Learn how to add fade transition effects at the beginning, end, or in between scenes in your iMovie video project to give it a polished and professional look.
Just like with movies you watch on TV or at the theater, you can add transitions to your own show in iMovie. For example, you can fade to black between clips or at the movie’s end. In addition, you can fade in from black or fade in and out using white.
On Mac
You can add the fade effect to the starting or ending portions of your movie or add it between two video clips.
Fade at the beginning or end of your movie
- Open your project for editing in iMovie and click the Settings button on the top right of your movie Timeline.
- Check the box for Fade in from black (beginning of the movie), Fade out to black (end of the movie), or both.
- You’ll then see a small indicator in your movie Timeline.
Fade between clips
- Move the play head in the Timeline between the clips where you want the fade transition.
- Click Transitions in the Browser at the top.
- Double-click one of the transitions for Fade to Black or Fade to White. You can also drag one of these transitions to the spot in your Timeline.
On iPhone or iPad
Just like Mac, you can add this effect to the endpoints or between two clips.
Fade at the beginning or end of your movie
- Open your movie for editing in iMovie on iPhone or iPad, and make sure you have not selected any video on the editing timeline. If something is selected and outlined in yellow, tap anywhere else on the screen.
- Tap the gear icon. On iPhone, it’s on the bottom right, and on iPad, it’s on the top right.
- Turn on the toggle for Fade in from black (beginning of the movie), Fade out to black (end of the movie), or both, and tap Done. You’ll then see a small indicator in your movie timeline.
Fade between clips
- Go to your iMovie timeline and tap the spot between clips where you want the fade.
- In the Transitions pop-up at the bottom, tap Fade.
- If you tap once, it will fade to black, and if you tap again, it will fade to white.
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