What spacing cues help sell impact during collisions or hits?

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What spacing cues help sell impact during collisions or hits?

Asked on Dec 10, 2025

Answer

To effectively convey impact during collisions or hits in animation, spacing cues are crucial. By manipulating the spacing of keyframes, you can emphasize the force and suddenness of the impact, making it more believable and engaging. This involves adjusting the timing and spacing to create a sense of acceleration and deceleration around the moment of impact.

Example Concept: To sell impact, use tight spacing before the collision to build anticipation, followed by a sudden, wide spacing at the moment of impact to convey force. After the impact, quickly reduce spacing to simulate a rapid deceleration, enhancing the sense of weight and energy transfer.

Additional Comment:

Use anticipation to prepare the audience for the impact by slightly reversing the motion before the hit.
Employ follow-through and overlapping action to show the aftermath and energy dissipation.
Consider using squash and stretch to exaggerate the impact and add visual interest.
Ensure timing charts reflect the desired acceleration and deceleration for clarity.

✅ Answered with Animation best practices.

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