L-cut

L 컷

The previous scene’s sound continues briefly after the picture has changed.

Also known as: L editaudio post-lap
···
html
<div class="stage l-demo">
  <div class="monitor">
    <div class="shot speaker"><i class="person"></i><i class="table"></i><span>SHOT A · SPEAKER</span></div>
    <div class="shot listener"><i class="person"></i><i class="table"></i><span>SHOT B · LISTENER</span></div>
    <div class="cue">PICTURE CUT · VOICE CONTINUES</div>
  </div>
  <div class="timeline">
    <div class="track-row"><b>PICTURE</b><div class="lane"><i class="clip video-a">A · SPEAKER</i><i class="clip video-b">B · REACTION</i><i class="cut"></i><i class="playhead"></i></div></div>
    <div class="track-row"><b>AUDIO A</b><div class="lane"><i class="clip voice waveform">DIALOGUE</i><i class="cut"></i><i class="playhead"></i></div></div>
    <div class="track-row"><b>AUDIO B</b><div class="lane"><i class="clip room-tone waveform">ROOM TONE</i><i class="cut"></i><i class="playhead"></i></div></div>
    <div class="note"><i></i> A VOICE HOLDS AFTER THE PICTURE CUT</div>
  </div>
</div>
css
.l-demo{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;background:var(--bg)}
.monitor{position:absolute;inset:5% 6% 55%;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.shot{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;padding:8px;color:#fff;font:700 clamp(8px,1vw,12px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.08em}
.speaker{background:linear-gradient(120deg,#394b51,#957454 52%,#403b36);animation:speaker-shot 4s steps(1,end) infinite}
.listener{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#425d62,#7b8c78 58%,#a68c69);opacity:0;animation:listener-shot 4s steps(1,end) infinite}
.person{position:absolute;left:42%;top:24%;width:17%;aspect-ratio:1;border-radius:50%;background:#d5ad86;box-shadow:0 42px 0 17px #263c43}
.listener .person{left:60%;top:31%;width:15%;background:#c99b73;box-shadow:0 38px 0 15px #344640}
.table{position:absolute;left:10%;right:10%;bottom:6%;height:15%;border-radius:50% 50% 0 0;background:#342f2a;opacity:.8}
.shot span{position:absolute;left:10px;bottom:8px;text-shadow:0 1px 4px #000}
.cue{position:absolute;right:8px;top:8px;padding:4px 6px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface);color:var(--fg);font:700 clamp(7px,.9vw,11px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.04em;opacity:0;animation:cue 4s linear infinite}
.timeline{position:absolute;left:6%;right:6%;top:49%;bottom:6%;display:grid;grid-template-rows:repeat(3,minmax(0,1fr)) auto;gap:4px}
.track-row{display:grid;grid-template-columns:clamp(50px,8vw,96px) 1fr;gap:6px;align-items:stretch;min-height:0}
.track-row>b{display:flex;align-items:center;color:var(--muted);font:700 clamp(7px,1vw,11px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.07em}
.lane{position:relative;overflow:visible;min-width:0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.clip{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;display:flex;align-items:center;overflow:hidden;padding:0 5px;white-space:nowrap;color:var(--fg);font:700 clamp(7px,1vw,12px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.025em}
.video-a{left:0;width:43%;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.video-b{left:43%;width:57%;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.voice{left:0;width:64%;border:1px solid var(--accent);background:var(--surface)}
.room-tone{left:43%;width:57%;border:1px solid var(--accent-2);background:var(--surface)}
.waveform:after{content:"";position:absolute;inset:27% 4px;background:repeating-linear-gradient(90deg,transparent 0 4px,currentColor 4px 5px,transparent 5px 8px);opacity:.34;pointer-events:none}
.voice:after{color:var(--accent)}.room-tone:after{color:var(--accent-2)}
.cut{position:absolute;z-index:2;left:43%;top:-2px;bottom:-2px;width:1px;background:var(--fg);opacity:.72}
.playhead{position:absolute;z-index:3;top:-3px;bottom:-3px;left:0;width:2px;background:var(--accent);animation:playhead 4s linear infinite}
.note{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;color:var(--muted);font:700 clamp(7px,1vw,11px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.04em}
.note i{width:7px;aspect-ratio:1;border-radius:50%;background:var(--accent);animation:blink 4s linear infinite}
@keyframes speaker-shot{0%,42.9%{opacity:1}43%,100%{opacity:0}}
@keyframes listener-shot{0%,42.9%{opacity:0}43%,100%{opacity:1}}
@keyframes cue{0%,39%{opacity:0}44%,63%{opacity:1}70%,100%{opacity:0}}
@keyframes playhead{from{left:0}to{left:100%}}
@keyframes blink{0%,39%,69%,100%{opacity:.35}46%,62%{opacity:1}}

The picture moves to a listener’s reaction while the previous speaker’s words carry on for a moment. That remaining voice acts like a bridge and keeps the two images from feeling disconnected.

On the timeline, cut the outgoing picture first but extend its audio past the edit point. Start the incoming scene’s audio at the picture cut or a little later.

An L-cut lets the previous shot’s sound continue after the picture changes. A J-cut does the reverse: the next shot’s sound starts early. Check the dialogue and reaction so the lingering voice does not seem to belong to the person now on screen.

When to use

Use it in dialogue when you want to show the listener’s face or action before the speaker has finished. Keep the line’s aftertaste, but do not delay the new scene’s sound too long.

Open as page ↗

Suggest an entry

Tell us about a film term or effect that’s missing. We review each suggestion.