Melies Local catalogue

Cinematic techniques

A visual bible of cinematography and film technique: camera, light, time, editing, and named looks. Not a black-box preset grid. 424 techniques, each with a definition, film grammar, examples, and a prompt you can run. Open a shot, read how it works, generate it in Melies.

Camera Movement

86

Slow Zoom InSlow Zoom InSlow Zoom OutSlow Zoom OutCrash Zoom InCrash Zoom InCrash Zoom OutCrash Zoom OutDolly InDolly InDolly OutDolly OutDolly LeftDolly LeftDolly RightDolly RightPan LeftPan LeftPan RightPan RightTilt UpTilt UpTilt DownTilt DownWhip PanWhip PanWhip TiltWhip TiltPedestal UpPedestal UpPedestal DownPedestal DownCrane UpCrane UpCrane DownCrane DownCrane OverCrane OverJib ShotJib Shot360-Degree Orbit360-Degree OrbitArc LeftArc LeftArc RightArc RightTracking ShotTracking ShotFollow ShotFollow ShotSteadicamSteadicamHandheldHandheldGimbal ShotGimbal ShotFPV DroneFPV DroneAerial PullbackAerial PullbackAerial Push InAerial Push InPush InPush InPull OutPull OutStatic Locked-OffStatic Locked-OffDolly ZoomDolly ZoomDutch RollDutch RollCamera RollCamera RollDouble DollyDouble DollySnorriCamSnorriCamLocked-OnLocked-OnWalk and TalkWalk and TalkHyperlapseHyperlapseSlider ShotSlider ShotLazy SusanLazy SusanBolt CamBolt CamAerialAerialArcArcChoreoChoreoConveyorConveyorDollyDollyFallingFallingFixed CamFixed CamOmnidirectionalOmnidirectionalPanPanParallaxParallaxPass ThroughPass ThroughTiltTiltTruckingTruckingWanderingWanderingZoomZoomEyes InEyes InMouth InMouth InEating ZoomEating ZoomBuckle UpBuckle UpCar ChasingCar ChasingCar GripCar GripRoad RushRoad RushFlying Cam TransitionFlying Cam TransitionThrough Object InThrough Object InThrough Object OutThrough Object OutSuper Dolly InSuper Dolly InSuper Dolly OutSuper Dolly OutDolly Zoom InDolly Zoom InDolly Zoom OutDolly Zoom OutYoYo ZoomYoYo ZoomRapid Zoom InRapid Zoom InRapid Zoom OutRapid Zoom OutHead TrackingHead TrackingHero CamHero CamRobo ArmRobo ArmWiggleWiggle3D Rotation3D RotationCrane Over The HeadCrane Over The HeadEarth ZoomEarth ZoomJib DownJib DownJib UpJib Up

Framing and Shot Size

25

Extreme Close-UpExtreme Close-UpChoker ShotChoker ShotClose-UpClose-UpMedium Close-UpMedium Close-UpMedium ShotMedium ShotCowboy ShotCowboy ShotFull BodyFull BodyLong ShotLong ShotExtreme Long ShotExtreme Long ShotEstablishing ShotEstablishing ShotMaster ShotMaster ShotTwo-ShotTwo-ShotThree-ShotThree-ShotGroup ShotGroup ShotInsert ShotInsert ShotCutawayCutawayReaction ShotReaction ShotOver-the-Shoulder CoverageOver-the-Shoulder CoverageSingleSingleCut-insCut-insGestureGestureInterviewInterviewProductProductVideo PortraitsVideo PortraitsWide ShotWide Shot

Camera Angles

19

Eye LevelEye LevelHigh AngleHigh AngleLow AngleLow AngleBird's-Eye ViewBird's-Eye ViewWorm's-Eye ViewWorm's-Eye ViewOverhead Top-DownOverhead Top-DownGround LevelGround LevelDutch AngleDutch AnglePoint of ViewPoint of ViewProfileProfileThree-Quarter AngleThree-Quarter AngleReverse AngleReverse AngleTrunk ShotTrunk ShotHip LevelHip LevelShoulder LevelShoulder LevelFirst-PersonFirst-PersonFourth WallFourth WallObject POVObject POVInclineIncline

