Fade In / Fade to Black

Fade in / Fade to black

Watch as an animation →

In plain words

Start from black or fade out to black to mark the start, the end or a big break.

When to use it

The start of a video, just before a logo, a dramatic pause.

Example videos

Ultimate Guide to Scene Transitions – Every Editing Transition Explained (The Shot List, Ep 9) — Explainer: See an example of a fade that closes a section by fading to black.

Editing Transitions Every Filmmaker Should Know — Explainer: See how a fade marks a start and an end.

ALL Types of Cuts in AI Filmmaking | Full Showcase and Tutorial — AI: See an example of cutting an AI scene to black.

In AI video, like this

In the edit, combine fade=t=in:st=0:d=0.4, fade=t=out and afade. To pass through black between cuts, use xfade=transition=fadeblack.

One-click prompt

Fade a 5-second clip in from black over 0.4 seconds and out to black over its last 0.4 seconds, picture and sound together: ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf "fade=t=in:st=0:d=0.4,fade=t=out:st=4.6:d=0.4" -af "afade=t=in:st=0:d=0.4,afade=t=out:st=4.6:d=0.4" out.mp4

See it in real films and ads

StudioBinder — Fade transition definition and examples

AI-made examples

Dom the AI Tutor — Cut to Black chapter

Recommended for scenes like these

Public Service Campaign Drama: Breakup 1917 — The Continuous-Shot Illusion

Techniques that pair well

Motivated Lighting Two Shot Medium Shot (MS)Blue Hour Color Grading

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