A molecular trajectory can be difficult to present when its number of frames does not match the length of your animation. You may also want to show a conformational change clearly, or compare several paths over the same time span. In SAMSON, the Play path animation offers a straightforward way to play one or more paths between two animation keyframes.
A path node in SAMSON stores a trajectory. To play one, select the path and add the Play path effect by double-clicking it in the Animation panel of the Animator. The animation plays the full path between its two keyframes. If the resulting timing does not suit your presentation, move the keyframes to adjust the interval over which the path is played.
When the frame counts differ
The number of frames in an animation may not equal the number of frames in the path. In that case, SAMSON smooths the path. This can help when fitting a trajectory into an animation span with a different frame count, but it is worth checking the result rather than assuming the playback will correspond frame-for-frame to the original path.
If you do not want smoothing, you can switch it off in the Inspector. The right choice depends on what you need to communicate: a continuous-looking transition, or playback without that smoothing. In either case, remember that visual smoothing alone does not establish that intermediate structures are physically meaningful. For scientific interpretation, consider what the path represents and how it was generated.
Playing multiple paths together
You can select multiple paths before adding the animation. SAMSON synchronizes them, which is useful when you want to show several trajectories over the same animation interval. For example, synchronized playback can make it easier to compare how different paths progress in a shared presentation. The paths still represent their own data; synchronization is a way to play them together, not a claim that their structures or underlying processes are identical.
Fine-tune the timing and feel
Two controls help shape the playback in your animation. First, move the animation’s keyframes to change how much of the presentation is devoted to playing the path. Second, modify the Easing curve to change how parameters are interpolated between frames. If a transition feels too abrupt or does not fit the rhythm of your presentation, these are useful places to check.
A quick setup checklist
- Select the path, or paths, you want to show.
- Double-click Play path in the Animator’s Animation panel.
- Adjust the animation keyframes so the path plays over the intended interval.
- If the animation and path have different frame counts, check whether smoothing is appropriate; change it in the Inspector if needed.
- Review the easing curve if you want to alter how parameters are interpolated between frames.
These small checks can prevent a useful trajectory from becoming difficult to follow simply because its timing or interpolation does not suit the animation. For the full instructions, see the Play path documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.