An apparatus comprising a liquid crystal material and a controller are described herein. The liquid crystal material is disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode opposite the first electrode. Molecules of the liquid crystal material assume a first orientation during a first state of the liquid crystal material and a second orientation during a second state of the liquid crystal material. The first orientation is different from the second orientation. The controller is coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode to perform operations. The operations include applying a first periodic waveform to the first electrode and a second periodic waveform to the second electrode to generate a drive waveform applied across the liquid crystal material. The operations further include changing a duty cycle of the drive waveform over a first time period to transition the liquid crystal material between the first state and the second state.