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Video Editing Glossary

25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Video Editing.

Showing 25 of 25 terms

The primary footage in a video production, typically featuring the main subject, interview, or action.

Related:B-RollFootageInterview

The proportional relationship between the width and height of a video frame, such as 16:9 or 4:3.

Related:ResolutionFrameLetterboxing

The process of combining and balancing multiple audio tracks (dialogue, music, effects) into a final cohesive sound mix.

Related:Sound DesignAudio DuckingLevels

The amount of data encoded per second in a video or audio file, directly affecting quality and file size.

Related:CodecCompressionQuality

A technique for compositing two images by removing a specific color (usually green or blue) from one layer to reveal another behind it.

Related:Green ScreenCompositingKeying

A compressor-decompressor algorithm that encodes video or audio data for efficient storage and decodes it for playback.

Related:H.264ProResContainer Format

The technical process of adjusting color, exposure, and white balance for accuracy and consistency across shots.

Related:Color GradingWhite BalanceExposure

The creative application of color treatments to establish the visual mood, tone, and style of a video.

Related:Color CorrectionLUTColor Wheel

The process of combining visual elements from multiple sources into a single image, creating the illusion that they exist together.

Related:Chroma KeyLayeringVisual Effects

A transition where one shot gradually blends into the next, often indicating passage of time or a shift in location.

Related:FadeTransitionHard Cut

The process of outputting the completed edit as a final video file in a specified format, resolution, and codec.

Related:RenderingEncodingDelivery

The art of creating and recording everyday sound effects in post-production to enhance the audio realism of a video.

Related:Sound DesignSFXAudio Post-Production

The number of individual frames displayed per second in a video, affecting the perception of motion smoothness.

Related:FPSSlow MotionShutter Speed

A green backdrop used during filming to enable chroma key compositing, allowing the background to be replaced in post-production.

Related:Chroma KeyCompositingVFX

An editing technique where the audio from the incoming clip begins before its video appears, creating a smooth audio-leading transition.

Related:L-CutSplit EditAudio Transition

A defined point on the timeline where a specific parameter value is set, enabling animation between keyframes through interpolation.

Related:AnimationMotionInterpolation

A graphic overlay placed in the lower portion of the frame, typically displaying a person's name, title, or other identifying information.

Related:Motion GraphicsTitleGraphics Overlay

Look-Up Table; a predefined color transformation applied to footage for color space conversion or creative grading.

Related:Color GradingColor SpaceLog Footage

A cut between two shots that are matched by action, composition, or subject matter, creating visual continuity or thematic connection.

Related:Continuity EditingHard CutTransition

A sequence of shots edited together, often set to music, to condense time, convey information, or build emotion.

Related:SequencePacingSoviet Montage Theory

A lower-resolution copy of footage used for editing performance, replaced with original full-resolution media before final export.

Related:Offline EditingOnline EditingTranscoding

The pixel dimensions of a video frame, determining the level of detail and sharpness in the image.

Related:4K1080pPixel

The ambient sound of a recording location captured without dialogue, used to fill gaps and maintain audio continuity during editing.

Related:Ambient SoundAudio EditingSound Design

The primary workspace in an NLE where clips are arranged on tracks in sequential order to construct the edit.

Related:NLETrackSequence

A visual representation of audio signal amplitude over time, used to identify volume levels, peaks, and silence in audio clips.

Related:Audio LevelsPeakClipping
Video Editing Glossary - Key Terms & Definitions | PiqCue