If you’ve ever presented molecular models and found the transitions between slides or states too abrupt, you’re not alone. A typical challenge in molecular modeling presentations is maintaining visual continuity. This is especially true when you’re demonstrating conformational changes, structural variations, or pathways that evolve over time. Smooth visual transitions can help maintain your audience’s focus and improve understanding. That’s where SAMSON’s Set background animation can make a difference.
The Set background animation in SAMSON allows you to change the background between frames and even use images, like presentation slides or diagrams, as backgrounds. This feature helps presenters contextualize complex molecular sequences by integrating visual cues into the presentation timeline.
Why Does Background Matter in Molecular Visualizations?
Switching between environments or disciplines in a single presentation—say from chemistry to pharmacology—can feel disjointed without clear scene-setting. A background image can signal that shift. Or perhaps you want to highlight a pathway and then call attention to key residues using a darkened or simplified backdrop. Either way, visual atmosphere contributes to your narrative.
How It Works in SAMSON
Setting up a background animation is straightforward in SAMSON:
- Open the Animation panel in the Animator workspace.
- Double-click Set background to add the animation effect at your current frame.
- Adjust the keyframes to control when the new background begins and ends.
Each Set background animation includes two keyframes:
- At keyframe 1, the background effect starts.
- After keyframe 2, if another Set background animation follows, SAMSON automatically interpolates the transition.
Smoother Transitions with Easing Curves
SAMSON doesn’t just fade or snap between scenes—it gives you control over how the transitions are interpolated. Using the Easing curve in the Inspector, you can adjust the transition’s speed and style. For example, you could use an ease-in curve to gradually introduce a slide, or an ease-out for a subtler fade away.
Using Images Effectively
You can use any image as your background. There are two fitting modes:
- Contain: The image fits entirely within the scene. Best for diagrams or full-slide presentations.
- Cover: The image fills the entire scene. Some cropping may occur depending on its aspect ratio. Useful for atmospheric or branding backgrounds.
This gives you the flexibility to reinforce your message while maintaining a cohesive visual format throughout the presentation.
Example in Action
Below is an example of how backgrounds dynamically transition between two frames. Notice how subtle the change can be while still enhancing the overall experience.
Wrap-up
The Set background animation isn’t just about decoration—it’s about direction. Whether you’re presenting complex interactions or walking through a simulation, controlling your scene’s background helps guide the audience’s attention and clarify transitions.
To learn more about this feature and how to use it effectively, check the full documentation page here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/set-background/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.