---
title: "Cut the Curve"
description: "A velocity-matched directional hard cut: the outgoing subject accelerates with power4.in, swaps at peak velocity, and the incoming subject continues in the same direction with power4.out."
---
import { InstallCommand } from "/snippets/install-command.jsx";
import { VariablesExplorer } from "/snippets/variables-explorer.jsx";
```html cut-the-curve.html
Cut the Curve
```
## Install
That writes one file: `compositions/components/cut-the-curve.html`.
## Paste it into your composition
Open `compositions/components/cut-the-curve.html` and copy what is inside into your own composition.
A component has no size or duration of its own. It takes both from the composition
you paste it into.
## Variables
Every one of these has a default, so the piece works untouched. Set the ones you
want to change on the element:
| Variable | Default | Accepts | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `subject` | `cursor` | `cursor`, `card`, `scene` | Visual payload used on both sides of the cut. |
| `direction` | `left` | `left`, `right`, `up`, `down` | Shared screen direction for outgoing and incoming travel. |
| `cutFraction` | `0.33` | 0 to 1, step 0.01 | Normalized point where the hard cut swaps subjects. |
| `blurPx` | `12` | 0px to 40px, step 1px | Blur in pixels shared by both subjects at the cut seam. |
| `exit` | `none` | `none`, `fade`, `up` | Optional departure of the incoming subject. Default none: it rests until the frame cuts. |
Set them with `data-variable-values` on the element that mounts it. These are the
defaults, so this behaves exactly like the preview above until you change one:
```html wrap
```
## Source
```html
Cut the Curve
```
{/* hf:generated-footer */}
Tagged `transition` `directional-cut` `velocity-match` `whip` `bridge` `demonstrate`.
## Related topics
- [Browse the complete Catalog](/catalog)
- [Add assets and Catalog items in Studio](/studio/assets-and-blocks)
- [Build a richer composition](/go-further)