Video Transitions and Fades

A transition smooths the change from one shot to the next. Most of the time a plain cut is the right choice, but a dissolve or wipe can convey a passage of time or a change of place. This article covers adding, timing, and adjusting transitions, and fading clips in and out.

Cuts, dissolves, and wipes

• A cut is an instant change with no transition - the default join between two clips.
• A dissolve (crossfade) blends one shot into the next over a set duration.
• A wipe moves one shot off and the next on, with a shaped edge.
• Other styles such as push, squeeze, and luma wipe offer different moves.

Tip: Cut by default. A dissolve says "time has passed" or "meanwhile"; used everywhere it just looks indecisive. Reserve transitions for where they mean something.

Adding a transition

1. Make sure the Edit (or VFX) tab is active.
2. Right-click the cut point between two clips.
3. Choose Transitions and pick the transition you want (for example Dissolve).
4. Choose where it sits relative to the cut (see Alignment, below).
5. Set the length.
6. Click Add.

Changing transition duration

Set the duration when you add a transition, and adjust it afterwards - drag the transition's edge on the timeline, or change its length in its settings. A short dissolve (a few frames) softens a cut almost invisibly; a longer one is a clear, deliberate blend.

Editing transition alignment

Alignment decides where the transition sits relative to the cut:

Centred is the usual choice; from and to are useful when one clip has more spare material than the other.

Dissolve curve shapes

The curve of a dissolve controls how the blend progresses - a linear curve is even, while eased curves start or end more gently. Adjust the curve when a straight dissolve feels too mechanical, to ease the blend in or out.

Transition settings

Each transition has its own settings (for example a wipe's direction and softness, or a dissolve's curve). Open the transition's settings to adjust them, and keyframe parameters where you want the transition itself to animate (see Keyframes and animation).

Removing transitions

To remove a transition, select it and delete it, or use its context menu. The join returns to a plain cut; the clips themselves are unchanged.

Why transitions need spare material

A transition overlaps two clips, so both need spare frames beyond the cut to draw from - an outgoing clip needs material past its out point, and an incoming clip needs material before its in point.

Note: If there isn't quite enough spare material, Lightworks reduces the transition time to fit and tells you so; if there's no room at all, it reports that the transition can't be made on that track. Trim the clips a little shorter to free up frames, then add the transition again.

Video fades

Where a transition joins two clips, a fade eases a single clip in or out. Fades in v2026 are more capable than before:

• Apply a fade by dragging the fade handle at either end of a video segment - the handle shows the fade's duration as you drag.
• Fade type - fade to or from Black, White, or Transparent (the default). Transparent fades reveal whatever is on the tracks below, which is how you fade one layer over another.
• Curve shapes - choose Linear, Ease In, Ease Out, or S-Curve to shape how the fade progresses (or None to remove it).
• Effects fade too - any effects on the clip fade along with it, so a graded or stylised shot fades cleanly.

To adjust a fade after you've made it, right-click the fade on the segment and change its curve or type. For precise control, right-click the clip and choose Fade In/Out to open the Fades panel, where you can set fades numerically.

Tip: A fade to black on the outgoing clip followed by a fade from black on the incoming one reads differently from a dissolve - it's a full stop rather than a comma. Use it for chapter-like breaks.

Audio fades are covered in Editing audio in the timeline.