A near-freeze at the midpoint, bracketed by fast entry and exit.
Speed range: 0.1× to 1.5×. Interpolation: bezier.
Best for
Jumps and dunks at apex
Water and dust splashes
A punch, a catch, a swing
Shape
Symmetrical: 1.5× in, decelerating to 0.1× exactly at 50%, then accelerating back out to 1.5×. Only the midpoint is near-frozen; everything else is faster than real time.
Why it works
The famous effect from 1999 is a camera array, but the perceptual trick is the contrast — a moment that lasts ten times longer than the moments either side of it. The fast bracket is what sells the freeze.
How to shoot for it
This curve punishes low frame rates more than any other: 0.1× from 30 fps source is 3 fps. Shoot 120 fps, or accept that you will need the AI interpolation at "quality" or "ultra".
Control points
At
Speed
0%
1.5×
25%
0.8×
50%
0.1×
75%
0.8×
100%
1.5×
Tips
Trim so the apex of the action lands at the exact middle of the segment — the curve does not find it for you.
Turn off audio pitch-preserve if you want the classic deep "time-stretch" sound on the freeze.
For a longer freeze, drag the 0.1× point to the right — do not add a second slow point; it reads as a stutter.
FAQ
Can I hold the freeze completely (0×)?
Not as a speed — 0× has no defined duration. Use 0.08× or duplicate the frame in a separate tool. In practice 0.1× with interpolation on is indistinguishable from a hold.