Motion & effects
Speed ramp
What is Speed ramp?
A speed ramp is an editing technique where the playback speed of a single clip changes continuously within that clip, shifting between normal speed, slow motion, and fast motion. Editors set speed keyframes in the software to create a smooth velocity transition, commonly used in action or highlight content to draw attention to a key moment.
When you'd use it
- 1When you want to slide from normal speed into slow motion within a single continuous shot.
- 2When a clip has a clear peak action moment that deserves emphasis through deceleration.
- 3When a montage needs energy variation and a speed change can stand in for an extra cut.
- 4When a fast establishing pan should settle into normal speed as the subject lands in frame.
Example
A basketball highlight creator shoots a dunk at 120fps. The edit runs at 2x speed through the approach, cuts to 20% speed at the moment of takeoff, holds slow for about one second at the peak of the jump, then snaps back to full speed on the landing. The ramp spans roughly two seconds of screen time.
Use cases
- 1Decelerating a product drop shot at the moment it enters the frame to hold viewer attention.
- 2Ramping from fast motion at the start of a clip to slow motion at the climax of a physical action.
- 3Accelerating through setup footage and slowing to normal speed when the featured product appears.
FAQ
What frame rate do I need to speed ramp?
For a slow-motion section played at 50% speed, you need at least 48fps source footage on a 24fps timeline (2x the playback rate). For 25% speed, you need 96fps or higher. Footage shot below these rates will stutter or require interpolation.
Make on-brand short-form video from the footage you already have.