Lighting

41

Three-Point LightingThree-Point LightingKey LightKey LightFill LightFill LightBacklightBacklightRim LightRim LightKickerKickerHair LightHair LightEye LightEye LightHigh-Key LightingHigh-Key LightingLow-Key LightingLow-Key LightingChiaroscuroChiaroscuroRembrandt LightingRembrandt LightingButterfly LightingButterfly LightingLoop LightingLoop LightingSplit LightingSplit LightingShort LightingShort LightingBroad LightingBroad LightingSilhouetteSilhouetteMotivated LightingMotivated LightingPractical LightingPractical LightingAvailable LightAvailable LightNaturalistic AmbientNaturalistic AmbientBounce LightBounce LightHard LightHard LightSoft LightSoft LightSide LightingSide LightingTop LightTop LightUnderlightingUnderlightingCross LightingCross LightingWindow LightWindow LightCandlelightCandlelightNeon PracticalsNeon PracticalsGolden HourGolden HourBlue HourBlue HourDappled LightDappled LightGobo LightingGobo LightingVolumetric LightVolumetric LightCameo LightingCameo LightingEpiphanyEpiphanySpotlightSpotlightGlamGlam

Composition

32

Rule of ThirdsRule of ThirdsGolden RatioGolden RatioCentral FramingCentral FramingCentered CompositionCentered CompositionSymmetrySymmetryAsymmetryAsymmetryLeading LinesLeading LinesFrame within FrameFrame within FrameNegative SpaceNegative SpaceForeground InterestForeground InterestLayered DepthLayered DepthDiagonal CompositionDiagonal CompositionTriangular CompositionTriangular CompositionHeadroomHeadroomLead RoomLead RoomShort SidingShort SidingVisual WeightVisual WeightRepetition and PatternRepetition and PatternFigure-GroundFigure-GroundTonal ContrastTonal ContrastOne-Point PerspectiveOne-Point PerspectiveVanishing PointVanishing PointDirty FrameDirty FrameClean FrameClean FrameLook SpaceLook SpaceArchitextureArchitextureReflectionsReflectionsScreen in ScreenScreen in ScreenTableauTableauVoidVoidVoyeurVoyeurWindowsWindows

Lenses and Optics

17

14mm Ultra-Wide14mm Ultra-Wide24mm Wide24mm Wide35mm Moderate Wide35mm Moderate Wide50mm Normal50mm Normal85mm Portrait85mm Portrait135mm Telephoto135mm Telephoto200mm Long Telephoto200mm Long TelephotoAnamorphicAnamorphicSphericalSphericalFisheyeFisheyeTilt-ShiftTilt-ShiftMacroMacroProbe LensProbe LensSplit DiopterSplit DiopterVintage Cine GlassVintage Cine GlassTelephoto CompressionTelephoto CompressionMagnificationMagnification

Color and Film Look

19

Teal and OrangeTeal and OrangeBleach BypassBleach BypassMonochromeMonochromeSepiaSepiaDesaturationDesaturationHyper-SaturationHyper-SaturationCool BlueCool BlueWarm AmberWarm AmberFilmic FadedFilmic FadedCross ProcessCross ProcessDay for NightDay for NightTungsten BalanceTungsten BalanceMoonlight GelMoonlight GelSplit ToningSplit ToningNatural GradeNatural GradeColor ShiftColor ShiftVintageVintagePalettePaletteOverexposedOverexposed

Time and Motion

21

Slow MotionSlow MotionFast MotionFast MotionSpeed RampSpeed RampFreeze FrameFreeze FrameTime-LapseTime-LapseStep PrintingStep PrintingReverse MotionReverse MotionBullet TimeBullet TimeLong TakeLong TakeOnerOnerMotion BlurMotion BlurStutter / Stop-StutterStutter / Stop-StutterBoomerangBoomerangInfinite LoopInfinite LoopStop MotionStop MotionLow ShutterLow ShutterTimelapse GlamTimelapse GlamTimelapse HumanTimelapse HumanTimelapse LandscapeTimelapse LandscapeFrozen in MotionFrozen in MotionMoonwalkMoonwalk

