Wipe

What is Wipe?

A wipe is a transition in which the incoming shot moves across the frame in a specific direction or shape, replacing the outgoing shot as it travels. The movement can go up, down, left, right, or follow a geometric path, and is often used to shift between parallel storylines or locations.

When you'd use it

1. 1When moving between two parallel storylines or locations and you want to signal a geographic shift.
2. 2When the content has a graphic or designed aesthetic that a directional transition reinforces.
3. 3When cutting between segments in a listicle or tutorial format where each section is distinct.
4. 4When a split-screen reveal or side-by-side comparison is built into the transition itself.

Example

A creator doing a side-by-side product comparison uses a vertical wipe from left to right to move from Brand A's clip to Brand B's, reinforcing the comparison structure visually.

Use cases

1. 1Sliding from one product colorway to the next across the frame in a product-range video.
2. 2Transitioning between tutorial steps with a left-to-right wipe that matches the reading direction.
3. 3Separating two geographic locations in a brand story with a directional wipe.

Related terms