Video Transitions: What you NEED to know when editing!

Video transitions are an editing topic I get asked about a lot. There are a huge range of "fancy" options in most editing packages - and for those new to video production, they often look very tempting... But, they can also be one of the quickest ways to make your videos look cheap and unprofessional.

// Video Transitions: What you NEED to know! //

When starting out editing you need to fight the urge to jump straight to the effects and transitions and start throwing them on everywhere. Yes, I know it's hard..

The last thing you want to do is disrupt the flow of the video. The best transitions become part of the storytelling - and the viewer doesn't even notice them.

So what SHOULD you do? Well, it's pretty simple. Don’t use any of those built in video transitions.

To make your video flow most smoothly, the key is to time your edits well. If you do this right, a straight cut in between shots is more than enough. Look to make cuts between sentences or at the end of paragraphs/sections/topics, never mid word or sentence if possible. If you’re using music, you can also match cuts to the beat of the underlying track.

You can also use jump cuts, where you zoom in slightly on your footage to 'break up' the shot and make it more interesting for people watching. This helps keep people interested in your video, and can also be used to emphasise specific points you consider are important. Just like when you're having a conversation with someone in person, you tend to lean in a bit when saying something important - zooming in on a face is the video production equivalent, bringing you closer to the audience while you deliver the key parts of your message.

To do a jump cut, you'll need to be shooting your video in a resolution higher that what you want your output video to be. This means you've got enough res to zoom in a little and not lose any quality. If you want to output at 720p, then shoot at 1080 or 2k. If your output is at 1080p, then jump to 2k or 4k.

Now, there ARE a few specific situations where SOME transitions can be ok… The only transitions I think you should ever use are a cross dissolve (cross fade) or a dip to white or black. The exception to this rule is if you're animating in titles or are getting creative for a section of your video you could look at various slides or wipes EXPLICITLY for that creative section.

So again, it's all about timing, making your cuts at the right moments and using jump cuts to zoom in where appropriate. Keep that in mind, and forget about all those fancy transitions!

**********
Check out all the gear we use and recommend at Primal Video!
**********

----- Related Content -----

Filming Video with your Smartphone? You NEED these Guides on How To Film Professional Video:

DISCLOSURE: We often review or link to products & services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible we use referral links, which means if you click one of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation.

[allanthomas]

Found myself sinking into my chair as the transitions I used were on your 'best not use' list. Thanks for the insight :)

[marcoolinho]

Just what I was searching. I am newbie and a mean a/v editor wannabe. Thank you for this! Plain and simple and yet powerful.

[AMPhotography]

I like that statement that best way to make your video look unprofessional is by using those cheesy translations. Well, this is exactly what I did till now. I need to change that from my next work! I wish I saw your video before! Thank you for the tip.

[KaoutarBarhmi]

thank you for the ideas its really helpfull ❤❤

[Officeofthejoker]

What about changing between a a roll and b roll?

[Velogi]

So true. Most of the built-in transitions in editing software are terrible! I use dip to white quite much because I shoot most of the videos with white backdrop and it fits to the white/blue style of my channel.

[diontaedaughtry]

Thank you this was very helpful and informative 👍👍

[akshaybharadwaj]

I'm new to film making and your videos help a lot....please upload more frequently and give more tips on editing and softwares for the same

[joeyprice]

Your channel has given me many great tips on editing. I just started editing for a YouTube channel and your tips have helped me edit higher quality content

[rosemarykahn]

Thank you so much for sharing this. You are so helpful! ☀️

[ew]

This is great advice & will keep me from making a fool of myself thru the temptation of using weird transitions. I'll stick to straight-cuts, jump-cuts and a meaningful cross-dissolve once in awhile.

Although. It might be funny to someday make a video using 200 "cheesy" transitions - and maybe seeing if I can make them artistically relevant.
😆😕😲🙋

[prwebandprint]

great information mate thanks for the tips

[TeacherKristy]

Is this video shot in front of a green screen? I've recently started using a green screen as my background is not ideal. I really like your PDF for editing videos but I always forget to add in my green screen before I start editing and so then I have to copy and paste everything into each chunk at the point when I remember. 🤯 Maybe the next time you update your PDF you could add it in as a side note for those using a green screen. I'll get back to my copy and pasting 🤪

[dennish]

Great channel and great tips. I was curious as to the name of the "zoom" transition that you often so effectively apply. Now I know--jump cuts. Thanks from a new sub.

[medicalbrutality]

I ordered the course for $97 yesterday and I'm on Module 4 but I can't find it. How do I finish?

[floofyclouds]

Any programs for Mac you might reccomend? I've already tried iMovie and Filmora but they both have those cheesy transitions

[Mark-xxgo]

Agreed totally. With my very limited experience, and just using iMovie, I used transitions between some natural world shots...not a pre planned 'film', just putting a few shots together to make a timeline of a day out. I saw the transitions for the first time and stayed well away from the moving graphics, spinning, page turning etc, and stuck to fade in out, and cross fade..and I still found I had too many in a short period so did a straight link and then added some audio from the list on iMovie, just some bird song...dawn chorus, which certainly helped to mask a slightly sudden link between shots. Quite chuffed to have my own transition opinions agreed.
Thanks

[JanJanNik]

so basically never use transition effects :O?

[nighthustler]

Bro ur looks r familiar to mark Zuckerberg 🥷🏼