Whether you’re demonstrating a molecular mechanism to students or showcasing your latest simulation to collaborators, clarity matters. One underrated, yet important challenge in molecular presentations is controlling the pace at which your audience consumes dense visual information. Especially during complex animations, it can be hard for viewers to follow along unless there are intentional breaks to pause and explain.
That’s where the Stop animation in SAMSON comes in handy. Introduced as part of the extensive animation capabilities of the platform, this simple yet effective feature allows you to split your molecular presentation into slide-like moments, giving space for verbal commentary or discussion between frames.
What is the Stop Animation?
The Stop animation is an effect that halts playback at a specific frame in your presentation timeline. Once playback reaches that frame, the animation pauses automatically. To continue, simply hit Space or click the Play button manually. This closely mimics the behavior of traditional slide presentations: one concept at a time, with clear breaks for explanation.
Why It’s Useful
In real-world applications, molecular animations can be fast and intricate. Without breaks, your audience may miss key transitions, conformational changes, or ligand interactions. Using the Stop animation, you can:
- Pause the animation to discuss specific interactions or conformational transitions
- Use different stops as visual checkpoints across a mechanism
- Simplify navigation during live presentations by creating slide-like segments
How to Add a Stop Animation
To insert a Stop animation:
- Open the Animation panel in SAMSON’s Animator.
- Double-click the Stop animation effect. This will place a Stop keyframe at the current timeline position.
- Drag the keyframe to adjust when you want the animation to pause.
Note: You can reposition Stop keyframes at any time by dragging them along the timeline. This flexibility allows you to fine-tune your presentation flow as your script evolves.
Combining with Other Effects
For even more control, consider combining the Stop animation with Pause effects or camera transitions. For example, you might set up a camera movement toward a binding site, then place a Stop immediately afterward to give time for discussion about the active site residues.
Best Practices
- Use Stops sparingly—only when explanation is needed
- Place Stops logically at key mechanism steps or structural views
- Rehearse your presentation with the Stops to ensure the pacing feels natural
The Stop animation offers an intuitive way to make molecular presentations more understandable and engaging, while giving presenters time to make their points. If you’ve ever felt rushed while narrating an animation or wished you could “pause on command,” this feature might be just what you need.
To learn more about the Stop animation and how to use it in your projects, visit the original documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/animations/stop/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download the platform at https://www.samson-connect.net.