How do I create a slit scan effect online for free?

Upload your video, pick a direction (horizontal, vertical, or radial), adjust buffer length and speed, export. Runs in your browser, no server upload. Free to try, Pro for unlimited exports.

What is slit scan photography?

Each column or row of the final image comes from a different moment in time. Originally done with physical cameras and moving slits. This digital version buffers video frames and samples strips from different points in the buffer.

What does the center slider do?

Controls where "now" sits in the frame. At 0.5 (default), the current frame is centered and time flows outward. At 0.0, the current frame is at the left edge. Useful when your camera is moving rather than the subject.

Why does my slit scan look flat or static?

Slit scan needs motion. Static footage looks unchanged. Use footage with lateral movement: someone walking sideways, a car passing, or a camera pan.

Slit Scan

Slit scan is a temporal displacement technique. Each strip of the output image comes from a different point in time. Moving subjects stretch and smear while backgrounds freeze. Used in the 2001: A Space Odyssey stargate sequence, originally done with physical cameras and moving slits. This tool does it digitally in your browser.

Tips

Horizontal mode with a centered subject moving sideways gives the classic slit scan stretch.
Center at 0.0 for a left-to-right time sweep. Useful when the camera is panning.
Radial mode creates circular time-warp distortion. Works well on faces and centered subjects.
Buffer length 60-120 frames gives deeper displacement, but watch memory on mobile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a slit scan effect online for free?: Upload your video, pick a direction (horizontal, vertical, or radial), adjust buffer length and speed, export. Runs in your browser, no server upload. Free to try, Pro for unlimited exports.
What is slit scan photography?: Each column or row of the final image comes from a different moment in time. Originally done with physical cameras and moving slits. This digital version buffers video frames and samples strips from different points in the buffer.
What does the center slider do?: Controls where "now" sits in the frame. At 0.5 (default), the current frame is centered and time flows outward. At 0.0, the current frame is at the left edge. Useful when your camera is moving rather than the subject.
Why does my slit scan look flat or static?: Slit scan needs motion. Static footage looks unchanged. Use footage with lateral movement: someone walking sideways, a car passing, or a camera pan.

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