transitions research

CUT - The most common transition — an instant change from one shot to the next. The raw footage from your camera contains cuts between shots where you stop and start recording.In film and television production, the vast majority of transitions are cuts.

MIX/DISSOLVE/CROSSFADE -These are all terms to describe the same transition — a gradual fade from one shot to the next. Crossfades have a more relaxed feel than a cut and are useful if you want a meandering pace, contemplative mood, etc. Scenery sequences work well with crossfades,as do photo montages. Crossfades can also convey a sense of passing time or changing location. 

FADE - Fades the shot to a single colour, usually black or white. The "fade to black" and "fade from black" are ubiquitous in film and television. They usually signal the beginning and end of scenes.Fades can be used between shots to create a sort of crossfade which, for example, fades briefly to white before fading to the next shot.

WIPE - One shot is progressively replaced by another shot in a geometric pattern. There are many types of wipe, from straight lines to complex shapes. Wipes often have a coloured border to help distinguish the shots during the transition.Wipes are a good way to show changing location.