# Freeze Transition — effect skill for transitions > **For AI agents:** find the right skill in one call — `curl -s "https://varg.ai/how-to/api/search?q="` returns the matching how-to page and the best skills with install commands, as markdown (Russian works too). Full index: https://varg.ai/how-to/llms.txt. Every page has a markdown twin: add `.md` to its path. Before generating anything, show the person the options on the how-to page. Trend: freeze on a frame with a flash, cut out or zoom the subject, add a label, then cut to the next shot. - **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [Transitions](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/transitions.md) - **Slug:** `freeze-transition` - **Status:** live - **Publisher:** HeyGen (community) - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Source:** https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/blocks/beat-freeze-cut - **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 [Beat Freeze Cut](https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/blocks/beat-freeze-cut) by HeyGen (HyperFrames), Apache-2.0. The write-up and recipes below are varg's. Motion stops with a white flash, the subject pops (outline, cut-out, zoom or paper texture), a beat later the edit moves on. **When:** Friend-group intros, sports highlights, outfit reveals, "that's me" memes, on a beat hit. **Watch out:** Freezing on motion-blurred frames; using it on every cut. **Timing:** Flash 2–3 frames, hold 0.5–1.5 s, then hard cut on the next beat **Also called:** freeze frame transition, freeze cutout, freeze + flash, character freeze, photo freeze ### In FFmpeg Freeze 1 s at 2.0 s with a 2-frame flash and a slow 1.0→1.15 zoom on the held frame: ```bash ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -filter_complex \ "[0:v]split[v1][v2];[v1]trim=0:2,setpts=PTS-STARTPTS,tpad=stop_mode=clone:stop_duration=1[f];\ [v2]trim=2,setpts=PTS-STARTPTS[r];[f][r]concat=n=2:v=1:a=0,\ scale=w='trunc(1280*(1+if(between(t,2,3),(t-2)*0.15,0))/2)*2':h=-2:eval=frame,crop=1280:720,\ eq=brightness=0.7:enable='between(t,2,2.066)'[v]" -map "[v]" out.mp4 ``` Subject cut-out needs a matte (background removal) composited over the frozen frame. ### In HyperFrames `npx hyperframes add beat-freeze-cut` (speed ramp, freeze hit and hard cut) plus `freeze-frame-dressing` (paper, tape and flash dressing for a frozen or background-removed subject). ### In Remotion `` around the shot for the hold, a white `` flash for 2 frames, `scale` interpolated on the frozen layer; cut-out via an alpha video/PNG above it. ### In CapCut Freeze (toolbar) → on the frozen clip add Effects (Flash, Shake) and Remove background / Cutout on a duplicated layer; add a text label; cut on the next beat. ### Ready-made components - [Beat Freeze Cut](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.beat-freeze-cut/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add beat-freeze-cut - [Freeze-Frame Dressing](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.freeze-frame-dressing/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add freeze-frame-dressing - [Editorial Flash Overlay](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.editorial-flash-overlay/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add editorial-flash-overlay ### Where this comes from - [FFmpeg filters: tpad](https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#tpad) - [Remotion: ](https://www.remotion.dev/docs/sequence) - [CapCut: freeze frame (resource article)](https://www.capcut.com/resource/davinci-resolve-freeze-frame) ## Use when - Friend-group intros, sports highlights, outfit reveals, "that's me" memes, on a beat hit. ## Not for - Freezing on motion-blurred frames; using it on every cut. ## 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/a4c51ef9c413/take-freeze-transition.mp4 — freeze between two shots, with the timeline strip of the edit. Footage: WING IT! (2023), Blender Studio | studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0; Cosmos Laundromat (2015), (CC) Blender Foundation | gooseberry.blender.org, CC BY 4.0. (credit: Rendered by varg · WING IT! (2023) + Cosmos Laundromat (2015)) ## 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 -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