Shot Transitions

The moment of the edit is called the ‘shot transition’ and there are a few common types, that allow the achievement of different effects. 

-> Jump cut/ cut – the most basic and common shot transition, no major effects, just a way of ending a shot in a desired place as well as placing the parts in a correct order within the sequence.

-> Fade – a subtle effect that cause the shot to fade in or out of black screen. Can fade as a whole or in a preferred direction.

-> Dissolve – similar to fade, but doesn’t go to black, instead, while fading out, it is revealing the next shot. Often indicates a dreamy state, memories or the passing of time.

-> Wipe – shots are replaced by moving (‘wiping’) from one side of the frame to the other, typically used to transition between story lines or locations (curtain falling after an act in theatre).

-> Iris Fade – technique which closes or opens up a shape to start or end a scene. In early days it referred to a cut effect based around the opening and closing of the camera aperture, in terms of fading in and out of a shot (I.e., many Mickey Mouse cartoons end with this effect). In today’s industry they are used as a stylistic enhancement. 

-> Smash cut – an abrupt transition often used to indicate and convey a punch or shock, which is quickly replaced by the new shot, waking up from a nightmare or a quick change in the action pace (calm, instantly followed by high tension).

-> Invisible cut – is a cut that is hidden within the darkness of a scene, the movement of the camera or when the character leaves the frame leaving only static elements.

Audio Based Transitions – are designed to create seamless flow of transitioning between the shots, with audio guiding the way.

-> L-cut – audio based transition in which the audio of the previous scene carries over to the one that follows, linking them.

-> J-cut – audio starts before the introduction of the scene. You hear it before you see it.