Flick is a quick, energetic gesture that propels an element across the screen with momentum. It feels like giving something a swift push and letting physics take over, turning a small touch into a burst of lively motion. Its appeal lies in its immediacy, where a light movement of the finger creates a rapid, satisfying animation that feels natural and responsive.
When a flick is performed, the interface should react instantly, with the element accelerating away and then slowing down in a way that mimics real-world physics. The motion should suggest weight and inertia, whether it slides, bounces, or gently comes to rest. Adding these physical qualities makes the experience more believable and draws the user deeper into the interaction.
This gesture shines when dismissing cards or notifications, moving quickly through galleries, or navigating between screens. In animation-rich interfaces, flick can carry personality by exaggerating rotations, adding trailing motion, or combining with secondary effects for playful flair. It is not the right choice when the user needs precision or fine control, as flick prioritizes speed over exact placement.
To make a flick feel rewarding, it should start with immediate acceleration as soon as the gesture is detected, using easing curves that mirror natural inertia. The element might tilt, stretch, or blur to heighten the sense of speed, while haptic taps or soft sound effects reinforce the action. The end of the motion should feel deliberate, whether the element snaps into a new position, fades away, or slides completely off-screen.
Variations range from horizontal and vertical flicks for browsing content to diagonal flicks for more dynamic navigation. Flick-to-dismiss patterns can use gesture velocity and direction to determine the result, with animations that include overshoots, rebounds, or subtle elastic effects to make the interaction feel polished and alive.
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