Molecular modelers often face the challenge of creating compelling and accurate animations for their molecular systems. Whether it’s moving atoms into specific positions or creating transitions between different states, the process can be time-consuming and intricate. Fortunately, the 'Move atoms' animation feature in SAMSON provides an efficient solution to make atoms move freely and interpolate their positions seamlessly. In this blog post, we'll explore how to add and control the 'Move atoms' animation and improve your workflow.
What is the 'Move atoms' animation?
The 'Move atoms' animation feature in SAMSON allows you to make atoms move freely across keyframes. By interpolating between their positions, this feature ensures smooth transitions, giving you precise control over atomic movements. It empowers you to visualize molecular dynamics or set up engaging presentations with minimal effort.
Below is an example of what this animation can achieve:
How to add and control the 'Move atoms' animation
Here’s a step-by-step guide to integrating and using the 'Move atoms' animation:
1. Adding your first keyframe
Start by positioning and selecting the atoms you wish to animate. Inside the Animation panel of the Animator, double-click on the 'Move atoms' animation effect. This action adds your starting keyframe. Next, move to a later frame in the animation track, adjust the positions of the atoms as desired, and a new keyframe will automatically record their new locations. This simple process allows you to define the motion path of your atoms.
2. Adjusting keyframes
Keyframes are highly flexible in SAMSON. You can reposition them along the timeline to change the pace of transitions or delete them if needed. For example, to remove a keyframe, right-click on it in the Animator's Track view and select 'Remove keyframe'.
3. Fine-tuning with animation controllers
The 'Move atoms' animation includes built-in controllers, similar to those provided by move editors. These controllers allow you to translate and rotate the system with snap settings for enhanced precision. For advanced customizations, you can even disable the 'Move atoms' controllers in the Document view and switch to other editors, such as the Twister editor, for unique transformations.
An example of using the Twister editor with the 'Move atoms' animation can be seen here:
4. Tweaking properties for smoother animations
The ease of transitions can be customized further by modifying the Easing curve in the Animator. You can also enable or disable the smoothing effect to match the style and purpose of your animation.
In the Inspector, the available options for refinement look like this:
Take your presentations to the next level
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to use this feature, explore some examples available on SAMSON Connect. For instance, the Multi-walled nanotube animation or the Keyframed nanotube animation showcase the power of the 'Move atoms' functionality.
To learn more about this feature, its options, and detailed workflows, visit the original documentation page: Move atoms – SAMSON Documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at SAMSON Connect.