An essential guide to video editing techniques

The world of film editing involves the process of selecting, arranging, and refining shots to create a consistent, engaging story. 

Film editing typically means you’ll be cutting and assembling footage on a timeline (using software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve), adjusting timing, adding effects, and ensuring continuity to enhance the film’s narrative and emotional impact. To achieve all of this, there are lots of  different editing techniques that we’ll be taking a closer look at today.

A brief history of film editing

Film editing has come a long way since the beginning of filmmaking in the early 20th century, naturally evolving as the medium has changed. Back in the early days, all movie editing was done manually, splicing together physical strips of film, using scissors and glue (yes, really) to cut and rearrange footage. Some advancements such as the Moviola (1924) and flatbed editors improved efficiency, but the biggest change to editing techniques in film came with the digital revolution.

The transition to digital editing in the 1990s, with software like Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro, revolutionized the industry, enabling faster, more precise edits, complex visual effects, and seamless integration with CGI. This is the system editors know and love today. Of course, the industry never stands still. AI-driven tools and real-time collaboration continue to push the boundaries of storytelling and efficiency in film editing.

Understand film editing techniques

It’s important to understand and master different video editing techniques because it allows you to shape your narrative effectively, enhance your storytelling, and evoke the right emotions in your audience. Techniques like continuity editing ensure smooth scene transitions, while montage editing can compress time and create impact. Meanwhile, skills in jump cuts, match cuts, and cross-cutting can all help maintain pacing and visual interest. 

A professional, well-rounded editor can adapt to many different genres, styles, and creative visions, making their work more engaging and professional. Let’s take a look at the different types of video editing techniques.

What are the different types of editing techniques?

Here is a breakdown of some of the most common, useful movie editing techniques.

Standard cut

The standard cut (also known as a hard cut) is probably the most common and basic type of edit in film editing. It’s a simple transition where one clip immediately follows another without any effects, fades, or transitions. This cut is commonly used to maintain continuity and keep the flow of a scene natural and seamless. See how many you can count in this scene from Oppenheimer (2023).

L cut

An L cut is a film editing technique where the audio from the first clip continues to play over the next clip, even after the video has transitioned. This creates a smooth and natural flow between scenes, often used for dialogue-driven moments, flashbacks, or emotional storytelling. If you’re wondering where the name “L cut” comes from, that’s because of the shape it forms on an editing timeline, where the audio extends beyond the video edit, resembling the letter “L.”

Go back to the Oppenheimer scene above, and you’ll notice how it’s utilized in this dialogue-driven moment. 

J cut

Welcome to the J cut vs. L cut debate. Knowing what the L cut is and why it’s called that, you may have already figured out the J cut. A J cut is the opposite, where the audio from the next scene starts playing over the first clip before the visual transition occurs. This means the audience hears the upcoming scene before they see it, creating a smooth and engaging flow. J cuts are commonly used to establish context, enhance storytelling, and make transitions feel more natural. Because the audio leads into the new scene before the video, it resembles the letter “J” on an editing timeline. 

Match cut

A match cut is a film editing technique that connects two shots by matching their composition, movement, or thematic elements to create a seamless transition. This can be done visually (matching shapes, colors, or actions) or conceptually (linking ideas or symbolism). Famous examples include the bone-to-spaceship transition in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and the match-on-action cuts frequently used in action scenes. Match cuts enhance storytelling, maintain continuity, and add artistic impact to a film.

Cutting on action

Cutting on action is self-explanatory. This is where the editor transitions between shots while a subject is still in motion. This type of edit helps create a smooth, natural flow and maintains visual continuity, making the edit feel seamless. 

A great example of cutting on action can be found throughout the Jason Bourne films, where the action is often portrayed in gritty, realistic detail with lots of cuts on action and shaky camerawork. 

Jump cut

A jump cut is a film editing technique where a single continuous shot is abruptly broken by removing a portion of time, creating a noticeable “jump” in the action. This effect is sometimes used to disrupt continuity and draw attention to the edit, creating a sense of urgency, disorientation, or stylistic flair.

In Hot Fuzz (2007), it’s a case of stylistic flair, while helping to condense what is a long journey of many hours into a matter of seconds, showing the audience that the character has travelled a sizeable distance across the country to a new location.

Transitions (fade in/out, dissolve, wipe)

Transitions are editing techniques used to move from one shot to another smoothly or stylistically.

