Transition effect where a sharp geometric edge sweeps across the frame, progressively revealing the new shot while obscuring the previous one.
Technical Details
Classic wipes operate with basic geometric shapes: horizontal or vertical lines, circles, stars, or iris effects. The duration is typically between 12-48 frames, corresponding to 0.5-2 seconds at 24fps. Modern NLE systems offer over 200 wipe variations, including complex 3D transitions and organic shapes. In the analog era, wipes were created using masks (mattes) in an optical printer or through special trick mixers. Digitally, the calculation is performed in real-time via alpha channels and transition masks.
The three main categories include: Push-wipes (new image pushes the old one away), Reveal-wipes (new image is uncovered), and Split-wipes (both images move).
History & Development
Georges Méliès already used primitive wipes in 1902 by covering the lens. Wipes reached technical perfection in the 1930s through Linwood Dunn at RKO, who revolutionized the optical printer. Orson Welles used 174 different transitions in "Citizen Kane" in 1941, including spectacular wipe combinations.
The Star Wars saga, starting in 1977, popularized wipes as a deliberate stylistic device of pulp aesthetics – George Lucas used over 60 wipes as a homage to the serials of the 1930s. With Avid (1989) and digital editing systems, complex wipes became accessible for all productions.
Practical Use in Film
Wipes usually signal significant changes in time or location. Akira Kurosawa used horizontal wipes for epic landscape transitions in "Yojimbo" (1961). Brian De Palma perfected the split-screen wipe in "Carrie" (1976) for simultaneous plotlines.
In the digital workflow, wipes are inserted during the fine cut phase but require handles of at least 1-2 seconds per shot. Rendering time for complex 3D wipes increases 8-15 times compared to hard cuts.
Comparison & Alternatives
Wipes differ from dissolves by their hard dividing edge and from morphs by the absence of image distortion. While dissolves suggest continuity, wipes emphasize the break between scenes.
In modern editing, conspicuous wipes are considered antiquated – except for deliberate retro aesthetics or genre films. Subtle wipes like lens whips or motivated camera movements often replace classic geometric shapes today. Motion graphics and compositing software enable seamless transitions that combine wipe principles with natural movements.