Fadeouts

Fadeouts are a production technique in film, television, and audio where the image or sound gradually diminishes until it becomes imperceptible, usually accompanied by a fade to black (visual) or silence (audio). They signal the end of a scene, indicate a passage of time, or provide a transition to later material.

Visual fadeouts are common at the end of scenes or programs; they can be paired with a fade-in to the next shot or scene. Different variants include fade-out to black, fade-out to white, or crossfades (dissolves) where both the outgoing and incoming images are blended briefly. The choice influences pacing and mood and may reflect genre conventions.

Audio fadeouts involve gradually reducing the volume, sometimes with changes in equalization or ambience to maintain sonic continuity. Common curves include linear, exponential, or logarithmic fades. Crossfades mix the end of one audio segment with the beginning of the next to avoid abrupt interruptions in music or dialogue.

In practice, fadeouts are used to imply time passage, avoid abrupt endings, or create stylistic effects. In interactive media such as video games, a screen fade is used during transitions between scenes or levels. The term fade-out is often contrasted with fade-in and with abrupt cuts.