SCENE TRANSITIONS
A Collection of Nine Methods to Cut between Scenes and/or Sequences
Fade
A Fade is when the ending of one shot gradually transitions to a solid colour (typically black or white) and from the solid colour into another shot.
Fade (from black) is the easiest way to start a sequence, as it visually and slowly introduces the audience to the environment and characters. A Fade (to black) at the end is used for closure of the story being told, or allow the audience a moment to breathe after an intense sequence.
The Fade (to black) can be used as a stylistic choice within a single scene; cutting in and out to specific clips for dramatic or heightened effect. This is known as “Dip to Black”.
Fade (to white) is used for when characters are switching to or from a dream sequence, or dying. A Fade (to white) can also be used for ambiguous ending; leaving the audience on an ending but not giving the answer to the narrative in that sequence.
Dissolve
A Dissolve slowly transitions from one shot to another, unlike the Fade which transitions to and from a solid colour. Its main use is to showcase a long passage of time cuts between the same scene (more than the Fade), to signal a character’s memories, or a dream.
A technique used with the Dissolve is “Superimposition.” In film, this refers to when two shots are present on screen at the same time. This is often used to show a dream sequence or a character’s memories.
Match Cut
A Match Cut transitions between two scenes with similar elements: shapes, compositions, colours, movement, or sound. It connects the two shots immediately. Match Cutting between facial expressions means the story is cutting between one character at two points in their lives.
You can combine the Match Cut with a Dissolve to create a “Match Dissolve”. It accomplishes all the purposes of the Match Cut, but loses its abruptness.
Iris
An Iris is a transition of a circle zooming in on an element in a shot to a solid colour, and/or zooming out from a solid colour onto an element of a shot. In a previous era of filmmaking, it was a manual effect made by closing a camera’s iris or aperture, used similar to a fade to open or close a film. Although uncommon now, it is especially effective for sequences that require a vintage essence.
The zoom in Iris is used in a shot to concentrate on a specific emotion or idea to end the scene. A zoom out Iris is used to introduce new aspects around the element highlighted on or for emotional resonance.
Wipe
A Wipe is when the second shot replaces the first by replacing it from one side of the frame to another or using a special shape. Wipes can go up to down, right to left, diagonally, centre to the frame’s edged, respectively vice versa for each example, and more. It can transition using shapes: stars, flip, clock, etc.
It is especially effective for sequences that require a vintage essence. Unlike the Iris however, it is quite commonly used ironically in modern media for comedic purposes.
Passing
The Passing transition (or the Pass By Effect) has a moving character or object move across the scene to transition from one scene to another. This can also be done where the camera itself moves by the object to transition from one scene to another. It is generally used as a way to hide the transition, and carry forward the momentum from the previous scene.
Whip Pan
The Whip Pan (or Swish Pan) is a quick horizontal pan rotation which blurs the cut between different locations in a scene, or different scenes altogether. It keeps the momentum and energy from the previous scene to the next. It has a lot more energy in its transition than the Match Cut, and therefore is used successfully when character’s experience the world in a faster pace than the typical speed.
Smash Cut
Smash Cuts transition similar to a Match Cut, but the energy of the visuals and audio in those two scenes contrast with one another. A Match Cut between a restful picnic under the sun, to a person screaming in agony inside a disgusting train station.
This cut is used to shock the audience: it is primarily seen in character’s awaking from a dream, or for comedic effect.
J-Cut / L-Cut
The J-Cut and L-Cut are audio-based transitions. The J-Cut is when the audio of the second scene begins before the first scene ends. The L-Cut continuously plays the audio of the first scene into the next.
These transitions are called J-Cut and L-Cut respectively because of how they appear in the timeline of an editing software. The position of each audio overlapping the prior (in the case of L-Cut) or following (in the case of J-Cut) scene.
The J-Cut is used to transition to the past of the character: hearing the scene before we see it, so the audience prepares for a new location.
The L-Cut is used for narration: adding new context to the continued audio with cutting to new scenes simultaneously. This creates a new, complicated, nuanced meaning.
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