diff --git a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a2789c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+import { render, act } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import GradientBlinds from './GradientBlinds';
+
+// Mock ogl
+vi.mock('ogl', () => {
+  return {
+    Renderer: class {
+      gl = {
+        // Use a real canvas element so appendChild works
+        canvas: document.createElement('canvas'),
+        drawingBufferWidth: 100,
+        drawingBufferHeight: 100,
+      };
+      setSize() {}
+      render() {}
+    },
+    Program: class {
+        remove() {}
+    },
+    Mesh: class {
+        remove() {}
+    },
+    Triangle: class {
+        remove() {}
+    },
+  };
+});
+
+// Mock ResizeObserver
+globalThis.ResizeObserver = class ResizeObserver {
+  observe() {}
+  unobserve() {}
+  disconnect() {}
+};
+
+describe('GradientBlinds', () => {
+  let rafSpy: any;
+  let cancelRafSpy: any;
+  let ioCallback: (entries: IntersectionObserverEntry[]) => void;
+  let observeSpy: any;
+  let disconnectSpy: any;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    rafSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'requestAnimationFrame').mockImplementation((_cb: any) => {
+      return 123;
+    });
+    cancelRafSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'cancelAnimationFrame').mockImplementation((_id: number) => {
+    });
+
+    // Mock IntersectionObserver
+    observeSpy = vi.fn();
+    disconnectSpy = vi.fn();
+    (globalThis as any).IntersectionObserver = class IntersectionObserver {
+      constructor(cb: any) {
+        ioCallback = cb;
+      }
+      observe = observeSpy;
+      unobserve = vi.fn();
+      disconnect = disconnectSpy;
+    };
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('starts animation loop on mount', () => {
+    const { unmount } = render(<GradientBlinds />);
+    expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    unmount();
+    expect(cancelRafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('pauses animation loop when off-screen and resumes when on-screen', () => {
+    const { unmount } = render(<GradientBlinds />);
+
+    // Initial start
+    expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    // Reset spies to check for subsequent calls
+    rafSpy.mockClear();
+    cancelRafSpy.mockClear();
+
+    // Simulate off-screen
+    act(() => {
+      if (ioCallback) {
+        ioCallback([{ isIntersecting: false } as IntersectionObserverEntry]);
+      }
+    });
+
+    // Should cancel animation frame
+    expect(cancelRafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // Should NOT request new frame (loop stopped)
+    expect(rafSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // Reset spies
+    cancelRafSpy.mockClear();
+
+    // Simulate on-screen
+    act(() => {
+      if (ioCallback) {
+        ioCallback([{ isIntersecting: true } as IntersectionObserverEntry]);
+      }
+    });
+
+    // Should restart animation loop
+    expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    unmount();
+    expect(disconnectSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
index b926c84..735c48e 100644
--- a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
+++ b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
@@ -333,11 +333,28 @@ void main() {
         }
       }
     };
+
+    const observer = new IntersectionObserver(([entry]) => {
+      if (entry.isIntersecting) {
+        if (!rafRef.current) {
+          lastTimeRef.current = 0;
+          rafRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
+        }
+      } else {
+        if (rafRef.current) {
+          cancelAnimationFrame(rafRef.current);
+          rafRef.current = null;
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    observer.observe(container);
+
     rafRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
 
     return () => {
       if (rafRef.current) cancelAnimationFrame(rafRef.current);
       canvas.removeEventListener('pointermove', onPointerMove);
+      observer.disconnect();
       ro.disconnect();
       if (canvas.parentElement === container) {
         container.removeChild(canvas);