VFX Timing (Anticipation, Impact, Dissipation)
The rhythm that makes an effect feel right
Also known as: Effect timing · VFX anticipation · Impact frames · Hit effect timing · VFX animation principles · Effects timing
Definition
VFX timing is the rhythm of an effect, usually split into anticipation, impact and dissipation. Anticipation is the short buildup that tells the player something is about to happen, impact is the sharp, bright peak that sells the hit or burst, and dissipation is the fade as the energy dies away. A strong effect has a very fast, clear impact and a clean exit. Timing, more than detail, decides whether an effect feels powerful and readable in a game.
In production
Make the most important moment the brightest and largest, and keep it short, often only a few frames, with the rest of the effect supporting it. Match the effect length to the game's pace: fast action needs quick effects, since long ones block the view. Test effects in the game at real speed, and use hit pause, screen shake and sound to support timing. Clarity beats complexity.
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See also
Over-Life Curves
Changing size, color and opacity across a particle life
Particle System
Spawns and animates many small elements
Silhouette
The readable outline of a shape
Additive vs Alpha Blending
Two ways particles combine with the scene
Bloom
Soft glow around bright pixels
Flipbook (Sprite Sheet)
Animated texture made of a grid of frames
The 12 Principles of Animation
Foundations of believable motion
Animation Notifies and Events
Triggers placed on specific frames of an animation