Transitions

Blend one clip into the next.

Clips on a Prism timeline never overlap. A transition replaces the hard cut at the junction between two of them, rather than sitting on either clip.

There are two levels: between clips, and between whole blocks. Both are added the same way, and both are optional — a timeline with no transitions cuts straight from one shot to the next.

Clip junctions and block junctions

A clip transition joins two clips meeting on the same track.

A block transition joins two blocks on the content track, and covers everything crossing that boundary.

Pick the level that matches what you are smoothing. A change of shot inside one block is a clip transition, and a move from one part of the story to the next is a block transition.

Turn on Show block dividers in the timeline settings to see exactly where each block boundary falls.

Adding one

1. Hover the junction between the two clips
2. Click Add transition
3. Choose a type in the panel that opens

The panel is titled Transition at a clip junction, and Block Transition at a block boundary.

What the panel holds

Three sections, in order.

TYPE offers six:

• Fade
• Slide
• Wipe
• Flip
• Clock Wipe
• Iris

DIRECTION sets which way a directional type travels — From Left, From Right, From Top or From Bottom. It has no effect on a type that does not travel, such as Fade.

DURATION sets how long the blend runs, in seconds.

Select a junction that already carries a transition to change any of the three.

When there is not enough footage

A transition needs frames from both sides of the junction to blend into. A clip trimmed tight to its content has none to spare.

Where that happens, Prism says so rather than failing quietly: Not enough source footage. Freeze frames will be used.

At a block boundary the warning reads Some clips at block boundaries have insufficient footage. Freeze frames will be used.

A freeze frame is a stated fallback, not an error. The transition still plays, holding a still frame where the footage runs out.

To avoid it, trim the clips on either side back so each has spare footage to give.

Checking one

Transitions play in the preview, so you can judge one without rendering. Move the playhead a little before the junction and play.

Zoom the timeline in first if the junction is too short to point at comfortably.

Removing one

Select the transition at its junction and choose Remove transition. It works at clip junctions and block boundaries alike.

The junction returns to a straight cut, and undo restores the transition.