Shutter angle is a cinematography concept that controls how long each frame is exposed to light, measured in degrees of a 360° rotation. A 180° shutter angle at 24fps means the shutter is open for half the frame duration, roughly 1/48 second. It mimics natural motion blur.
Shutter angle determines the amount of motion blur in each frame. A 180° shutter angle gives a cinematic, natural-looking blur. Wider angles (e.g., 270°) create smeary motion, while narrower (e.g., 90°) create staccato, jittery action.
Use 180° for a cinematic look. Reduce the angle (e.g., 90° or 45°) to add tension or intensity (think Saving Private Ryan). Increase it (e.g., 270°) sparingly, as it may feel smeary. It’s usually set in-camera at capture time.
Note - Digital cameras often convert shutter angle into shutter speed for simplicity, but DPs still use “180° rule” as shorthand.
Use 180° as baseline – Provides natural motion blur for most cinematic looks.
Experiment stylistically – Shorter angles create staccato, sharp motion; longer angles create dreamy blur.
Match frame rate – Keep shutter angle consistent with FPS to avoid flicker or unnatural motion.