When you’re preparing a molecular presentation, timing can make a big difference. Whether you’re explaining a protein-ligand interaction to colleagues, teaching a structural biology class, or preparing a video abstract for your next paper—how and when your molecules appear on-screen matters.
This is where SAMSON’s “Show” animation comes in very handy.
What the ‘Show’ animation does
The Show animation in SAMSON is designed to control node visibility in a time-efficient and intuitive way. Instead of simply toggling transparency or manually setting up multiple visibility transitions, you can use the Show animation to make selected nodes appear at a specific point in your animation timeline—and keep them visible for the rest of the sequence.
Imagine you’re gradually introducing different molecular components to emphasize sequence or interaction. Using the Show animation, you can reveal ligands, residues, or entire molecular complexes with precise timing: they go from invisible to fully visible and remain that way.
Solving a common frustration: managing visibility
Anyone who’s tried to choreograph molecule presentations knows how frustrating it can be to manage visibility. If you change transparency, your molecules are technically still present, which can sometimes create confusing visual cues. The alternative—juggling multiple Hidden/Shown animations in sequence—can become tedious and error-prone.
The Show animation solves this by combining both actions. Before frame 2, the nodes remain hidden. At frame 2, they appear instantly and stay visible through frame 3. This single animation eliminates the need to carefully stack multiple visibility effects, streamlining your workflow.
Using the ‘Show’ animation in practice
Here’s how to set it up:
- Select the nodes (atoms, molecules, residues, etc.) you want to reveal.
- Open the Animation panel in the Animator section.
- Double-click the Show animation to add it to the timeline.
This animation includes three keyframes:
- Keyframe 1 to 2: The nodes are hidden
- Keyframe 2: The nodes appear
- Keyframe 2 to 3: The nodes remain visible
You can adjust the placement of the keyframes by moving them within the Animator. This allows you to precisely control when the appearance occurs relative to other animations or events in your presentation.
Making it smooth: Easing curve
Want to control the velocity or smoothness of the frame transitions? You can tweak the easing curve to modify how the animation accelerates or decelerates between frames for more natural movement.
Visualization in action
Here’s what the Show animation looks like in practice:
Though the animation menu shown in the above example is no longer used in the latest version of SAMSON, all animations are easily available via the Animation panel in the Animator.
When to use the Show animation
If you are building an animated walkthrough of a molecular interaction or gradually unveiling molecular structures to support a narrative, this animation will help reduce clutter and direct attention precisely where needed. It’s especially useful in educational content or pitch videos where clarity and timing are essential.
To learn more and explore additional animations available in SAMSON, visit the official documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/show/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.