Improve Your Videos With Better Transitions

While working on putting together great video work, you will come across breaks in scenes where they need to come back together. In most cases, a transition effect is used to merge the scenes together instead of having one stop completely and the next one begin. A great transition can improve your video, but they can also be used incorrectly and ruin your film.

Peter McKinnon is currently working on a mini series of videos to show and explain how to create and use different transitions in your videos. In his first video of the series, McKinnon uses a "frame blocking transition" technique combined with masking within Premiere Pro. Throughout this portion of the series, he shows us a few different examples of frame blocking and what they look like. Essentially you are using an object or body part in one clip to block the view in camera, and during the movement away or out of frame you are showing another scene.

You could just use a basic screen wipe transition, but it’s just that: basic. If you have the right footage to do so, add a little more dynamic punch with a frame blocking transition instead. In most cases, you will have to plan ahead for these transitions to have them well executed. The overall transition is fairly simple yet will yield great results and improve your future films. The masking portion of the technique will be a bit tedious and I wouldn’t go overboard and use them for every single transition in your film. On your next video project, add a few and see how your video comes out.

What are some of your favorite transitions that you use in your videos?