox. Whether you’re emphasizing mechanisms inside molecular machines or simplifying crowded views, the controlled fading of elements helps guide your audience without losing context.
Learn more about this feature in the official documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/disappear/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.