Using graphics with two transitions: Lesson 8-4
Lesson 6 I skipped two transitions that require the use of graphic files: Image Mask and Gradient Wipe.
- Image Mask This so-called transition (it''s more like a video effect) has a narrow purposeusing a graphic or image to define how a portion of one clip will display on another. Premiere Pro converts the graphic image to grayscale, then converts pixels containing 50% or more gray to black and pixels containing less than 50% gray to white. Clip A displays in black areas and Clip B displays in white areas. Image Mask and its video effect twin are static, which limits their value. Later in the book I show you how to use a Track Matte that works similarly but also can change size and move to follow action.
- Gradient Wipe This is a true transition. It lets parts of Clip A and Clip B display together using a custom mask and gradually moves from one scene to the next using a smooth animation. It''s like other Wipe transitions, but in this case you control the shape of the edges. In a reversal of the Image Mask transition, Clip B shows through the black area, whereas Clip A shows through the white area (you can check Reverse in Effect Controls to swap that function). Also, in this case, Premiere Pro does see things as gray. As the transition progresses, the gray areas darken and more of Clip B shows through until at the end of the transition only lip B is onscreen.
1. | Click the Lesson 8 Practice tab in the Timeline and delete the sequence you just completed. |
2. | Click New Itemthe button at the bottom of in the Project panel (highlighted in the next figure)and select Color Matte. |
NoteYou will use two color mattessolid color, screen-size graphicsto get a better feel for how these transitions work.

3. | Move the Select-a-Color slider up or down to a color you like, click in the screen to pick a shade, and click OK. [View full size image] ![]() |
4. | Give it a descriptive name and click OK.![]() |
5. | Follow that process again to make another matte with an obviously different color. |
Color mattes are useful objects
6. | Drag both Color Mattes to the Lesson 8 Practice sequence on the Timeline and press the backslash key to expand your view. |
7. | Apply the Image Mask transition (from Effects > Video Transitions > Special Effect) to their edit point.That pops up the Lesson 8 folder should open by default), and double-click Image Mask-1.jpg. That returns you to Image Mask Settings where you can see that this graphic is a blue oval. |
NotePremiere Pro will "see" the blue oval as black and let Clip A show through it while having Clip B display on the white area.

9. | Click OK and move the CTI to the edit point to take a look at the transition in the Program Monitor. |
10. | Click the transition rectangle and view its parameters in the Effect Controls panel. Increase its Duration, change the border width, and give it a color.![]() |
11. | Click Custom and double-click Image Mask-2.jpg.It consists of two gradients and a solid color object.[View full size image]![]() |
12. | Click OK and note how Image Mask treats gradients.Image Mask will see portions of the gradients as only black or whitetransparent or opaque (highlighted in the previous figure). |
13. | Drag Gradient Wipe (from the Wipe transition bin) to the edit point, replacing Image Mask. |
NoteThe Gradient Wipe Settings box should appear. If not, click on the transition rectangle in the Timeline to view its parameters in the Effect Controls panel and click Custom.

NoteGradient Wipe can use very elaborate wipes. All you need is basic graphics creation software. I used Photoshop CS to make the graphics used in this lesson because it''s so easy to create gradients with it. Two Gradient Wipe transitions.