• Fade in/out: Gradual transitions where a shot fades to or from black (or another color), often used to signify the beginning or end of a scene.
• Dissolve: one shot gradually blends into the next, commonly used to show the passage of time or a connection between scenes.
• Wipe: one shot pushes another off the screen in a directional motion, often seen in older films like the original Star Wars trilogy, to create dynamic transitions.

Parallel editing (cross cut)

Parallel editing (also known as cross-cutting) is a common film editing technique where the editor cuts between two or more scenes that are happening simultaneously in different locations. This creates suspense, draws connections between storylines, or builds tension. Perhaps the most famous example of this is the ending scenes of The Godfather (1972), where Michael Corleone’s baptism is intercut with assassinations, symbolizing his transformation.

Smash cut

A smash cut is a really sudden, abrupt transition between two scenes with stark contrast in tone, emotion, or visuals. Because of its abruptness, it’s often used for shock, surprise, or dramatic effect. For example, a tense, quiet moment might instantly cut to a loud, action-packed scene. In Reservoir Dogs (1992) it’s used to great effect as Mr Pink explains how he “got out of there”.

Invisible cut

An invisible cut is a clever (albeit difficult) editing technique designed to make transitions between shots seamless and unnoticeable, creating the illusion of a single continuous take. Editors will tend to achieve this by hiding cuts in darkness, motion blurs, whip pans, or matching elements within the frame. Films like 1917 (2019) and Birdman (2014) use many invisible cuts to maintain an immersive, uninterrupted flow. This breakdown from VOX below is a brilliant look at how invisible cuts are made.

Split screen

The split screen edit technique displays two or more separate shots within the same frame simultaneously. This allows different events, perspectives, or storylines to unfold at the same time. It is often used for phone conversations, action sequences, or stylistic storytelling. A famous example is Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), where a split screen builds suspense during a hospital scene.

Cutting to music or sound effects (sound bridge)

A sound bridge is an editing technique where audio from one scene carries over into the next, creating a really smooth transition. This can be done by continuing anything from dialogue or music to sound effects, bringing them across cuts to connect scenes thematically or maintain flow. One of the most famous examples of a sound bridge is in Apocalypse Now (1979), where the sound of helicopter blades transitions into the noise of a ceiling fan, blending past and present seamlessly.

Montage

Who doesn’t love a good montage? Montages compress time by showing a series of short shots in sequence, often set to music, to convey information quickly. Montages are used for character development, training sequences, or the passage of time. One of Hollywood’s most famous examples is the training montage in Rocky (1976), where Rocky prepares for his big fight through a series of energetic, fast-paced shots.

Top tips to master these basic video editing techniques

There are a lot of different types of video editing styles, and ultimately, it’s going to come down to what type of film you’re making, and the story you’re trying to tell. Regardless, as a competent professional editor, you’ll want to master all of the editing techniques in film, so that you can be hired for many types of project. Check out the top tips on how to master them below.

Ultimately, mastering the art of how to edit a video comes with a lot of time and practice.

• Analyze films. Study classic and modern films to see how the above techniques are applied. There are examples provided here, but you can find plenty more in every movie you watch. 

• Practice regularly. Use editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve to experiment with these different techniques. The only way to improve a skill is to practice.

• Master the art of timing & pacing. You’ll want to learn how to control rhythm by cutting on action, using J & L cuts, and adjusting shot lengths to enhance flow. 

• Experiment with more advanced techniques. Try working with match cuts, smash cuts, invisible cuts, and sound bridges in your editing workflow. It won’t always work out the first time, but that’s okay.

• Use layers and effects thoughtfully. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes, less is more in editing. Apply split screens and montages to enhance visual storytelling, but do so without overcomplicating the edit.

• Refine your sound design. Audio is a huge part of editing, so perfect your audio transitions with sound bridges, music cues, and layered effects to create immersive experiences.

• Get feedback to improve. It’s important that you share your edits, get critiques, and keep refining your work to develop a professional editing style.

The final cut

There are a lot of different ways to make a film, but all of them will need you to be competent in and confident with the essential video editing techniques mentioned above. The essence of editing is good storytelling. It’s about selecting, arranging, and refining your shots to create a cohesive, engaging, and emotionally impactful narrative. All of the techniques discussed above enable you to achieve this end goal.

Take your time to have fun experimenting with each one, and don’t be afraid to make some mistakes along the way.