Shape Families
| Shape family | Use it when you want | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Linear | continuous vesting from start to finish | a smooth rising unlock curve |
| Linear + Cliff | no claims early, then continuous vesting after the cliff | a flat start, then a smooth rise |
| Hybrid | a meaningful first unlock plus a vesting tail | one visible jump, then a smooth rise |
| Recurring | fixed cadence payouts for payroll or retainers | equal-step payout windows |
| Step | equal milestone unlocks | evenly spaced unlock steps |
| Tranche | custom bounded unlock checkpoints | uneven staged unlocks |
How to Choose
Linear
Best for:- simple contributor vesting
- employee equity-style schedules
- token releases without milestone checkpoints
Linear + Cliff
Best for:- contributor or investor schedules that should not unlock immediately
- treasury releases that should stay locked until a review point
Hybrid
Best for:- grants that need an initial unlock for setup costs
- contributor plans with a meaningful first release
- investor schedules that combine a first unlock with a vesting tail
Recurring
Best for:- payroll
- subscriptions
- stipends
- retainers
Step
Best for:- equal monthly unlocks
- equal quarterly unlocks
- simple milestone schedules without custom tranche weights
Tranche
Best for:- custom grant schedules
- staged investor unlocks
- treasury releases that need custom checkpoint weighting
What the Gallery Does
The shape gallery can:- preload a template into the create flow
- show the unlock profile before creation
- help you compare continuous, milestone, recurring, hybrid, and tranche schedules
- open the custom tranche designer for bounded staged schedules
What the Create Page Adds
Once you enter the builder, the app lets you refine the template with:- start date
- end date or duration
- cliff
- cadence
- hybrid unlock timing
- upfront percentage
- tranche checkpoint timing
- tranche percentages