Scene Transitions - PictoryAI

This guide shows you how to add transition effects between scenes in your videos. Transitions provide smooth visual changes when moving from one scene to another, creating professional polish and visual flow that keeps viewers engaged.

What You’ll Learn

Transition Types

Choose from 10+ professional transition effects

Per-Scene Control

Set different transitions for each scene

Visual Continuity

Create smooth flow between scenes

Professional Polish

Enhance videos with polished transitions

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

A Pictory API key (get one here)
Node.js or Python installed on your machine
Multiple scenes in your video (transitions connect scenes)
Basic understanding of scene configuration in Pictory API

npm install axios

How Scene Transitions Work

When you add transitions to your video:

Transition Selection - You specify a transition type for each scene
Scene Boundary Detection - System identifies where scenes connect
Transition Placement - Transition is applied at the end of each scene
Effect Application - Visual effect is rendered between scenes
Duration Calculation - Transition duration is automatically optimized
Scene Stitching - Scenes are seamlessly connected with transitions
Video Rendering - Final video includes all transitions between scenes

Each scene’s sceneTransition parameter defines the transition effect that plays when moving TO the next scene. The last scene’s transition is typically not used since there’s no scene after it.

Complete Example

import axios from "axios";

const API_BASE_URL = "https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis";
const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const STORY_TEXT_1 =
  "AI is poised to significantly impact educators and course creators on social media.";
const STORY_TEXT_2 =
  "By automating tasks like content generation, visual design, and video editing.";
const STORY_TEXT_3 =
  "AI will save time and enhance consistency for content creators everywhere.";

async function createVideoWithTransitions() {
  try {
    console.log("Creating video with scene transitions...");

    const response = await axios.post(
      `${API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render`,
      {
        videoName: "video_with_scene_transitions",

        scenes: [
          // SCENE 1: Fade transition to Scene 2
          {
            story: STORY_TEXT_1,
            createSceneOnNewLine: false,
            createSceneOnEndOfSentence: false,
            sceneTransition: "fade",           // Classic fade effect
          },

          // SCENE 2: Wipe right transition to Scene 3
          {
            story: STORY_TEXT_2,
            createSceneOnNewLine: false,
            createSceneOnEndOfSentence: false,
            sceneTransition: "wiperight",      // Wipe moving right
          },

          // SCENE 3: No transition (last scene)
          {
            story: STORY_TEXT_3,
            createSceneOnNewLine: false,
            createSceneOnEndOfSentence: false,
            sceneTransition: "none",           // Hard cut (or omit)
          },
        ],
      },
      {
        headers: {
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
          Authorization: API_KEY,
        },
      }
    );

    const jobId = response.data.data.jobId;
    console.log("✓ Video creation started!");
    console.log("Job ID:", jobId);

    // Monitor progress
    console.log("\nMonitoring video creation...");
    let jobCompleted = false;
    let jobResult = null;

    while (!jobCompleted) {
      const statusResponse = await axios.get(
        `${API_BASE_URL}/v1/jobs/${jobId}`,
        {
          headers: { Authorization: API_KEY },
        }
      );

      const status = statusResponse.data.data.status;
      console.log("Status:", status);

      if (status === "completed") {
        jobCompleted = true;
        jobResult = statusResponse.data;
        console.log("\n✓ Video with scene transitions is ready!");
        console.log("Video URL:", jobResult.data.videoURL);
      } else if (status === "failed") {
        throw new Error("Video creation failed: " + JSON.stringify(statusResponse.data));
      }

      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
    }

    return jobResult;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error:", error.response?.data || error.message);
    throw error;
  }
}

createVideoWithTransitions();

Understanding the Parameters

Scene Transition Configuration

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`sceneTransition`	string	No	Transition effect applied when moving to the next scene. See available transitions below.

Transition Direction: The sceneTransition on Scene 1 defines the transition FROM Scene 1 TO Scene 2. The transition is placed at the END of the scene, not the beginning. The last scene’s transition is not used.

