HOW TO MASTER THE LATEST TRANSITIONS

As any creator knows, video transitions are a key element to help set the style and tone of your final edit. 

For social media content such as TikToks, YouTube or Instagram shorts, you only have a few seconds to play with. So the transitions in videos become a fundamental part of the story they’re telling. In some cases, they can be the main action in the video. 

The only restriction on the creative transitions you can make is your imagination. With quick smartphone video editing tools and a bit of planning, you can make cool transition effects in just a few steps. 

To help you get started, here are some step-by-step instructions on how to make some of the transitions that are trending on social media right now.  

Trending transitions to master

From TikToks to YouTube shorts and Instagram Reels, here are some tips on how to shoot and edit your video clips using on-trend transitions. 

Stop, drop and roll

You can use the stop, drop and roll in a range of ways. From 'glow-ups', prom or night out transformations to everyday personal updates, this is a fun and relatively easy effect to create. 

1. Find a flat, spinnable surface that you can place your phone on like a badge or a spinner ring.
2. Set your video timer to 9.5 seconds.
3. Film your first lip-sync clip to the audio track.
4. On the second ‘drop’, place your phone on the spinner facing up with your face still in frame.
5. On the second ‘roll’, spin your phone.
6. Get into the location, outfit or ‘after’ state of your transition.
7. Set a three-second timer on your video, place your phone back on the spinner and at ‘one’, spin the phone in the same direction.
8. Complete the final part of the shot.

 

Abow

Similar to a jump cut, this transition recreates the motion of someone ‘bowing’ to an audience. On TikTok, the term ‘abow’ is code for something showing, amazing or exciting. 

Follow these steps to make viewers feel the same when they watch your edit:

1. Get into your ‘before’ state.
2. Hold your phone on both sides and click record.
3. At the point of transition, drop your phone down to waist height and stop recording.
4. Get into your ‘after’ state.
5. Hold your phone at waist height and click record.
6. Quickly pull the phone back up to recreate your starting frame.

 

Hand twist

You may have already seen the hand-swipe transition. This variation will make your video stand out and is easy to create. 

1. Set your phone to record for a set time. The time should be long enough to allow you to perform your first action and the hand twist.
2. As you approach the end of recording time, put your wrists together and twist your hands in front of the camera to cover the whole frame.
3. For your ‘after shot’, set your camera to start recording after three seconds.
4. As it starts recording, twist your hands in the same position and direction as before, then complete the clip.

 

Disappear

Want to surprise your viewers? What better way than to disappear from the frame mid-video? Here’s how to record the clips you need.

1. Set up your phone on a tripod. There are a few different ways you can customize this transition - a motion control mount for your phone, for example, could add movement to your footage.
2. Set it up to record a video for a set length of time. The timer should end at the transition point between the two clips. For example, when your hand swipes across the screen. You may have to practice your action to figure out how long to set the timer for.
3. Record your first clip.
4. Hit record again to capture the same frame without you in it for a couple of seconds.

 

Knock-knock

To add a bit of drama, suspense or surprise to your clips, the knock-knock transition is ideal. You could make several version of this without it being the same twice. 

Here’s how you create it:

1. Stand next to a door with your phone in your hand, both you and the door should be in frame
2. Click the record button on the side of your phone
3. Perform the action of leaning in towards the door as if you can hear something
4. After about 3.5 seconds, move your phone towards the door and release the record button
5. Change into your ‘after’ state and switch to the other side of the door
6. Hold the phone in your opposite hand and point the camera towards to door
7. Click record and after a second flick it back so you’re in frame knocking on the door

 

Matching music to transitions

Knowing how to do a transition on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube is just the beginning. To really capture your viewers’ attention and give your video a quality finish, you need to get the to audio transition right too. 

One of the best ways to match your music choice to your video transition is to choose your track before you start recording. That way, you’ll know exactly where you’re going to place the transition and it will help you get the timing right when you shoot your clips. All you’ll need to do is lay the track over your clips in the editing tool, cut and stitch to create a quality effect.

Make sure you choose a royalty-free option that matches both your video’s mood and transition. So you can proudly share the final product without worrying about copyright claims. Browse our catalog and get unlimited access to over 50,000 fresh new tracks.