Where to find transitions and how to place them
Transitions in DaVinci Resolve live in the Edit page, in a panel called Transitions on the left side of your screen. Open your project, click the Edit tab at the bottom, and look for the word "Transitions" in the left panel — if you don't see it, click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) at the top of that panel and turn Transitions on.
To add a transition between two clips, position your cursor on the cut between them — the exact spot where one clip ends and the next begins. Then drag a transition from the Transitions panel onto that cut. DaVinci will place it so it overlaps the end of the first clip and the start of the second. The transition plays during that overlap, creating a visual bridge from one shot to the next.
If you want a transition at the very start of your timeline (before any cut), drag it onto the beginning of your first clip. You can also add transitions at the end of your last clip, though this is less common.
Key Takeaways
- Transitions sit in the Transitions panel on the Edit page, and you drag them directly onto the cut between two clips.
- A transition overlaps the end of one clip and the start of the next, so both clips must have extra frames available or the transition will not display fully.
- Double-click a transition on your timeline to open its settings and adjust duration, direction, and other parameters specific to that transition type.
- The default transition duration is usually one second, but you can change it for individual transitions or set a new default in DaVinci's preferences.
Adjusting transition duration and timing
Every transition has a duration — how long it takes to play. By default, DaVinci sets new transitions to one second. To change how long a single transition lasts, double-click it on your timeline. A panel will open showing its settings. Look for a field labeled Duration (measured in seconds) and type a new number. A 0.5-second transition is quick and subtle; a 2-second transition is slow and noticeable.
If you want to change the default duration so all new transitions you add use a different length, go to DaVinci Resolve menu (on Mac) or File menu (on Windows), then Preferences. Search for "transition" and you will find a setting for default transition duration. Change it there, and every transition you add afterward will use that new length until you change it again.
You can also adjust when a transition starts relative to the cut. In the transition settings panel, look for an Alignment option. Center (the default) places the transition so it straddles the cut equally. Start places it so the transition begins right at the cut. End places it so the transition finishes right at the cut. Choose whichever matches the pacing you want.
Understanding transition overlap and clip handles
A transition needs extra frames from both clips to work. If your first clip ends exactly when you want it to, and your second clip starts exactly when you want it to, there are no extra frames for the transition to use. DaVinci will still place the transition, but it will not display the full effect — it will look cut off or incomplete.
To avoid this, trim your clips so each one has a few extra frames beyond where you want the cut to happen. For example, if you want the cut to occur at the 5-second mark of clip one, trim it to 5.5 seconds instead. That extra 0.5 seconds gives the transition room to work. Do the same with the second clip — start it a fraction of a second before the moment you want to show.
If you add a transition and it looks wrong or incomplete, the first thing to check is whether both clips have enough handle (extra frames). Drag the edge of each clip outward slightly to give the transition more material to blend, then adjust the transition duration if needed.
Choosing and customizing transition types
DaVinci includes dozens of built-in transitions organized by category: Dissolve, Zoom, Wipe, Slide, and others. Dissolve is the most common — one image fades into the next. Zoom makes one clip appear to move toward or away from the camera as the next clip appears. Wipe pushes one clip off screen while pulling the next one in. Slide is similar but smoother.
To see what a transition looks like before you use it, hover your mouse over it in the Transitions panel and a preview will play. This takes a few seconds, so be patient. Once you find one you like, drag it onto your cut.
After you place a transition, double-click it to open its settings. Most transitions have parameters you can adjust — for a Wipe, you might choose the direction (left to right, top to bottom, diagonal). For a Zoom, you might choose whether it zooms in or out. For a Dissolve, there are usually fewer options, but you can still adjust duration and alignment. Experiment with these settings to match the mood of your edit.
explore the same transition to multiple cuts at once
If you want to use the same transition type throughout your timeline, you can copy a transition and paste it to other cuts. First, add the transition to one cut and adjust it the way you want. Then right-click it and select Copy. Click on another cut in your timeline, right-click, and select Paste. DaVinci will paste the transition with the same duration and settings.
To paste the same transition to many cuts quickly, select the transition, copy it, then hold Shift and click on each cut where you want it. Then right-click and paste. DaVinci will add the transition to all selected cuts at once.
Be cautious with this approach — using the same transition everywhere can make an edit feel repetitive. Most professional editors vary transitions: a few dissolves here, a wipe there, a cut with no transition elsewhere. This keeps the viewer's eye engaged and prevents the transitions themselves from becoming distracting.
Removing or replacing transitions
To remove a transition, click it on your timeline and press Delete. The two clips will cut directly to each other with no effect. If you want to replace a transition with a different one, you can either delete it and drag a new one onto the same cut, or right-click the transition and select Replace. A menu will open showing other transition types you can swap in.
If a transition is not working the way you expected, check three things: the duration (is it too fast or too slow?), the alignment (is it starting, centered, or ending at the cut?), and the clip handles (do both clips have enough extra frames?). Adjusting any of these usually fixes the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my transition look cut off or glitchy?
Both clips need extra frames beyond the cut point for the transition to display fully. Trim each clip so it extends slightly past where you want the cut to happen, giving the transition material to blend. If you still see problems, increase the transition duration slightly — sometimes a shorter duration needs more precise timing.
Can I use different transition durations for different transitions?
Yes. Each transition on your timeline has its own duration setting. Double-click any transition to adjust only that one. You can have a 0.5-second transition on one cut and a 2-second transition on the next cut in the same project.
What is the difference between a dissolve and a fade?
A dissolve blends one clip into the next — both are visible at the same time during the transition. A fade usually means one clip fades to black (or another color) while the next clip fades in from black. DaVinci calls this a Fade transition and lists it separately from Dissolve in the Transitions panel.
Do I have to use transitions between every clip?
No. Many professional edits use cuts (no transition) between most clips and save transitions for specific moments where you want to slow the pace or create a mood shift. A cut is often faster and cleaner than a transition.
Can I create a custom transition?
DaVinci's built-in transitions cannot be heavily customized beyond adjusting duration, direction, and alignment. If you need a unique effect, you can use the Fusion page to build custom transitions, but that requires learning DaVinci's compositing tools. For most projects, the built-in transitions are enough.