# Light leak on the cut

Edit / Transition / Cards and finish. Checked 2026-11-13.

A film flash covers the cut and gives it warmth.

- Use when: Lifestyle montages, a change of chapter.
- Phrase: a warm light leak builds over the cut, opaque at its midpoint, about 20 frames long
- Page: https://directorchair.ai/transition/light-leak-cut
- JSON: https://directorchair.ai/api/transition/light-leak-cut.json

## Watch out

- Tested on 26 Oct 2026: with a screen blend the leak is strong on dark scenes and only a faint warm wash on light grounds. Hiding a cut on a light scene needs a full colour flash. (measured; Director Chair field notes on motion graphics)

## Prompts

### Seedance 2.5

```
Scene: [your subject] in [your setting].
Shot 1 (0:00 to 0:05): one continuous shot. Cut: a warm light leak builds over the cut, opaque at its midpoint, about 20 frames long
```

### Seedance 2.0

```
Scene: [your subject] in [your setting].
Shot 1: one continuous shot. Cut: a warm light leak builds over the cut, opaque at its midpoint, about 20 frames long
```

### Kling 3.0

```
[your subject]. The scene is [your setting]. A warm light leak builds over the cut, opaque at its midpoint, about 20 frames long.
```

### Veo 3.1

```
[your subject] in [your setting]. A warm light leak builds over the cut, opaque at its midpoint, about 20 frames long. Framing and subject stay as in the start image.
```

## Goes well with

- Halation, vignette and grain: https://directorchair.ai/effect/film-finish
- Hard cut: https://directorchair.ai/transition/hard-cut

## Source

Own words from Director Chair field notes on motion graphics

Text CC BY 4.0, Director Chair (directorchair.ai). Reference clips and their card texts belong to their makers.