In-Camera and Optical Effects

57

Lens FlareLens FlareAnamorphic FlareAnamorphic FlareHalationHalationFilm GrainFilm GrainBokehBokehDouble ExposureDouble ExposureRack FocusRack FocusShallow FocusShallow FocusDeep FocusDeep FocusForced PerspectiveForced PerspectiveLight LeakLight LeakVignetteVignetteChromatic AberrationChromatic AberrationInfraredInfraredNight VisionNight VisionThermalThermalSlit-ScanSlit-ScanKaleidoscopeKaleidoscopeLight FlashLight FlashProjectionsProjectionsMorphMorphAltered StateAltered StateAnthropoAnthropoCinemagraphCinemagraphCollageCollageDatamoshDatamoshDioramaDioramaDistortionsDistortionsDuplicationDuplicationEcho PrintEcho PrintFeedbackFeedbackFloating UIFloating UIFocal ShiftFocal ShiftGenerativeGenerativeLevitationLevitationMaskingMaskingMixed MediaMixed MediaMorphingMorphingObject PortalObject PortalPhotogrammetryPhotogrammetryRatio SwitchRatio SwitchScale ShiftScale ShiftShadow BoxShadow BoxTransformationTransformationTypographyTypographyWigglegramWigglegramX-RayX-RayZoetropeZoetropeFocus ChangeFocus ChangeFloating FallFloating FallSmash and GrabSmash and GrabCyclopeCyclopeParticlesParticlesArgusArgusSticker PeelSticker PeelSelfie TwinSelfie TwinBubblesBubbles

Editing and Transitions

23

Match CutMatch CutGraphic MatchGraphic MatchMatch on ActionMatch on ActionJump CutJump CutSmash CutSmash CutDissolveDissolveFade In / Fade OutFade In / Fade OutWipeWipeIrisIrisCross-CuttingCross-CuttingSplit ScreenSplit ScreenMontageMontageAxial CutAxial CutInvisible CutInvisible CutJ-Cut / L-Cut (Visual Setup)J-Cut / L-Cut (Visual Setup)Crash CutCrash CutFlash CutFlash CutMatch MotionMatch MotionMatch SplitMatch SplitQuick CutsQuick CutsSet TransitionSet TransitionTransitionsTransitionsFragmentsFragments

Atmosphere and Weather

13

RainRainFogFogMistMistAtmospheric HazeAtmospheric HazeSmokeSmokeDust MotesDust MotesSteamSteamSnowSnowWet-DownWet-DownSparks and EmbersSparks and EmbersDust and SandDust and SandUnderwaterUnderwaterOceanOcean

Genre Looks

27

Film NoirFilm NoirNeo-NoirNeo-NoirGerman ExpressionismGerman ExpressionismGialloGialloSpaghetti WesternSpaghetti WesternFound FootageFound FootageCinéma VéritéCinéma VéritéFrench New WaveFrench New WaveWuxiaWuxiaTech NoirTech NoirSouthern GothicSouthern GothicCosmic HorrorCosmic HorrorVaporwaveVaporwaveDocumentaryDocumentaryBlockbuster GlossBlockbuster GlossArthouseArthouseAnimationAnimationBTSBTSDreamcoreDreamcoreDystopianDystopianMagical RealismMagical RealismMaximalismMaximalismPhotographyPhotographyPixel ArtPixel ArtStylistic SuckStylistic SuckVideo GameVideo GameWeirdcoreWeirdcore

Viral Looks

44

AgamemnonAgamemnonInk RiotInk RiotFallen AngelFallen AngelFairytale CastleFairytale CastleComicComicCold VisionCold VisionCasual Monster SlayerCasual Monster SlayerMighty FighterMighty FighterCanvasCanvasPigeonsPigeonsSuperstarSuperstarPearl EarringPearl EarringLSDLSDBlue DepthBlue DepthKnight's DiaryKnight's Diary2000s Paparazzi2000s PaparazziDolphin RideDolphin RideMultiverseMultiverseSkatedogSkatedogSketchSketchMonet MuseMonet MuseAkrillAkrillMagazineMagazineLost in a BookLost in a BookPenguin RidePenguin Ride3D Render3D RenderAction FigureAction FigureOrbital PresenceOrbital PresenceAcidAcidNoirNoirRace TrackRace TrackFlash ComicFlash ComicPaperPaperRandom GlowRandom GlowToxicToxicBroken MirrorBroken MirrorHand PaintHand PaintLavaLavaMarbleMarbleModernModernPuffin RidePuffin RideOrigamiOrigamiTwo ColorTwo ColorUltravioletUltraviolet