This document provides an overview of editing techniques for film. It was created by instructor Mr. Ali Haider and collaborators Afreen Sohail, Danish Ahmed, Abdullah Khan, and Toheed Ahmed. The document defines editing as assembling shots into a coherent sequence and explains that editors do more than just mechanically putting pieces together. It discusses how editing is essential for storytelling and can be used to convey emotions, tension, and pace a story appropriately. Finally, it provides definitions and examples of common editing techniques like cuts, match cuts, establishing shots, and montages.

1. EDITING
TECHNIQUES
INSTRUCTOR: MR ALI HAIDER
COLLABORATORS:
AFREEN SOHAIL, DANISH AHMED, ABDULLAH KHAN, TOHEED AHMED

2. WHAT ARE EDITING TECHNIQUES?
• On its most fundamental level, film editing is the art, technique and
practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence.
• The job of an editor is not simply to mechanically put pieces of a film
together, cut off film slates or edit dialogue scenes.

3. IMPORTANCE OF EDITING TECHNIQUES
• As Francis Ford Coppola who said, “The essence of cinema is editing.” If you’re an aspiring
film editor, you know your craft matters — and you know it also matters how you speak and think
about your craft.
• Good editing can help a movie move at a good pace suiting the story and establishing a proper engagement with its
audiences.
• When scenes are edited well emotions, tensions and mystery can be colligated in the right shot. Good editing can turn a sad
scene into a high-voltage drama showing the emotions in full light.

4. IMPORTANCE OF EDITING TECHNIQUES
CONTINUE...
Here are Some benefits of following a good editing process, or having a good editor:
• Ensures your written message matches what you were trying to say.
• Helps to condense and improve the efficiency of your writing.
• Questions your flow of thoughts, ensuring there's good logic.

5. USES OF EDITING TECHNIQUES
• The purpose of editing is to continue or illuminate significance to a scene or story . It is also referenced as creating
different moods and atmosphere, this could be done through pace of shots, three way
• colour correction
• fades and other editing techniques.
• Editing techniques are used in basic graphics, videography, films and designs to enhance and create targetted
changes in the content you want to edit.
• The editing techniques are used to make a content interesting by any ways, either visual or
sound effects.

6. USES CONTINUE...
• Editing technique have always been helpful in maintaining the balance of sound
and The visuals to be played in the movies, dramas or other kind of visual
content.
• The editing techniques are used to remove cliches and little errs in the visual
content to be edited and removed.
• Editing techniques also have an important role in the Mass communication for
the presentation of the news stories and other content.

7. SOME USEFUL EDITING TECHNIQUES
The following are some fundamental digital editing terms that editors should know: your concise guide to
an editing vocabulary.
• Cut
A transition where one shot is instantly followed by another.
• Continuity Editing
Visual editing where shots are cut together in a clear and linear flow of uninterrupted action. This type of cutting
seeks to maintain a continuous sense of time and space.
• Continuity Error
When the action or elements of a scene don’t match across shots. For example, when a character breaks a glass
window but in a later shot the window is shown undamaged.

8. EDITING TECHNIQUES CONTINUE...
• Cross Cutting
Technique used to give the illusion that two story lines of action are happening at the same time by rapidly
cutting back and forth between them.
• Cutaway
The interruption of a continuously filmed action with a shot that’s peripherally related to the principal
action.
• Dissolve
When the end of one shot overlaps the start of the next one to create a gradual scene transition.

9. EDITING TECHNIQUES CONTINUE...
• Editing
The process of taking raw footage to select and combine shots to create a complete motion picture.
• Establishing Shot
A shot that gives viewers an idea of where the scene is taking place. These usually involve a shot from a long distance, such as a bird’s eye view.
• Eyeline Match
A technique based on the idea that viewers want to see what on-screen characters are seeing. For example, if a character is looking intently at an
off-screen object, the following shot will be of that object.
• Fade
A visual effect used to indicate a change in place and time. This involves a gradual brightening as a shot opens or a gradual darkening as the shot
goes black or to another color. Sound also fades in and out to convey the change.
• Iris
A wipe that takes the shape of a shrinking or growing circle, depending on if the scene is opening or ending. Rarely used today but very common
during the silent era.

10. EDITING TECHNIQUES CONTINUE...
• J Cuts and L Cuts
An editing technique that allows the audience to first hear audio from a shot, and then see it. An editing changeover between one shot and
another in film, where the visual and audio shift at different times. Also called a split edit
• Jump Cut
An abrupt cut that creates a lack of continuity between shots by leaving out parts of the action.
• Matched Cut
A cut joining two shots with matching compositional elements. This helps to establish strong continuity of action. One of the more notable
examples of this technique is from a famous scene in “2001: A Space Odyssey..
• Montage
A sequence of shots assembled in juxtaposition of one another to create an emotional impact, condense a story, or convey an idea. A famous
example is “Psycho’s” shower scene.
• Roll
Graphics or text that moves up or down the screen. This technique is typically used for credits by having text move from bottom to top.

11. EDITING TECHNIQUES CONTINUE...
• Sequence Shot
A long take composed of one shot that extends for an entire scene or sequence. Usually requires complex camera
movements and action. Here is a notable example from GoodFellas. (This isn’t a term that is particularly important
for an editor to know.)
• Shot Reverse Shot
The alternating of over-the-shoulder-shots, usually used during a conversation between two characters.
• Sweetening
The process of adding sound effects and music and/or enhancing the existing audio with effects.
• Wipe
The transition from one shot to another with a visible pattern or element. No longer used in today’s films but very
common in early cinema.