Cuts & transitions
Cross dissolve: definition and examples
What is Cross dissolve?
A cross dissolve is a transition in which the outgoing clip gradually fades to transparency while the incoming clip simultaneously fades to full visibility, so both images are briefly visible at once. It is commonly used to signal a passage of time or to soften a scene change.
When you'd use it
- 1When cutting between two clips that take place in different locations or times and a hard cut would feel abrupt.
- 2When you want to signal a memory, dream, or reflective moment without a title card.
- 3When two shots share a similar color palette and you want the blend to feel intentional.
- 4When stitching together travel or event footage where each clip is its own brief moment.
Example
A creator shows a before-and-after room transformation using a one-second cross dissolve between the empty room and the finished space. The blend makes the change feel gradual even though months passed between the two shots.
Use cases
- 1Blending two product shots that show before-and-after results over the same frame.
- 2Connecting a morning routine clip to an evening scene to compress a full day.
- 3Softening the transition between a spokesperson close-up and a wide lifestyle shot.
Make on-brand short-form video from the footage you already have.