Datamosh

Watch as an animation →

In plain words

Deliberately delete the keyframes of the video compression, so that the colors and textures of the previous scene smear and melt along the motion of the next scene.

When to use it

Hip-hop and electronic music videos. Expressing dreamy or confused feelings. Scene changes with a glitch feel.

Example videos

How to Datamosh — Explainer: What datamoshing is, then how to make it with Avidemux
4 TRIPPY Ways To Blend Footage (DATAMOSHING) | Video Editing Tutorials — Explainer: How to blend two scenes with datamoshing in After Effects
KanyeWestVEVO — Kanye West - Welcome To Heartbreak ft. Kid Cudi — Real

In AI video, like this

B clip's motion decides the shape of the smear. Make B a clip with big camera movement or a person dancing, and A a clip with strong colors and a clear pattern. In ffmpeg, join A and B and encode once with -c:v libx264 -bf 0, then delete every keyframe except the first with -c copy -bsf:v "noise=drop='key*gt(n\,0)'". There are also many methods using Avidemux or After Effects plugins. The result differs from clip to clip, so render several and pick one. If the smeared state lasts too long it becomes hard to read, so use only about 0.5 to 2 seconds.

One-click prompt

Two-shot sequence: Shot 1, a runner sprints through a neon-lit alley, 3 seconds; Shot 2 begins as a datamosh glitch: the previous frame's pixels smear and melt along the runner's motion like a corrupted video file, blocky compression artifacts, then the picture snaps into a rooftop at sunrise, 3 seconds. Brief digital crackle sound.

Example films

Welcome to Heartbreak music video (2009) — Datamoshing was used to create pixel smears that bring out the song's chilly feel

See it in real films and ads

KanyeWestVEVO — Kanye West - Welcome To Heartbreak ft. Kid Cudi

AI-made examples

Not verified

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