Available Transitions

Basic Transitions

Transition	Effect Description	Visual Result	Best Used For
`none`	No transition, direct cut	Immediate scene change	Fast-paced content, news, tutorials
`fade`	Classic fade to black/white	Gradual fade out/in	Professional videos, all content types

Directional Wipe Transitions

Transition	Effect Description	Visual Result	Best Used For
`wipeup`	Scene wipes upward	New scene reveals from bottom	Uplifting content, positive messages
`wipedown`	Scene wipes downward	New scene reveals from top	Serious topics, transitions to detail
`wipeleft`	Scene wipes to the left	New scene pushes from right	Forward progression, next steps
`wiperight`	Scene wipes to the right	New scene pushes from left	Going back, flashbacks, recaps

Smooth Slide Transitions

Transition	Effect Description	Visual Result	Best Used For
`smoothleft`	Smooth slide to the left	Seamless horizontal movement	Sequential content, step-by-step guides
`smoothright`	Smooth slide to the right	Seamless horizontal movement	Navigation, menu-style presentations

Special Effect Transitions

Transition	Effect Description	Visual Result	Best Used For
`radial`	Radial/circular wipe from center	Expanding circle reveal	Focus points, reveals, dramatic moments
`circlecrop`	Circle crop effect	Circular mask transition	Spotlight content, modern aesthetics
`hblur`	Horizontal motion blur	Blurred horizontal transition	Dynamic content, modern/stylish videos

Transition Selection Guide

Choose transitions based on your content type and brand style:

Content Type	Recommended Transitions	Reasoning
Professional/Corporate	`fade`, `none`	Clean, conservative, universally appropriate
Educational/Tutorial	`fade`, `smoothright`, `none`	Clear, non-distracting, maintains focus
Marketing/Sales	`wiperight`, `fade`, `radial`	Dynamic, engaging, draws attention
Social Media	`hblur`, `wiperight`, `circlecrop`	Modern, energetic, eye-catching
News/Information	`none`, `fade`	Fast-paced, professional, straightforward
Storytelling/Narrative	`fade`, `smoothleft`, `smoothright`	Smooth flow, maintains narrative continuity
Product Demos	`wiperight`, `smoothright`, `fade`	Shows progression, highlights features
Testimonials	`fade`, `none`	Professional, focuses on speaker

Transition Patterns

Pattern 1: Consistent Transitions Throughout

Use the same transition for all scenes for cohesive feel.

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Scene 1 content...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Scene 2 content...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Scene 3 content...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Scene 4 content...", sceneTransition: "fade" }
  ]
}

Result: Consistent, professional feel with uniform transitions throughout.

Pattern 2: Varied Transitions for Energy

Mix different transitions to create dynamic pacing.

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Introduction...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Key point 1...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },
    { story: "Key point 2...", sceneTransition: "smoothleft" },
    { story: "Conclusion...", sceneTransition: "fade" }
  ]
}

Result: Dynamic video with varied visual interest.

Pattern 3: No Transitions Except Section Breaks

Use transitions only between major sections.

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Intro scene 1...", sceneTransition: "none" },
    { story: "Intro scene 2...", sceneTransition: "fade" },      // Section break
    { story: "Content scene 1...", sceneTransition: "none" },
    { story: "Content scene 2...", sceneTransition: "none" },
    { story: "Content scene 3...", sceneTransition: "fade" },    // Section break
    { story: "Conclusion...", sceneTransition: "none" }
  ]
}

Result: Fast-paced content with transitions only marking major section changes.

Pattern 4: Directional Storytelling

Use directional transitions to show progression or flow.

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Step 1...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },        // Move forward
    { story: "Step 2...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },        // Move forward
    { story: "Step 3...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },        // Move forward
    { story: "Review...", sceneTransition: "wipeleft" },         // Go back
    { story: "Conclusion...", sceneTransition: "fade" }
  ]
}

Result: Visual flow showing forward progression, then reflection.

Common Use Cases

Professional Presentations

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Company overview and introduction...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Our services and capabilities...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Client success stories...", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Contact us for more information...", sceneTransition: "none" }
  ]
}

Result: Clean, professional presentation with classic fade transitions.

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Hook: Did you know this fact?", sceneTransition: "hblur" },
    { story: "Main content and explanation...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },
    { story: "Call to action: Follow for more!", sceneTransition: "circlecrop" }
  ]
}

Result: Dynamic, modern social media video with engaging transitions.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Step 1: First, do this...", sceneTransition: "smoothright" },
    { story: "Step 2: Then, do that...", sceneTransition: "smoothright" },
    { story: "Step 3: Next, complete this...", sceneTransition: "smoothright" },
    { story: "Final result: You're done!", sceneTransition: "fade" }
  ]
}

Result: Clear progression through steps with smooth directional transitions.

Product Showcase

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Introducing our new product...", sceneTransition: "radial" },
    { story: "Feature 1: Advanced technology...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },
    { story: "Feature 2: Easy to use...", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },
    { story: "Available now! Order today!", sceneTransition: "fade" }
  ]
}

Result: Engaging product showcase with attention-grabbing transitions.

