Video Transitions

A transition is an effect used to blend one clip into another. The most common transition in film is the straight cut (which requires no effect), but occasionally you need cross-dissolves, fades, or stylized wipes to convey the passage of time or a change in location.

Adding a Basic Cross-Dissolve

The easiest way to blend two clips is to apply the default transition (Cross-Dissolve).

  1. Ensure the two clips are touching each other on the same track.
  2. Park your playhead exactly over the cut between the two clips.
  3. Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (macOS).
  4. A standard cross-dissolve will be applied instantly.

Adding Audio Fades

If you want to cross-fade the audio at the same time, press Shift + T. This applies the default video transition and the default audio cross-fade simultaneously.

Using the Effects Library

Oraphim includes a wide array of built-in transitions, from smooth wipes to complex procedural glitches.

  1. Open the Effects Library panel (usually docked near the Media Pool).
  2. Navigate to the Video Transitions category.
  3. Click and drag a transition from the library down onto the cut between two clips on your timeline.

Modifying a Transition

Once a transition is on the timeline, it appears as a small colored box layered over the cut.

  • Duration: Click and drag the left or right edge of the transition box to make it longer (slower) or shorter (faster).
  • Inspector Controls: Click on the transition box to select it, then open the Inspector panel. Depending on the transition you chose, you will have specific parameters to adjust. For example, a "Wipe" transition will let you change the angle, edge softness, and border color.

Understanding Handles

A common error new editors face is the "Insufficient Media" warning when trying to add a transition.

To dissolve from Clip A to Clip B over a period of 1 second, Oraphim needs 0.5 seconds of extra footage from the end of Clip A, and 0.5 seconds of extra footage from the beginning of Clip B. These hidden, unused portions of the raw file are called Handles.

If you try to put a transition between two clips that you imported in their entirety (meaning they have absolutely zero trimmed handles left to pull from), the transition cannot occur. To fix this, simply use the Selection Tool to trim the edges of both clips inward by a few frames, creating handles, and then apply the transition again.