Add transitions to your videos

Last updated on Jan 14, 2026

Learn how to apply transitions like Dissolve and Black fade to visual items on your timeline and create smooth scene changes.

Transitions help create smooth, professional-looking videos by blending scenes together or adding dramatic pauses. Firefly video editor (beta) offers easy-to-use transitions that you can apply directly to the clips added to your timeline.

These effects are most effective when you've already arranged your media clips in the timeline and want to refine how scenes connect. To apply transitions, you need:

  • Active Adobe Firefly account with access to Firefly video editor (beta)
  • Firefly video editor (beta) project open
  • Video clips added to your timeline

Dissolve

An example where the Dissolve transition is used to create a gradual blend between two shots.

Black Fade

An example where the Black fade transition is added, starting with a fade-in from black and ending with a fade-out to black.

Add transitions to your clips

Navigate to the Firefly video editor (beta) and open a project to view its timeline.

Select the Transitions icon in the left rail.

The Firefly Video editor screen displays the left rail where the Transitions icon is highlighted.
Select the Transitions icon to open the panel and view available transitions.

Select the visual track items in the timeline to which you want to apply the transition.

Tip

Apply transitions to visual track items without selecting them by dragging and dropping the preferred transition on the timeline. 

Select one of these transitions from the Transitions panel to apply them:

  • Dissolve: Creates a gradual blend between two shots by smoothly transitioning from one clip to the next. This transition can only be added toward the end of video clips and cannot be applied to the final clip in your timeline.
  • Black fade: Slowly darkens the shot until the screen turns completely black, often used to end scenes or create dramatic pauses. You can apply this transition to the start of your first clip and/or the end of your last clip to create a smooth fade-in from black at the start or fade-out to black at the end.
Note

Transitions can be applied to videos on the main track in the timeline and not other freeform tracks. The Black fade transition can also be applied to other visual track items, such as text, images, or videos. However, you can only apply the Dissolve transition between two video clips on the timeline. 

To edit the duration of the transition you’ve applied, select the transition on the timeline, right-click to view additional options, and then select Edit duration.
Alternatively, select the transition on the timeline and drag its handles.

To remove the transition you’ve applied, go to the timeline, select the transition, and press the Delete key.
Alternatively, you can select the transition, right-click to view additional options, and then select Delete.

Firefly Video editor screen displays the timeline where an applied Transition is highlighted.
Expand the timeline to view and select the transition easily.