Video Editing Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Video Editing distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/video-editing/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Nonlinear Editing (NLE)

A method of video editing where footage can be accessed and rearranged in any order on a digital timeline without altering the original source files, allowing for nondestructive and flexible workflows.

Cut and Transition Types

The various methods of moving from one shot to another, including hard cuts (instant switch), dissolves (gradual blend), wipes, fades, and other transitions that convey meaning about time, location, or mood changes.

Color Correction and Grading

Color correction normalizes footage to accurate, consistent colors across shots, while color grading applies stylistic color treatments to establish mood, tone, or visual identity for the project.

Audio Mixing and Sound Design

The process of balancing, enhancing, and layering dialogue, music, sound effects, and ambient audio to create a cohesive and immersive audio experience that supports the visual narrative.

Continuity Editing

A style of editing designed to maintain a smooth, seamless flow of action across shots, preserving spatial and temporal coherence so the audience remains absorbed in the story without noticing cuts.

Codec and Container Format

A codec (compressor-decompressor) encodes and decodes video data to reduce file size, while a container format (such as MP4, MOV, or MKV) packages the video, audio, and metadata streams together.

Frame Rate and Resolution

Frame rate is the number of individual frames displayed per second (fps), affecting motion smoothness, while resolution refers to the pixel dimensions of the video, determining image sharpness and detail.

Keyframing

The technique of setting specific parameter values at defined points in time, allowing properties like position, scale, opacity, or audio volume to animate smoothly between those points.

B-Roll

Supplementary footage that is intercut with the primary footage (A-roll) to provide visual variety, context, or illustration and to cover cuts or transitions in the main content.

Export and Rendering

The process of compiling all edits, effects, transitions, and audio into a final video file by processing (rendering) each frame according to the project settings and chosen output format.

Key Terms at a Glance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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