Morph cut

모프 컷

Interpolation between nearly matching shots softens the jump of an edit.

Also known as: Morph edit
···
html
<div class="frame">
  <div class="portrait"><i class="head"><b class="eye left"></b><b class="eye right"></b><b class="mouth"></b></i><i class="shoulders"></i></div>
  <div class="label">SAME FRAME <span>·</span> NEW TAKE</div>
  <div class="track"><i></i><b>A</b><b>B</b></div>
</div>
css
.frame{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(160deg,#dbe3d7,#b1c7bd)}
.portrait{position:absolute;inset:4% 22% 19%;display:grid;place-items:center}
.head{position:absolute;top:10%;width:clamp(58px,32vmin,170px);aspect-ratio:.83;border-radius:46% 46% 42% 42%/40% 40% 52% 52%;background:linear-gradient(145deg,#dca87f,#ab6f58);animation:shape 3.6s ease-in-out infinite}
.head .eye{position:absolute;top:39%;left:24%;width:10%;height:3%;border-radius:50%;background:var(--fg);animation:blink 3.6s ease-in-out infinite}
.head .right{left:auto;right:24%}
.mouth{position:absolute;left:39%;top:65%;width:22%;height:5%;border-radius:50%;background:#713f3a;animation:mouth 3.6s ease-in-out infinite}
.shoulders{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:clamp(120px,64vmin,340px);height:43%;border-radius:50% 50% 0 0;background:var(--accent-2)}
.label{position:absolute;left:6%;top:7%;font:700 clamp(8px,2.2vmin,12px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.1em;color:var(--fg)}
.label span{color:var(--accent)}
.track{position:absolute;left:7%;right:7%;bottom:6%;height:10%;border-top:1px solid var(--line);display:flex;justify-content:space-between;color:var(--fg);font:700 clamp(8px,2vmin,11px) ui-monospace,monospace}
.track i{position:absolute;top:-2px;left:0;width:2px;height:100%;background:var(--accent);animation:cursor 3.6s linear infinite}
@keyframes shape{0%,34%{border-radius:46% 46% 42% 42%/40% 40% 52% 52%;transform:rotate(-2deg)}52%{border-radius:49% 43% 44% 39%/43% 36% 48% 55%;transform:rotate(2deg)}72%,100%{border-radius:44% 48% 40% 45%/37% 45% 55% 49%;transform:rotate(0)}}
@keyframes mouth{0%,34%{transform:scaleX(.72) translateY(0)}52%{transform:scaleX(1.2) translateY(2px)}72%,100%{transform:scaleX(.8) translateY(0)}}
@keyframes blink{0%,43%,50%,100%{transform:scaleY(1)}46%{transform:scaleY(.12)}}
@keyframes cursor{from{left:0}to{left:100%}}

It joins two talking shots made from nearly the same position so a skipped moment seems to melt together. The face or expression may briefly warp.

Join similarly framed clips and apply a morph correction offered by some editing tools. It estimates motion between frames and interpolates them, so choose an edit where faces and hands do not overlap awkwardly.

Morph cut is a feature name in some editing tools, and naming or support varies by tool. If the background or subject changes too much, distortion becomes obvious; use a short dissolve or leave the jump instead.

When to use

Try it when trimming a talking shot but softening the visual jump. If the face or background bends, remove the correction.

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