Molecular modelers often create presentations or simulations to clearly convey structural behaviors or dynamics. But sometimes, static images don’t quite capture everything — and even traditional rotations can feel flat. If you’re trying to draw attention to the spatial arrangement of ligands, compare binding site topologies, or emphasize a pocket’s exposure, a small change in visualization can go a long way. This is where SAMSON’s Rock animation can help.
The Rock animation is a simple yet effective motion that rotates a selected group of particles back and forth around their geometric center, along the Z-axis. This subtle oscillating movement provides a more vivid perspective of 3D molecular structures, without changing their absolute orientation too much — helping you highlight key geometric features without distracting the viewer.
Why Use the Rock Animation?
The Rock animation is particularly useful when:
- You want to give structural context in a presentation without having the molecule constantly spinning.
- You’re visualizing a symmetrical molecule and wish to break visual monotony while still keeping a clean viewpoint.
- You’re making an educational video where dynamic emphasis can help students grasp spatial relationships more easily.
Instead of constantly rotating a molecule (which may obscure areas for viewers), rocking allows short, periodic movement to “breathe life” into the presentation. It can draw attention to a particular arrangement while still maintaining a controlled visual environment.
How to Apply It in SAMSON
To add a Rock animation in SAMSON’s Animator:
- Select the group of particles you want to animate.
- Open the Animation panel in the Animator.
- Double-click the Rock animation effect.
- Set your keyframes. The animation occurs between the two — adjust their timing as needed.
You can easily control the speed and smoothness of the motion by modifying the Easing curve. This gives you flexibility depending on whether the presentation is meant to be dramatic or subtle.
Practical Example
Check out the example using the 2BRD structure on SAMSON Connect:
This example shows how Rock adds visual interest without disorienting the observer. It’s particularly useful when preparing presentations for group meetings, student instruction, or collaborative papers where clarity of spatial detail is essential.
Overall, the Rock animation is a small tool that can make a big difference in how molecular models come across visually.
To learn more, visit the official documentation at https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/rock/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.