This document defines and describes various film editing techniques: 1) A match cut is an edit between two shots where an object or space matches graphically to establish continuity of action. 2) Flash cutting involves very brief shot durations of less than two seconds to speed up the pacing. 3) A subliminal cut consists of only a few frames shown too quickly for conscious awareness, only subliminally perceived. 4) Cross cutting alternates between shots of simultaneous actions in different locations.

1. Editing Techniques

2. Match Cut
• A match cut, also called a graphic match, is a
cut in film editing between either two
different objects, two different spaces, or two
different compositions in which an object in
the two shots graphically match, often helping
to establish a strong continuity of action and
linking the two shots metaphorically.

3. Flash Cutting
• Editing sequences so that the durations of the
shots are very brief.
• Also referred as Short Cut - a cut that has a
brief duration – less than two seconds.

4. Subliminal Cut
• A cut consisting of a few frames which zip by
so fast that the viewer is only subliminally
(subconsciously) aware of them.

5. Cross cutting
• editing that alternates shots of two or more
lines of action occurring in different places,
usually simultaneous.

6. Discontinuity editing
• any alternative system of joining shots
together using techniques unacceptable
within continuity editing principles.
• Possibilities include mismatching of temporal
and spatial relations, violations of the axis of
action, and concentration on graphic
relationships. See elliptical editing, intellectual
montage, non-diegetic insert.

7. Elliptical editing
• shot transitions that omit parts of an
event, causing ellipsis in plot and story
duration.

8. Jump Cut
• an elliptical cut that appears to be an
interruption of a single shot. It occurs within a
scene rather than between scenes, to
condense the shot.
• Either the figures seem to change instantly
against a constant background, or the
background changes instantly while the
figures remain constant.

9. Overlapping Editing
• cuts that repeat part or all of an action, thus
expanding its viewing time and plot duration.

10. Invisible Editing
• Editing that is so smooth that viewers become
engrossed in the movie and don’t notice the
individual cuts.
• Also referred to as seamless editing

11. Line Cut
• Tape of the switches from one camera angle
to the other that the multiple cam director
called out as the show was shot.

12. Split Edit
• A video editing term for overlap. In a split edit
the audio and video edit do not start at the
same time; either video or audio is delayed.
Also called an L cut or a delayed edit.