Adobe Premiere: Modifying the default transition settings

Now, you will modify the default effect settings of the Cross Dissolve transition before you add any clips to the Dream.ppj timeline.

  1. In the Transitions palette, double-click the Dissolve folder and look at the Cross Dissolve transition icon. The icon should be outlined in red to indicate that it is the default transition. Click once on the icon to select the transition.
  2. From the Transitions palette menu, click Set Selected as Default. Now the Cross Dissolve icon is still outlined in red, but the Default Effect dialog box appears so you can modify the settings of the default transition.
  3. Type 15 to replace 30 as the number of frames to be used for the transition’s Effect Duration. Verify that the Effect Alignment is shown as Center at Cut. Click OK.

NOTE: The Default Effects settings apply to all transitions, not just the transition you have specified as the default transition. So, from time to time, the Fix Transitions dialog box will appear as you work with various transitions, if the parameters of the default effects are in conflict with the number of frames available in the two clips used in the transition.

Working with the default transition

Premiere automatically uses Cross Dissolve as the default transition, as it is one of the most commonly used transitions. If you frequently use another transition, you can set it as the default. The default transition can be added to any project quickly, without stopping to open the Transitions palette by dragging the transition to the Timeline.

To specify a different transition as the default:

  1. Choose Window > Show Transitions.
  2. Select the transition that you want to use as the default.
  3. From the Transitions palette menu, choose Set Selected as Default.
  4. Type the duration that you want for the transition. (You can later change the duration for any specific transition instance in the Timeline.)
  5. Choose the default alignment for the transitions: Center at Cut.
  6. Click OK. These settings remain in effect for all projects until you change them.

To apply a default transition to your project in Single-Track Editing Mode:

  1. Add or position two clips on the Video 1 track so that they meet.
  2. Position the edit line where the two clips meet.
  3. Click the Apply Default Transition button in the Monitor window, or press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (Mac OS). If extra frames are not available at the In and Out points of the involved clips, the Fix Transitions dialog box appears. If necessary, select options from this dialog box.