What are transitions, and 5 free transitions in Adobe Premier Pro!

Transitions are an editing technique in video editing, a feature found in Adobe Premiere Pro and many other video editing software.

This article explains what transitions are, from basic usage to application. Free transition materials are also introduced. Beginners and advanced users alike will be able to relearn about transitions and create more appealing videos.

What are transitions?

A transition is an effect or animation inserted when two or more clips or scenes switch.
For example, it is used to smooth the transition from scene A to scene B or to add visual impact.
It is a rudimentary yet profound technique in video production that adds flavor to the video.

Importance of transitions

Without transitions, a video would be just a collection of sequential scenes, potentially losing visual unity and storytelling. Transitions also serve to create visual flow and help viewers become immersed in the content.

Transitions are not mere embellishments, but elements that deeply affect the quality of the video and the viewer’s experience.
Therefore, the skill to effectively use transitions in video editing software such as Premiere Pro is essential to creating high-quality videos.

How to use transition presets

Premiere Pro comes standard with many transition presets. Using these presets will greatly streamline your editing work.
The following is a basic explanation of how to use the presets.

Select a clip in the Project Panel

Drag the clip you wish to edit from the Project Panel to the Timeline.

Open the “Effects” panel.

Open the “Effects” panel from the menu on the right.
If you do not see the “Effects” panel, you can display it by selecting “Effects” from the “Window” menu on the menu bar.

Find transition presets

In the “Effects” panel, find the Transition category and select the transition preset of your choice.

Applying Presets to the Timeline

Drag and drop the selected preset onto a clip on the ti。

Adjust preset settings

Double-clicking a transition on the timeline opens the Effects Control Panel. Here, you can adjust the length, speed, etc. of the transition.

In this way, you can efficiently use Premiere Pro’s transition presets. Presets are widely used by beginners and professionals alike, and are a powerful tool for smooth editing.

How to adjust transition properties

From here, we will explain in detail how to adjust transition properties.

Selecting transitions on the timeline

On the timeline, click to select the transition you wish to adjust.

Open the Effects Control Panel

Open the “Effects Controls” panel. This is usually located at the top of your workspace.

If you do not see the “Effects Controls” panel, you can bring it up by selecting “Effects Controls” from the “Window” menu bar.

Adjust property

In the Effects Control Panel, adjust each property of the transition (e.g., direction, amount of blur, opacity, etc.).

The properties that can be adjusted differ depending on the transition.

How to adjust transition length and timing

The length and timing of transitions can be adjusted in the following ways.

Selecting Transitions on the Timeline

On the timeline, click to select the transition you wish to adjust.

Dragging the edge of a transition

Move the cursor over the start or end point of the transition, and the cursor will change as shown in the image above. Drag the cursor to adjust the length of the transition.

Detailed adjustment in “Effects Controls

If more detailed timing adjustment is required, use the Effects Control Panel.

In this way, you can customize the transition settings in Premiere Pro.

Transition Application Techniques

Once you have inserted and customized basic transitions in Premiere Pro, it is time to try more advanced techniques.
This section explains how to combine multiple transitions and techniques for synchronizing transitions and music.

How to combine multiple transitions

Transitions are an editing technique for switching between images, and can use not only Premiere Pro presets, but also materials imported from outside sources. By combining these transitions, a richer expression can be achieved.

However, the existing Premier Pro transitions do not allow multiple transitions to be combined. Therefore, you can combine them by inserting external transitions on a separate track.

Selection of basic transitions

First, select basic transitions provided in Premiere Pro or transitions imported from outside.

Multiple Transition Combinations.

Transitions can be combined by inserting a transition on the track of video 1 and inserting a transition imported from an external source on the top of the track of video 1. By combining multiple transitions into a single scene transition, new transitions can be created.

Adjusting transitions

Adjust the parameters of each transition so that the combined transitions look natural.

Preview and Feedback

Preview the transitions you have created and make adjustments as necessary.

In this way, Premiere Pro allows you to add depth and dynamism to your video by combining multiple transitions. Transitions are “an editing technique for switching between images,” and you can create your own transitions as well as presets. Use this technique to create your own transitions.

Techniques for synchronizing transitions and music

Next, we will discuss techniques for synchronizing transitions and music.

Import music tracks

Import music tracks to the timeline.

Mark the beat

Markers are set on the timeline in time with the beat or rhythm of the music. Markers can be typed by pressing “M” on the keyboard.

Inserting transitions

Insert a transition at the point where the marker is set.

Adjust timing

If necessary, adjust the start and end times of transitions to perfectly synchronize them with the music.

If necessary, adjust the start and end times of transitions to perfectly synchronize them with the music.

5 free transition distribution sites for Premiere Pro

To achieve advanced transitions in Premiere Pro, you often need presets and templates. However, creating everything yourself can be time consuming.
So, below are five websites that distribute free transitions for Premiere Pro.

Artlist

Artlist is a site that offers mainly music materials, but also offers a wide range of video materials and transitions.
Free materials are also available, but please note that paid plans are the main focus of the site.

Shutterstock Blog

Shutterstock Blog offers high-quality photo and video materials. Transitions are also available, some of which can be downloaded for free.
The main service here is also a paid plan.

Motion Array

Motion Array is a site that offers many transition presets for Premiere Pro. Many of the transitions are available free of charge and are recommended for those seeking professional results.

Mixkit

Mixkit is a site offering transition materials that is especially popular among Japanese users. With many free materials, it is ideal for those who want to create videos with their own unique style.

VIDEO MILKSHAKE

VIDEO MILKSHAKE offers a wide variety of video effects and transitions. Some of the materials are free, but for more versatile transitions, a paid plan must be purchased.

How to install and use free materials

This section describes how to install and use the transition materials provided by the above transition distribution sites and others.

Installing Materials

Materials can be installed in the following ways

Unzip the downloaded file

If the downloaded materials are compressed in ZIP or other formats, unzip them.

Open Premiere Pro

Open the application and load the project you are editing.

Import into the “Effects” panel

Open the “Effects” panel, right-click and select “Import Preset…”. Select the preset file you downloaded and import it.

How to use the material

The next section describes how to use the installed materials.

Select a preset in the “Effects” panel

The imported preset will appear in the “Effects” panel.

Apply to Timeline

Drag and drop the selected preset onto a clip on the timeline.

Adjust property

If necessary, adjust the preset properties in the Effects Control Panel.

In this way, you can effectively use the free transition materials you downloaded in Premiere Pro. In this way, you can easily use not only the default transitions, but also additional materials to create a wide variety of transitions.

Use transitions effectively to create easy-to-watch videos!

This article covers the basics and applications of transitions in Premiere Pro, as well as free materials.
Transitions are more than just scene changes; they affect visual rhythm and storytelling. No matter how good a transition material is, it is useless if it does not fit the story or message.
When choosing transitions, it is important to carefully consider the effect they will have on the video as a whole. We hope this article will help you create effective transitions in Premiere Pro.

As you can see, Team HENSHIN provides information on video shooting, video editing, and special editing such as CG and VFX.
Please take a look at our other articles as well, as we provide detailed information on specialized techniques.
We also welcome your requests regarding filming and editing, so please feel free to contact us through our contact form.

村上 瞭

合同会社Team HENSHIN 代表

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