Transitions

A transition from one video clip to another means under most circumstances that an effect is being applied. For example, dissolving (sometimes known as fading) from one clip to another is a digital effect.

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Why Use Transitions?

Transitions can be used to make a presentation seem less “harsh”. For example, when starting a presentation it may be appropriate to fade in from black. This will give the presentation a “smoother” feel instead of just having the video suddenly appear.

Transitions can also be used to make your presentation more interesting looking. Even the simplest free video editors (such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie) have built-in transition effects you can use to add some “flare” to your presentation.

How to Use Transitions?

In most instances you must have two video clips in the timeline next to each other in your video editor. From there you should be able to drag and drop the effect of your choice and apply it.

Remember, Transitions Should Always be Applied Last

It is important to remember not to apply transition effects during your video editing process. You should finish your presentation first using cuts-only before applying any digital effect. You will find that transitions, while easy to use and readily available, will sometimes get in your way when the goal is to finish the video first.

Beware of Going “Tacky”

It is typical for beginners in video editing to overuse transition effects. If you do this it will make your video look very amateur; this is why it’s suggested you finish you video using cuts-only before applying any transition effects. By doing this you will notice that there are times when you only need very simple effects (such as fading in/out from black) and nothing else. Other times you may not need any transitions at all.

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