When communicating complex molecular structures and their behaviors, clarity is key. For molecular modelers, educators, and researchers who need to illustrate subtle dynamic behavior in molecular systems, static images often fall short. But adding realistic motion to a structure can make a world of difference—and this is where SAMSON’s Rock animation comes into play.
The Rock animation effect is a simple yet effective tool that rotates a group of particles around its center of geometry, along a vector aligned with the Z-axis. This animation mimics a gentle rocking motion, bringing depth and a sense of space to molecular models. It’s especially useful if you want your viewers to better appreciate 3D spatial relationships without needing to interact manually with the model.
Why Use Rock Over Just Rotating?
While the Rotate animation provides a constant rotation around a chosen axis, the Rock animation is more subtle and rhythmic. It alternates the movement between two positions, simulating a rocking back-and-forth motion that can be easier on the eye. This kind of motion is helpful when highlighting a region or suggesting flexibility without overwhelming the viewer with continual spinning.
How to Add a Rock Animation
Adding the Rock animation in SAMSON is straightforward:
- Select the group of particles you want to animate. You can do this using SAMSON’s selection tools.
- Double-click the Rock animation effect in the Animation panel of the Animator.
- Adjust the keyframes within the Animator timeline to determine the timing and pacing of the motion.
Controlling the Feel: Easing Curves
The motion between keyframes can be made smoother or more abrupt based on the easing curve you choose. For example, a sine-based easing can create a very natural rocking effect, while linear easing produces more uniform speeds.
Real-World Use: A Case Study in Visualization
Let’s say you’re preparing a presentation about a protein-ligand system. A small molecule is buried within a receptor site, and you want to demonstrate the spatial characteristics around the binding pocket. The Rock animation can apply gentle motion to the ligand group, helping reveal the surrounding topology as it subtly shifts. This can be especially engaging for students or other viewers less familiar with navigating 3D molecular models.
Need ideas? Check out this public document using the Rock effect: 2BRD – Rock animation.
In summary, the Rock animation is an accessible way to enhance molecular presentations, especially when your goal is to focus the viewer’s eye on a particular region or communicate a dynamic feature without overwhelming motion. Adding depth through motion encourages engagement and reinforces structure-function relationships in molecular art and science.
To learn more, visit the original documentation page for the Rock animation effect here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/rock/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.