Matte Transitions can be a great way to add some movement to the transitions in your video project. If you’ve thought about using Matte Transitions in DaVinci Resolve, or are trying to get started with them using the program, you may already have a few questions.
In this article, you will get a breakdown of how to start using your Matte Transition, how to get the most out of them, and the simple mistakes to avoid. Keep reading until the end to learn where to find hundreds of Stock Matte Transitions for DaVinci Resolve or another editing software.
Summary
Part 1: How to Use Matte Transitions in DaVinci Resolve
Step 1: Add Your Matte to your Media Pool
1. Make sure your project is open.
2. On your Media tab, navigate in the top left panel to the file you want to use as a Matte Transition.
3. Right-click on the file and select Add to Media Pool as Matte.
Step 2: Apply Transition in Color Tab
1. Enter your Edit tab
2. Make sure your selected footage is already lined up correctly. Your second piece of footage should overlap the first clip. You can do this by placing it on a second video track.
3. Select your second clip, and make sure the Playhead is positioned over it
4. Click on the Color tab
5. If your Nodes workspace is not already visible, click on the Nodes icon in the top-right of your screen to bring it up
6. Right-click on the Node and select Add Matte > Timeline Mattes. Select the name of your chosen matte file.
7. Right-click on an empty spot in your Node window and select Add Alpha Output.
8. Click and drag to connect the green square on your Matte Node to the Alpha Output. This will make your transition visible.
Step 3: Changing the Alignment of your Footage
Since your matte is applied to your footage layer, it means that if you tried to reposition your footage, then the transition will reposition along with it. That would mean that the framing of your transition would be disrupted. Here is how you can adjust the position of your footage, but maintain the framing of your Matte Transition.
1. In the Edit tab, align your footage on the timeline just like in Step 2.2.
2. Right-click on your second clip and select New Compound Clip. Choose a name for it and accept it.
3. Right-click on this clip again and select Open in Timeline. This will allow you to edit the contents of your compound clip in its own timeline, without adjusting the length or position that it appears at on your original timeline.
4. If your Inspector panel is not visible, simply click on the clip you want to edit in your Timeline, and then click on the Inspector icon in the top-right of your window.
5. Adjust or even add any elements you want to appear in your Compound Clip on this timeline. The most important values you may want to change is the footage’s position within the frame: simply adjust the values under the X or Y Position under the Transform heading in the Inspector panel.
6. Exit your Compound Clip and return to your original timeline, by selecting your timeline in the Media Pool.
7. Select your Compound Clip in the original timeline and carry out Steps 2.3 – 2.8 to apply your matte transition to it.
Step 4: Delay your Transition
If you want the transition to occur at an earlier or later stage of your second clip, there is a way to make this happen.
1. Select the clip you have applied your transition to
2. Click on the Color tab
3. Select the Matte Node
4. Click on the Key tab to view a series of properties that can be adjusted in relation to your transition effect.
5. Uncheck the boxes labeled Lock Matte and Loop. You should now be able to edit the values under this tab.
6. To delay the transition by one second on a 25fps timeline, adjust the Offset Value to -25. Of course on a 24fps timeline, to delay the transition by a second you should enter -24, and so on.
7. Return to the Edit tab and playback your composition to watch your Matte Transition occur a second later than where your footage starts on your timeline.
Part 2: Pro Tips and Troubleshooting
Other Features you can Apply to your Matte Transition clip
If you want to get more ambitious with adjusting your Matte Transition, there are a number of other properties that you can edit under the Key tab in the Color workspace which you access in Part 1 Step 4.4. Here is a breakdown of some of the things that will allow you to adjust.
- Pan – Adjusts the horizontal position of your Matte Transition effect.
- Tilt – Adjusts the vertical position of the Matte Transition.
- Zoom – Use this property to adjust the overall size of your effect. The value 1.0 will mean the transition appears at its original intended size, while a higher number will make it appear larger. Choosing a value over 0 and under 1.0 will make it appear smaller. Any adjustment on this property will maintain the original Matte’s proportions, and any effects causing it to become larger than the frame size of your project will cause it to be cropped.
- Rotate – Adjusting this value to a positive or negative number will pivot the Matte Transition effect clockwise, or counter-clockwise.
- Height & Width – If you want to adjust the proportions of your Matte Transition, then increasing or decreasing either the Height or Width properties will stretch or constrict the matte. This may be useful if your project has a different frame proportion than the original Matte Transition clip.
- Offset – As explained in Part 1 Step 4, Offset will cause your effect to appear earlier or later than where the clip with the Matte Transition applied to it starts on your timeline.
Previewing Your Downloaded Transitions
You should know that if you use Apple and your operating system is 10.15.x (Catalina) or later, then some video formats will no longer be supported. If you are unable to preview some transitions on your desktop, then this may be the reason.
In order to troubleshoot this issue, you will need to add the clips to DaVinci Resolve and preview them there or install VLC in order to preview them.
Part 3: Pick and Choose over 100+ Matte Transitions in DaVinci Resolve
There are a great variety of Matte transitions in Stock Motion Graphics on the Motion Array marketplace. Remember to narrow down your search from our hundreds of resources available. To filter for Matte Transitions, in the left-hand menu on the search page select Stock Motion Graphics and toggle Transitions. Then enter the keyword Matte into the search box.
1. 16 Alpha Mattes Transition Pack
This set of Alpha Mattes uses clean, large geometric shapes to create visually appealing transitions that would suit a range of projects.
Download 16 Alpha Mattes Transition Pack Now
2. 50 Matte Transitions – Ultimate Pack
This pack of transitions including a series of shapes unfurling across the screen is sure to add even more visual interest to any multimedia project.
Download 50 Matte Transitions – Ultimate Pack Now
3. 55 Matte Transitions Pack
This transition pack includes over 50 matte transitions, all of which are in 4k and last 1.5 seconds each with detailed geometric patterns.
Download 55 Matte Transitions Pack Now
4. Square Mattes
This series of transitions uses only different sizes and patterns of squares to reveal your footage.
5. Matte Brushstrokes Transitions
For a unique touch, try this range of Matte transitions which uses various paintbrush strokes.
Download Matte Brushstrokes Transitions Now
6. Matte Transitions
If you’re looking for a more subdued transition, these mattes based on the shape of flowing ink may do the trick.
Download Matte Transitions Now
7. Glitch Matte Transitions with Sound
Great for any sci-fi, or futuristic projects, these glitch transitions come complete with sound effects.
Download Glitch Matte Transitions with Sound Now
8. Grunge Mattes
With lots of movement, this grunge-styled pack includes a series of 20 second-long luma mattes. Each starts with a fun paint splat effect.
9. 70 Geometric Matte Transitions
This transition pack includes a variety of fun geometric patterns.
Download 70 Geometric Matte Transitions Now
10. Circle Matte Transitions Pack
If you like geometric pattern transitions but want something softer, these 16 circle-based matte transitions may be ideal for your project.
Download Circle Matte Transitions Pack Now
As you can see, using alpha matte transitions in DaVinci Resolve isn’t that overwhelming. Although you may find the techniques covered simple, making the most out of matte transitions in DaVinci Resolve can really help to step up the quality of your project. Just think of all of the effects you can use and adjust to your liking in your current project, and beyond!
