Presenting molecular structures effectively can be a challenge for scientists and researchers. Sometimes, specific moments in your molecular animations require extra attention. Whether it’s analyzing a particular molecular interaction or explaining a dynamic event, having the ability to pause can greatly enhance clarity and comprehension. This is where SAMSON’s Pause animation feature comes in.
What is the Pause Animation?
The Pause animation is a simple yet powerful feature that allows you to halt your molecular presentation for a set duration, enabling your audience to focus on a specific frame without rushing through. You control how long the animation pauses, ensuring you can emphasize key points or data effectively.
How to Add the Pause Animation
In SAMSON, adding the Pause animation is straightforward:
- Navigate to the Animation panel in the Animator.
- Double-click on the Pause animation effect.
- The keyframe for the Pause effect will be automatically placed at the current frame. You can move this keyframe as needed to set the precise moment where the animation should pause.
Note
You can always adjust and reposition the keyframes of the animation to align with your presentation’s needs.
Configuring the Pause Animation Duration
You have full control over how long the animation will pause:
- Select the Pause animation node in the Document view.
- Open the Inspector panel to edit its properties.
- Specify the desired pause duration, ensuring the moment is long enough for your audience to observe and understand the molecular visualization.

When to Use the Pause Animation
The Pause animation is especially useful in situations such as:
- Explaining complex molecular interactions or reactions that need in-depth attention.
- Highlighting and discussing specific frames during collaborative reviews.
- Pausing for questions and feedback in presentations or educational sessions.
By integrating the Pause animation into your workflow, you make your molecular presentations more flexible and impactful, catering to different paces of understanding.
Learn more about the Pause animation and its capabilities in the official documentation here: Pause Animation Documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.
