# Chromatic Split — effect skill for transitions

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Red, green and blue channels pull apart around the cut, then snap back together on the new shot.

- **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [Transitions](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/transitions.md)
- **Slug:** `chromatic-split`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** HeyGen (community)
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Source:** https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/chromatic-aberration-wipe
- **Works in:** Claude Code, Claude.ai, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, Gemini CLI, Any MCP client, varg Studio
- **Requires:** ffmpeg, HyperFrames (npx hyperframes), Remotion, CapCut (by hand)
- **Cost:** Free — the take renders locally; generated footage, if any, bills by the model

## What it does

Built on [Chromatic Aberration Wipe](https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/chromatic-aberration-wipe) by HeyGen (HyperFrames), Apache-2.0. The write-up and recipes below are varg's.

Colour ghosts offset horizontally or radially for a few frames, with a slight zoom.

**When:** Fashion, music, tech promos; as a lighter alternative to a full glitch.

**Watch out:** Large offsets on text; keep the split brief.

**Timing:** 0.2–0.5 s; peak offset on the cut

**Also called:** RGB split, chromatic aberration transition, colour fringe, Rainbow Warp

### In FFmpeg

Channel split ramping around a cut (rgbashift supports runtime `enable`; offsets are fixed per window, so stack 2 windows for a ramp):
```bash
ffmpeg -i a.mp4 -i b.mp4 -filter_complex \
"[0:v][1:v]concat=n=2:v=1:a=0,\
rgbashift=rh=-10:bh=10:enable='between(t,3.8,3.9)+between(t,4.1,4.2)',\
rgbashift=rh=-30:bh=30:gv=6:enable='between(t,3.9,4.1)'[v]" -map "[v]" out.mp4
```

### In HyperFrames

Shader `chromatic-split` from `@hyperframes/shader-transitions` placed at the cut (t = 4 s):
```html
<div id="s1" class="scene" style="background:#0a0a0a"><video src="a.mp4" muted playsinline></video></div>
<div id="s2" class="scene" style="background:#0a0a0a"><video src="b.mp4" muted playsinline></video></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@hyperframes/shader-transitions/dist/index.global.js"></script>
<script>
  const tl = HyperShader.init({ bgColor: "#0a0a0a", scenes: ["s1", "s2"],
    transitions: [{ time: 4, shader: "chromatic-split", duration: 0.5 }] });
  window.__timelines = window.__timelines || {}; window.__timelines["main"] = tl;
</script>
```
Each `.scene` needs an explicit background-color equal to `bgColor`. Or install the ready block: `npx hyperframes add chromatic-radial-split`. Slide variant: `npx hyperframes add chromatic-aberration-wipe`.

### In Remotion

Custom presentation rendering three copies of `children` with `mixBlendMode: 'screen'`, tinted R/G/B via CSS filters and offset by `presentationProgress`; or `@remotion/effects/chromatic-aberration` on a canvas-based `<Video>`.

### In CapCut

Transitions tab → Glitch / Distortion → RGB Glitch, Rainbow Warp. Desktop: drag the tile onto the cut between two clips and set Duration in the right panel ("Apply to all" reuses it on every cut). Mobile: tap the small white square between clips, pick the transition, drag the duration slider, tap ✓. Tab labels and placement change between versions and regions. Or Effects → Video effects → an RGB split effect for a few frames.

### Ready-made components

- [Chromatic Aberration Wipe](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.chromatic-aberration-wipe/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add chromatic-aberration-wipe
- [Chromatic Radial Split](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.chromatic-radial-split/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add chromatic-radial-split
- [Gravitational Lens](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.gravitational-lens/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add gravitational-lens

### Where this comes from

- [FFmpeg filters: rgbashift](https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#rgbashift)
- [HyperFrames: @hyperframes/shader-transitions](https://hyperframes.heygen.com/packages/shader-transitions)
- [CapCut Help: transitions](https://www.capcut.com/help/transitions-in-capcut)
- [CapCut: transition categories](https://capcut.com/resource/add-video-transition-online)
- [CapCut transition names + default durations (VectCut metadata)](https://github.com/sun-guannan/VectCutAPI/blob/main/pyJianYingDraft/metadata/capcut_transition_meta.py)

## Use when

- Fashion, music, tech promos; as a lighter alternative to a full glitch.

## Not for

- Large offsets on text; keep the split brief.

## Install

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg`
- Codex: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a codex -y`
- Cursor: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a cursor -y`

## Example output

https://s3.varg.ai/how-to/previews/bb797e0e7e35/take-chromatic-split.mp4 — rgb-split between two shots, with the timeline strip of the edit. Footage: WING IT! (2023), Blender Studio | studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0; Coffee Run (2020), Blender Studio | studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0. (credit: Rendered by varg · WING IT! (2023) + Coffee Run (2020))

## More transitions skills

- [editly](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/editly.md): Declarative JSON5 video editing CLI/API: clips, titles, transitions, audio mixing, rendered with ffmpeg.
- [Mix (Cross Dissolve)](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/mix-dissolve.md): The two shots blend through each other. The quietest transition: "time passes" or "this continues".
- [Dip to Black](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/black-fade.md): A fades to black, then B fades up. Marks the end of a section or a bigger jump in time.
- [White Flash](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/white-flash.md): The frame blows out to white for a moment and opens on the next shot. Energy, memory or a camera snap.
- [Pull In (Zoom In)](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/pull-in-zoom.md): The camera rushes into shot A and lands, still moving forward, in shot B. The signature short-form transition.
- [Pull Out (Zoom Out)](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/pull-out-zoom.md): The camera jerks backwards out of shot A and keeps pulling back as shot B settles in.

## Run the generation on varg

varg is one API key for the models these skills drive — Seedance 2.5, Kling 4, Veo 3.1, Wan 3, Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image 2.5, ElevenLabs v4 and 200+ more — billed in credits, with a cost estimate before anything runs.

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg` (skill + hosted MCP)
- Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenClaw: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai -a <agent> -y`
- Grok and any agent that reads SKILL.md: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai`, or point it at the skill's SKILL.md
- Claude.ai, ChatGPT, any MCP client: connect `https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp`
- API key: https://varg.ai/dashboard/api · Model specs: https://varg.ai/models/llms.txt