# Squeeze and Stretch — effect skill for transitions

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A is squashed or stretched toward an edge or the centre and B springs out the same way.

- **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [Transitions](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/transitions.md)
- **Slug:** `squeeze-stretch`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** HeyGen (community)
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Source:** https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/rubber-band-bumper
- **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 [Rubber Band Bumper](https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/rubber-band-bumper) by HeyGen (HyperFrames), Apache-2.0. The write-up and recipes below are varg's.

Rubbery scaling along one axis, like the image being sucked in or pulled like elastic.

**When:** Playful, cartoonish and meme edits; app UI demos.

**Watch out:** Live-action people in serious contexts; the distortion is comic.

**Timing:** 0.4–1.2 s (CapCut Squeeze 0.47 s, Stretch 1.2 s, Inhale 0.6 s)

**Also called:** Squeeze, Stretch, Stretch Left, Stretch Right, Inhale, Shaky Inhale, elastic transition

### 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=squeezev: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
```
`squeezeh` squeezes horizontally.

### In HyperFrames

Squeeze from the push family: tween `#s1` `scaleX: 1→0` (transformOrigin left) and `#s2` `scaleX: 0→1` (transformOrigin right); elastic: `rubber-band-bumper`.

### In Remotion

Custom presentation: exiting `transform: scaleX(${1 - p})` with `transformOrigin: 'left'`; entering `scaleX(${p})` from the right edge, eased with `Easing.bezier`.

### In CapCut

Transitions tab → Distortion / Basic → Squeeze, Stretch, Stretch Left, Stretch Right, Inhale. 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

- [Rubber Band Bumper](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.rubber-band-bumper/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add rubber-band-bumper
- [Push Transitions](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.transitions-push/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add transitions-push

### 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)
- [CapCut transition names incl. Pro (pyCapCut metadata)](https://github.com/GuanYixuan/pyCapCut/blob/main/pycapcut/metadata/transition_meta.py)

## Use when

- Playful, cartoonish and meme edits; app UI demos.

## Not for

- Live-action people in serious contexts; the distortion is comic.

## 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/ce75e94695fd/take-squeeze-stretch.mp4 — squeezev between two shots, with the timeline strip of the edit. Footage: Sprite Fright (2021), Blender Studio | studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0; Tears of Steel (2012), (CC) Blender Foundation | mango.blender.org, CC BY 3.0. (credit: Rendered by varg · Sprite Fright (2021) + Tears of Steel (2012))

## 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