Motion transitions

Make the handoff arise from the two shots and the edit's momentum. Build an editable transition or paired clip treatment; do not substitute a purchased effect and change only its duration or exposed controls.

Decide whether the seam should move

Keep the cut when motion adds no meaning. Use a custom transition when it reinforces a location change, energetic beat, graphic match, camera direction, or deliberate interruption. Study the outgoing and incoming frames together: subject position, dominant edge, camera motion, luminance, and available negative space should determine the transition axis and energy.

Choose one primary handoff:

• Directional travel: both shots appear to continue through the same screen-space vector.
• Push and replace: the outgoing frame yields as the incoming frame occupies its space.
• Scale handoff: zoom toward a compatible detail or pull back to reveal a new context.
• Rotational handoff: use only when circular movement, a spin, or the graphic language supports it.
• Impact handoff: a short elastic or bounce response lands on a beat.

Shape continuity

Place the fastest movement over the seam and give both sides compatible velocity. Build anticipation only when the shot has room for it. An elastic response should overshoot once and settle; a bounce should visibly contact a boundary or beat rather than float. Keep the subject readable immediately before and after the handoff.