# Transitions

> Apply a transition to a cut and adjust its style, duration, placement, easing, and direction.

Formats Studio docs · Creative tools · https://formats.app/docs/transitions · Updated 2026-09-27

## Apply a transition

1. Open **Library** and choose **Transitions**.
2. Drag a transition card onto a cut between two adjacent clips — or select a valid cut and click a card.
3. Select the transition on the timeline to open the **Transition** section in Properties.

> **Note:** A cut is valid when two clips sit edge to edge with enough spare source frames to overlap. Applying over an existing transition replaces it in place.

## Choose a look

Cards are grouped by category: **Basic**, **Dissolve**, **Motion**, **Wipe**, **Slide**, **Flip**, **Mask**, **Iris**, **Shape**, **Light**, and **Chromatic**.

- Dissolve styles range from a plain Cross Dissolve to Additive, Blur, and Dip To Color variants.
- Motion and custom styles include Flip, Light Leak, Pixelate, Chromatic, Radial Blur, Glitch, and Sparkles.
- Directional styles such as Wipe, Slide, and Flip appear as several cards, one per direction.

## Adjust a transition

| Control | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| Preset | Swap the transition style without redoing the cut. |
| Duration | Set how long the transition runs; reset returns it to 1 second. |
| Placement | Center on the cut, or shift the transition before or after it. |
| Ease | Linear, In, Out, or In and Out. |
| Direction | Left, Right, Top, or Bottom, for directional styles. |

> **Tip:** You can also resize a transition by dragging its edge directly on the timeline.

## When a transition will not apply

> **Warning:** You need a real cut between two clips, and enough **source handle** on the relevant side. If a placement is blocked, pick another placement or trim less. Dragging onto a valid cut always works, even when click-to-apply is unavailable.

## Related

- [Timeline basics](https://formats.app/docs/timeline): Tracks, adding clips, selection, split and join, deleting, snapping, ranges, sequences, and zoom.
- [Effects and looks](https://formats.app/docs/effects-color): Apply quick Looks, stack GPU effects, import LUTs, and isolate corrections.