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354Final Cut Pro User Guide
How transitions are created in Final Cut Pro
Transitions require overlapping video from the clips on each side of the edit point. A one-
second transition requires one second of video from the end of the left clip and one second
of video from the start of the right clip. When you apply a transition to an edit point,
Final Cut Pro attempts to use additional video from each of the clips to create the overlap.
These additional (unused) sections of clips are called media handles.
The example below shows range selections in a clip in the browser, and the portions of the
clip that will become media handles when the range selections are edited into the timeline.
The media handle video may not be appropriate for use in a transition. For example, if the
media handle includes unusable video such as a slate, it will be visible in the project.
The illustration below shows how transitions are created when the clips on either side of
the edit point have media handles. The transition is placed so that it spans the clips; half
of the transition overlaps each clip. Unused media from the end of each clip is added to fill
out the transition, and the total duration of your project is unchanged.
If one or both of the clips do not have enough extra content (media handles) to support a
transition of the default duration, you’re given the option to overlap media in your project
to create the transition. If you choose to overlap media, Final Cut Pro uses the available
media handles and then overlaps media as necessary to create the transition.