Blast off

Blast off launches an object straight up like a rocket. It crouches first, squashing down at its base, then springs out of the crouch as the thrust takes over and climbs faster and faster until it is gone above the scene. It does not come back by rewinding: the return is a powered landing.

How it works

On the way out the climb builds gradually instead of kicking in at once, the object stretches along its speed and trembles slightly on the thrust. On the way back it falls in from above, already fast and slightly tilted, brakes hard (the braking squashes it), rights itself with a small overshoot, hangs just above the ground for a moment, then touches down at almost no speed and settles with a soft squash. Triggered again mid-flight, it turns round smoothly.

Settings

• Height: how high it flies before it is gone, measured in its own heights.
• Crouch: the squash before launch and on landing.
• Stretch: how much it stretches with speed and squashes when braking.
• Thrust wobble: the shake while the engine is firing.
• Duration: the length of the launch, and of the landing.

Use it for

Launch announcements, a "send" or "go" button that sends the product off, space scenes and game-like menus. Use it on click or hover, inside an action, or as the object's entrance and exit. A Light streaks trail or Motion Blur adds speed to the climb.