Glossary A–ZLetter T
Transition
A transition is the way one content item changes into the next, for example as a hard cut, a crossfade or a slide in from the side.
It determines how calm or restless a sequence looks on screen.
The most common form is the crossfade, in which the old image fades out while the new one appears. There are also slides, wipes, zooms and other effects. In many management programs, the transition can be set per playlist or per item; the open SMIL standard also describes transitions. A short, even transition makes a sequence of still images look calmer than a hard cut.
Operators should use transitions with restraint. Striking effects distract from the content and soon look restless, especially if every change looks different. Technically, a transition between two videos is demanding because the player has to process both at the same time for a moment; on weaker devices this causes stuttering or a brief black frame. Not every player supports every effect, so what has been set in the program should be checked on the device.