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fadein

Fadein, also written as fade-in, is a gradual increase in visibility of an image, scene, sound, or UI element. In film and video, a fade-in typically starts with a black frame and gradually reveals the image as the opacity rises from zero to full, often used to open a sequence or after a fade-out to transition between scenes. The process can be linear or eased to create a smoother or more dramatic start. In audio, a fade-in increases volume from silence to the intended level, commonly used at the start of a track or after a pause; the onset can follow linear, logarithmic, or other curves to shape perception. In user interfaces and web design, fade-ins reveal content by increasing an element’s opacity, often with subtle movement or scaling; CSS and animation libraries provide tools to implement these effects. Durations typically range from a few tenths of a second to several seconds, chosen to match pacing and readability.

Fade-ins are often paired with fade-outs or crossfades to create smooth transitions. They are a foundational

technique
in
storytelling
and
interface
design,
but
excessive
or
abrupt
fades
can
be
distracting.
Accessibility
considerations
include
honoring
user
motion
preferences
by
reducing
or
eliminating
nonessential
motion
through
system
settings
or
CSS
media
features
such
as
prefers-reduced-motion.
Historically,
fade-ins
have
roots
in
early
cinema
as
simple
optical
transitions
and
remain
common
in
post-production,
broadcast,
and
digital
media.