Dissolve, Wipe, Fade

Dissolve

Also known as mix, cross dissolve, or cross fade. It’s the most commonly used transitions from one shot to another.

Dissolve is the effect that, while the first shot gradually disappears, the second shot becomes more and more visible.

Dissolve is not only another way to change shot, it has different meaning and function from cut.

Wipe

One shot replaces another following a 2-dimension pattern.

Almost all video editing software provide pre-defined wipe patterns. You adjust the duration of overlapping between two shots, then just choose and apply a wipe pattern to the transition. Done.

With the ability of manipulating clips, you can create your own wipe pattern.

Fade

Fade is eventually a dissolve between normal image shot and black screen. When you dissolve from image to black, it’s a fade out. When dissolving from black to image, it’s called fade in.

Video Dissolve, Wipe, Fade - Video Editing Glossary & Terms

Dissolve, Wipe, Fade