For molecular modelers and designers, creating intuitive and visually striking animations can be critically important. Whether you are presenting molecular transitions or preparing educational materials, animations that clearly and effectively represent molecular states and processes are essential. But here’s a common problem: how can you dynamically control the visibility of molecular nodes across keyframes without overcomplicating the process?
This is where the Show animation in SAMSON comes to the rescue! The Show animation simplifies the challenge of making nodes appear at specific points during an animation sequence—and keeps them visible until the end. This blog post will guide you through using the Show animation to control node visibility seamlessly, and help you add clarity to your molecular animations.
What is the Show animation?
The Show animation ensures nodes become visible at a defined keyframe and remain visible until the animation ends. Unlike modifying transparency, this animation strictly toggles visibility to make nodes appear or remain hidden, ensuring straightforward visual transitions.
Effectively, the Show animation combines the logic of consecutive Hidden and Shown animations, avoiding the need for manual adjustments to achieve the same result.
Adding the Show animation
Follow these steps to leverage the Show animation for dynamic presentations:
- Begin by selecting the molecular nodes you want to showcase during your animation.
- Double-click the Show animation effect in the Animation panel of the Animator. This action will instantly apply the effect to your selected nodes.
The Show animation includes three keyframes:
- Between keyframes 1 and 2: The nodes remain hidden.
- At keyframe 2: The nodes become visible.
- Between keyframes 2 and 3: The nodes stay visible.
You can easily adjust the keyframe positions to customize when the appearance and sustained visibility occur during the animation sequence. The flexibility of this feature allows better synchronization with other visual or dynamic changes in your molecular scene.
Fine-tune your animation with Easing curves
If you want to have more control over the dynamics of the Show animation, you can tune its Easing curve. By modifying the Easing curve, you can define how changes in visibility are interpolated across frames, providing you with even greater precision in designing engaging molecular animations.
Practical example and imagery
Below is an example of how the Show animation can be used in practice. Notice how nodes effectively appear at the desired keyframe and remain visible throughout the intended duration:
This simple yet powerful animation tool is a game-changer in ensuring clarity and focus within molecular animations.
Why simplify with the Show animation?
The Show animation removes the need to toggle visibility manually or create multiple overlapping effects to achieve a seamless appearance. Its ease of application can save countless hours in preparing animations, making it an essential tool for molecular modelers who aim to visually communicate complex molecular behavior in an understandable way.
Want to explore the finer details and give it a try? Visit the Show animation documentation page for a deeper dive.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Download SAMSON today at SAMSON Connect.