What is a Lift Time?

Lift Time is the amount of time it takes for a firework to travel from the ground up into the sky before its effect is visible. Think of it as the “flight time” before the effect appears.

In IGNITE Show Designer, the Lift Time column makes sure your show stays in sync. When you set a cue, the software automatically subtracts the Lift Time from the Event Time, so the firework launches early enough for the effect to burst at exactly the right moment.

For example, if you want a shell to burst at 00:30s, and its lift time is 3 seconds, the system will automatically fire it at 00:27s so the timing looks perfect in the sky.

Tip:

If a firework has both Pre-Fire and Lift Time, the two are added together before being subtracted from the Event Time.
Example: Pre-Fire = 0.5s and Lift Time = 2.5s → the firework will trigger 3s early.

Why don't I see Lift Time in my Show Designer?

Lift time is an optional column that can be toggled on and off from your Preferences. To enable the Lift Time column, click on Preferences from the menu on the left side of Show Designer.

Once the Preferences window opens, select the Events tab and uncheck Remove Lift Time Column.

Your show will automatically save, and you will see a Lift Time column added to your existing columns.

Tip:

Lift Time values won’t auto-populate after this change. To add them, just highlight the rows that need them and click Insert into event row (next to the firework name in My Fireworks).

If a Lift Time causes the firing time to shift earlier than your show allows, the Event Time will be highlighted in yellow and a Warning will appear in the top-right corner. This is just a heads-up—it won’t prevent your show from exporting. Be sure to double-check your timings and adjust if needed to keep everything running smoothly.

Need more help? Contact us, we're always happy to assist!