A mouse hovering over an item on a computer screen.
Library, Museums and Press Staff
February 5, 2024

A Guide to Video Transitions: The Hard Cut

This post originally appeared in the Multimedia Tips and Tricks blog (SMDC), which was reorganized into Research Tech Tips as of September 2025. The services described in this article are still available through the Research Data and Design Commons (RDDC).

 

Text and video by Ellie Parcells, Education Resource Center and Student Multimedia Design Center

 

The connection or “transition” between the end of one video and the start of another is an aspect of video editing that is sometimes under-explored. There are three main types of video transitions – the hard cut, dissolve and wipe – each with their own benefits and effects.

In the video below, learn more about the hard cut, which is when one piece of video abruptly switches to another with no in-between animations or opacity changes, and when is an appropriate time to use it. The hard cut is a versatile transition, effective in many editing situations and particularly useful for communicating feelings.

 

In addition to the hard cut, learn more about the dissolve and wipe transitions and when they might be most useful for your video.

You can try your hand at using these transitions and more using a variety of video editing programs that are available to you through the Student Multimedia Design Center in Morris Library.