# Split and Slices — effect skill for transitions

> **For AI agents:** find the right skill in one call — `curl -s "https://varg.ai/how-to/api/search?q=<what the person wants>"` 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.

The frame breaks into bars that slide apart or open like doors, revealing the next shot.

- **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [Transitions](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/transitions.md)
- **Slug:** `split-slices`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** gre · GL Transitions (community)
- **License:** MIT
- **Source:** https://github.com/gl-transitions/gl-transitions/blob/master/transitions/Doorway.glsl
- **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 [Doorway](https://github.com/gl-transitions/gl-transitions/blob/master/transitions/Doorway.glsl) by gre (gl-transitions), MIT. The write-up and recipes below are varg's.

Two or more panels (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) move away from each other with B behind.

**When:** Tech, sport and editorial pieces; section openers.

**Watch out:** Many thin slices on detailed footage turn into visual noise.

**Timing:** 0.4–0.6 s (CapCut Split/Slices 0.47 s), power3.inOut

**Also called:** Split, Split III, Split IV, Horizontal Slice, Vertical Slices, Diagonal Slices, Open Horizontally, Open Vertically

### In FFmpeg

Same size/fps/pixel format on both inputs (see the Normalize card). offset = duration(A) - T = 5.0 - 0.5 = 4.5.
```bash
ffmpeg -i a.mp4 -i b.mp4 -filter_complex \
"[0:v]fps=30,settb=AVTB,format=yuv420p[a];[1:v]fps=30,settb=AVTB,format=yuv420p[b];\
[a][b]xfade=transition=vertopen:duration=0.5:offset=4.5[v];\
[0:a][1:a]acrossfade=d=0.5[au]" \
  -map "[v]" -map "[au]" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a aac out.mp4
```
Doors: vertopen/vertclose/horzopen/horzclose. Staggered slices: hlslice, hrslice, vuslice, vdslice.

### In HyperFrames

Block `transitions-mechanical` / `transitions-grid`; GL: `Doorway` (splits and swings open).

### In Remotion

Custom presentation: render `children` twice, each clipped to half (`clipPath: inset(0 50% 0 0)` / `inset(0 0 0 50%)`), translating ±50% by `presentationProgress` on the exiting side.

### In CapCut

Transitions tab → Split → Split, Split III, Split IV, Horizontal Slice, Vertical Slices, Diagonal Slices, Open Horizontally, Open Vertically. 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.

### Ready-made components

- [Doorway](https://skills.varg.ai/component/glt.doorway/) (gl-transitions): npm install gl-transitions
- [Mechanical Transitions](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.transitions-mechanical/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add transitions-mechanical
- [Grid Transitions](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.transitions-grid/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add transitions-grid
- [Mondrian Split](https://skills.varg.ai/component/remocn.mondrian-split/) (remocn): npx shadcn@latest add @remocn/mondrian-split

### Where this comes from

- [FFmpeg filters: xfade](https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#xfade)
- [Remotion: custom presentations](https://www.remotion.dev/docs/transitions/presentations/custom)
- [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

- Tech, sport and editorial pieces; section openers.

## Not for

- Many thin slices on detailed footage turn into visual noise.

## 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/d368426264f8/take-split-slices.mp4 — vertopen between two shots, with the timeline strip of the edit. Footage: Coffee Run (2020), Blender Studio | studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0; WING IT! (2023), Blender Studio | studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0. (credit: Rendered by varg · Coffee Run (2020) + WING IT! (2023))

## 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