Final Cut Transition Research

A transition is the visual effect that is used to carry along or to change the transition between two clips or images. I researched the basic transitional effects – at the start of the project - of Final Cut and listed them below.

3D Simulations

These transitions are Cross Zoom, Cube Spin, Spin 3D, Spinback 3D, Swing, and Zoom. They are used to create a large impact between clips, to catch the attention or to give off a somewhat futuristic or humorous feel to the audience. Such a transition style would not be suitable for our music video as it is too bold and would ruin the emotion we are trying to create.

Dissolves

These transitions are Additive dissolve, Cross dissolve, Dither dissolve, Fade In, Fade Out, Non-Additive dissolve, and Ripple dissolve. Dissolve is the most commonly used transition. These transitions morph the image into something else by gradually erasing what was there before hand.

Page Peel

Page peel is literally as its name states, the first clip feels away like a page to reveal the second clip. Such an effect could possibly be used in conjunction with the “memories” theme however it is still a little too bold to be placed within our video.

QuickTime

The 13 QuickTime transitions are Alpha Compositor, Chroma Key, Cross Fade, Explode, Gradient wipe, Implode, Iris, Matrix wipe, Push, Radial, Slide, Wipe, and Zoom. QuickTime has its own selection on effects. Cross fades are used in out video to create a soft yet ghostly effect between clips. Other transitions however are a little too overpowering to be used. 

Slide

These transitions are Band slide, Box slide, Center Split slide, Multi-Spin slide, Push slide, Spin slide, Split slide, and Swap slide.

Stretch and Squeeze

These transitions are Cross Stretch, Squeeze, Squeeze and Stretch, and Stretch.

Using these transitions makes the clips look rather distorted, so would be inappropriate to use in such a serious and deep meaning video, as they will stretch the faces and backgrounds of clips to something bizarre. 

Wipe

These transitions include Band wipe, Center wipe, Checker wipe, Checkerboard wipe, Clock wipe, Edge wipe, Gradient wipe, Inset wipe, Jaws wipe, Random Edge wipe, V wipe, Venetian Blind wipe, Wrap wipe, and Zigzag wipe. Wipes are different to dissolves as they do not blend in the transition process. Although they are not as subtle as dissolves, so would not be suitable for our video. Wipes are often used in family memory or home video editing, again as they provide a somewhat comic aspect.