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Tell better stories with free video transitions
Bring storytelling to the next level with free video transitions tailored just for your project on Canva’s online video editor. Add transitions and effects to your videos to subtly showcase scene changes, smoothly move the story along, or seamlessly join separate shots.
Start video editing
Play around with scene “Dissolves”
A dissolve transition gradually overlaps one shot or scene with the beginning of another scene. Apply this free video effect at the end of one scene to show the passage of time or a change in angle, location, or narrative. It’s perfect for your Instagram Stories to showcase your “day in a life” clips or hype reels for your brand to feature your event activities in different locations.
Surprise with slide transitions
Cool transitions turn your TikTok videos or Instagram Reels into a fun and hippy bingewatch. Move an image or clip from one side of the screen to another with a slide transition. It's commonly used to animate graphics with numbers or text, but it can also be used to create a thrilling pace between your footage and cover more frames smoothly on bite-sized videos you can upload on social media.
Delight with line and circle wipes
When you want to add emphasis to a scene or a frame on your vlog or short film, a wipe transition is the way to go. One shot replaces another by moving from one side of the frame to another or with a special shape. Using our video editor transitions, you can add line wipes to replace the previous shot from left to right and circle wipes to gradually reveal the next frame in an inward or outward movement.
Amaze with Pro transitions
There are more exciting video transition effects to weave your clips all together with Canva Pro. With Match & Move, you can animate identical elements smoothly between pages. Use it to automatically add transitions that best work for your project.
How to make transitions in videos
- Start inspiredOn Canva’s free online video editor, start inspired with a professionally designed video template or with a blank video template. Choose from YouTube intros, TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook, mobile, and other video formats.
- Upload your own or browse our free stock videos
On the left pane of the design dashboard, click the Uploads tab and upload your own video. MP4, MOV, MKV, WEBM, and MPEG are supported file formats.
Or, on the Videos tab, type the keyword or phrase you need as a clip on the search bar to choose a free stock video.
- Start video editingDrag and drop your uploaded video to the timeline and begin editing. Trim, split, crop, or resize your clips according to your intended order. Add text, music, sound effects, and animations.
- Add video transitionsTo add video transitions, click the + icon found between each video clip or slide. Then, select Add transition. The Transitions sidebar will appear, and you can choose a video transition. Click on the transition’s icon to set up its duration and direction.
- Preview, share, and publish your videoPreview your progress by clicking the ▶ or play button. Then, easily download, share, and upload your video online.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to use video transitions is during a scene or narrative change. Remember, transitions help keep the moods and themes of a video consistent by making the flow nice and smooth without jolting the audience. Choose what transition best fits the story you are trying to tell.
Dissolves are best used to show time passage or a change in narrative. A quick or short dissolve may indicate a few hours or minutes, while a longer dissolve can showcase a longer time frame.
Slide transitions work best if used if you want to reveal something on the next scene or frame. Use it once or twice in an edit.
Wipes are best used to create interest or emphasis for the next scene or frame. Though once a popular cinematic transition to move between parallel action, use it sparingly and only when intending to create a comedic effect or convey a dream or surreal sequence. With the right timing and execution, wipe transitions can make two scenes subtly look like a single continuous shot.
