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interpolate()

Also available as a 6min video
How to interpolate()

Allows you to map a range of values to another using a concise syntax.

Example: Fade-in effect​

In this example, we are fading in some content by calculating the opacity for a certain point of time. At frame 0 (the start of the video), we want the opacity to be 0. At frame 20, we want the opacity to be 1.

Using the following snippet, we can calculate the current opacity for any frame:

ts
import { interpolate, useCurrentFrame } from "remotion";
 
const frame = useCurrentFrame(); // 10
const opacity = interpolate(frame, [0, 20], [0, 1]); // 0.5
ts
import { interpolate, useCurrentFrame } from "remotion";
 
const frame = useCurrentFrame(); // 10
const opacity = interpolate(frame, [0, 20], [0, 1]); // 0.5

Example: Fade in and out​

We keep our fade in effect but add a fade out effect at the end. 20 frames before the video ends, the opacity should still be 1. At the end, the opacity should be 0.

We can interpolate over multiple points in one go and use useVideoConfig() to determine the duration of the composition.

ts
import { interpolate, useCurrentFrame, useVideoConfig } from "remotion";
 
const frame = useCurrentFrame();
const { durationInFrames } = useVideoConfig();
const opacity = interpolate(
  frame,
  [0, 20, durationInFrames - 20, durationInFrames],
  // v--v---v----------------------v
  [0, 1, 1, 0]
);
ts
import { interpolate, useCurrentFrame, useVideoConfig } from "remotion";
 
const frame = useCurrentFrame();
const { durationInFrames } = useVideoConfig();
const opacity = interpolate(
  frame,
  [0, 20, durationInFrames - 20, durationInFrames],
  // v--v---v----------------------v
  [0, 1, 1, 0]
);

Example: interpolate a spring animation​

We don't necessarily have to interpolate over time - we can use any value to drive an animation. Let's assume we want to animate an object on the X axis from 0 to 200 pixels and use a spring animation for it.

Let's create a spring:

ts
import {useCurrentFrame, interpolate, spring, useVideoConfig} from 'remotion';
 
const frame = useCurrentFrame();
const {fps} = useVideoConfig();
const driver = spring({
  frame,
  fps
});
ts
import {useCurrentFrame, interpolate, spring, useVideoConfig} from 'remotion';
 
const frame = useCurrentFrame();
const {fps} = useVideoConfig();
const driver = spring({
  frame,
  fps
});

A spring() animation with it's default settings will animate from 0 to 1. Given that knowledge, we can interpolate the spring value to go from 0 to 200.

ts
const marginLeft = interpolate(driver, [0, 1], [0, 200]);
ts
const marginLeft = interpolate(driver, [0, 1], [0, 200]);

We can then apply it to an HTML element.

tsx
const Component: React.FC = () => <div style={{ marginLeft }}></div>;
tsx
const Component: React.FC = () => <div style={{ marginLeft }}></div>;

Example: Prevent the output from going outside the output range​

Consider the following interpolation which is supposed to animate the scale over 20 frames:

tsx
const scale = interpolate(frame, [0, 20], [0, 1]);
tsx
const scale = interpolate(frame, [0, 20], [0, 1]);

This works, but after 20 frames, the value keeps growing. For example, at frame 40, the scale will be 2. To prevent this, this we can use the extrapolateLeft and extrapolateRight options and set them to 'clamp' to prevent the result going outside the output range.

tsx
const scale = interpolate(frame, [0, 20], [0, 1], {
  extrapolateRight: "clamp",
});
tsx
const scale = interpolate(frame, [0, 20], [0, 1], {
  extrapolateRight: "clamp",
});

Reference​

Params​

  1. The input value.
  2. The range of values that you expect the input to assume.
  3. The range of output values that you want the input to map to.
  4. Options object.

Options​

extrapolateLeft​

Default: extend

What should happen if the input value is outside left the input range:

  • extend: Interpolate nonetheless, even if outside output range.
  • clamp: Return the closest value inside the range instead
  • identity: Return the input value instead.

extrapolateRight​

Default: extend

Same as extrapolateLeft, except for values outside right the input range.

Example:

tsx
interpolate(1.5, [0, 1], [0, 2], { extrapolateRight: "extend" }); // 3
interpolate(1.5, [0, 1], [0, 2], { extrapolateRight: "clamp" }); // 2
interpolate(1.5, [0, 1], [0, 2], { extrapolateRight: "identity" }); // 1.5
tsx
interpolate(1.5, [0, 1], [0, 2], { extrapolateRight: "extend" }); // 3
interpolate(1.5, [0, 1], [0, 2], { extrapolateRight: "clamp" }); // 2
interpolate(1.5, [0, 1], [0, 2], { extrapolateRight: "identity" }); // 1.5

easing​

Default: (x) => x

Function which allows you to customize the input, for example to apply a certain easing function. By default, the input is left unmodified, resulting in a pure linear interpolation. Read the documentation for the built-in easing functions.

ts
import { interpolate, Easing } from "remotion";
 
interpolate(frame, [0, 100], [0, 1], {
  easing: Easing.bezier(0.8, 0.22, 0.96, 0.65),
  extrapolateLeft: "clamp",
  extrapolateRight: "clamp",
});
 
//this is Remotion2.0 feature
interpolate(frame, [0, 10, 40, 100], [0, 0.2, 0.6, 1], {
  easing: Easing.bezier(0.8, 0.22, 0.96, 0.65),
  extrapolateLeft: "clamp",
  extrapolateRight: "clamp",
});
ts
import { interpolate, Easing } from "remotion";
 
interpolate(frame, [0, 100], [0, 1], {
  easing: Easing.bezier(0.8, 0.22, 0.96, 0.65),
  extrapolateLeft: "clamp",
  extrapolateRight: "clamp",
});
 
//this is Remotion2.0 feature
interpolate(frame, [0, 10, 40, 100], [0, 0.2, 0.6, 1], {
  easing: Easing.bezier(0.8, 0.22, 0.96, 0.65),
  extrapolateLeft: "clamp",
  extrapolateRight: "clamp",
});

Types​

Since v3.3.77, types for the options are exported from Remotion.

tsx
import { ExtrapolateType, InterpolateOptions } from "remotion";
 
const extrapolate: ExtrapolateType = "clamp";
const option: InterpolateOptions = { extrapolateLeft: extrapolate };
tsx
import { ExtrapolateType, InterpolateOptions } from "remotion";
 
const extrapolate: ExtrapolateType = "clamp";
const option: InterpolateOptions = { extrapolateLeft: extrapolate };

See also​