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In film editing, a wipe is a gradual spatial transition from one image to another. One image is replaced by another with a distinct edge that forms a shape. A simple edge, an expanding circle, or the turning of a page are all examples.
It is often aknowledged that using a wipe, rather than a simple cut or dissolve is a stylistic choice that inherently makes the audience more "aware" of the film as a film, rather than a story. For example, George Lucas is famous for the sweeping use of Wipes in his Star Wars films, which help evoke a kinship to old serialized pulp sci-fi novels and serials.
Wipes also can be used as syntactic tools, but are often frowned on. Some examples are the star wipe, heart wipe, matrix wipe, and clock wipe.