Best Practices

Match Transitions to Content Mood

Choose transitions that complement your content style:

Professional/Serious: Stick to fade and none for conservative feel
Energetic/Dynamic: Use wiperight, hblur, radial for movement
Modern/Stylish: Try circlecrop, hblur, smoothleft
Traditional/Classic: Use fade exclusively for timeless look
Educational: Prefer subtle transitions (fade, smoothright) that don’t distract
Brand Alignment: Ensure transitions match your brand personality

Use Consistent Transitions for Cohesion

Create visual consistency throughout your video:

Same Transition: Use one transition type for unified feel
Transition Family: If varying, stick to one family (all wipes, all smooth, etc.)
Predictable Pattern: Establish a pattern viewers can follow
Section Markers: Use special transitions only for major section changes
Avoid Randomness: Don’t randomly mix transitions without purpose
Test Consistency: Preview to ensure transitions feel cohesive

Don't Overuse Dramatic Transitions

Exercise restraint with flashy effects:

Less is More: Dramatic transitions lose impact if overused
Strategic Placement: Save dramatic transitions for key moments
Viewer Fatigue: Too many effects can tire viewers
Content Focus: Transitions should enhance, not overshadow content
Professional Standard: Corporate content should favor subtle transitions
Test Audience: Check if transitions distract from message

Consider Transition Duration and Pacing

Ensure transitions fit your video pacing:

Scene Length: Very short scenes with transitions may feel rushed
Content Type: Fast-paced content works with quick transitions (none, fade)
Viewer Comfort: Give viewers time to process each scene change
Music Sync: Consider how transitions work with background music
Natural Breaks: Place transitions at natural content breaks
Flow Testing: Preview to ensure pacing feels natural

Optimize for Platform and Audience

Choose transitions based on where and to whom you’re publishing:

YouTube: fade and wiperight work well for most content
Instagram/TikTok: Modern transitions (hblur, circlecrop) for younger audience
LinkedIn: Conservative transitions (fade, none) for professional network
Corporate: Stick to fade for internal/external business videos
Educational: Subtle transitions that don’t distract learners
Platform Trends: Research what’s popular on your target platform

Troubleshooting

Transition not appearing between scenes

Problem: Expected transition effect doesn’t show between scenes.Solution:

Verify you set sceneTransition on the FIRST scene (not the second)
Remember: Scene 1’s transition goes TO Scene 2
Check spelling of transition name (case-sensitive)
Valid transitions: fade, none, wipeup, wipedown, wipeleft, wiperight, smoothleft, smoothright, radial, circlecrop, hblur
Ensure you have at least 2 scenes (transitions connect scenes)
Last scene’s transition typically isn’t used (no scene after it)

Transition appears in wrong location

Problem: Transition effect shows up between unexpected scenes.Solution:

Review which scene has the sceneTransition parameter
Transition is placed at the END of the scene that defines it
If Scene 2 has sceneTransition: "fade", it affects Scene 2 → Scene 3
Check your scene array order matches your intended flow
Verify you didn’t accidentally add transition to wrong scene
Use comments in code to label which transition goes where

All transitions look the same

Problem: Different transition types look very similar in output.Solution:

Some transitions are subtle (fade vs. none can be quick)
Preview the video carefully to see transition effects
Very short scenes may not show full transition effect
Try dramatically different transitions to test (fade vs radial)
Ensure scenes are long enough for transition to be visible
Check that browser/player supports transition rendering

Transitions look choppy or abrupt

Problem: Transitions don’t look smooth, appear jarring.Solution:

This is typically expected behavior - transitions have standard duration
Scene content may create visual discord (very different scenes)
Try using fade for smoother, more universal transitions
Ensure scenes have sufficient length before/after transition
Consider if scene content naturally flows together
Very short scenes (under 2 seconds) may feel rushed with transitions

Invalid transition value error

Problem: API returns error about invalid transition value.Solution:

Check spelling of transition name exactly as documented
Transition names are case-sensitive (use lowercase)
Valid values: fade, none, wipeup, wipedown, wipeleft, wiperight, smoothleft, smoothright, radial, circlecrop, hblur
Ensure no extra spaces or special characters
Verify you’re passing a string, not an object or number
Example correct usage: sceneTransition: "fade"

Want to control transition duration

Problem: Transition duration seems too fast or too slow.Solution:

Transition duration is automatically optimized by the API
You cannot manually control transition duration
All transitions use standard, pre-defined durations
To work around:
- Choose different transition types (some feel longer/shorter)
- Adjust scene durations to affect overall pacing
- Use none for instant cuts if transitions feel too slow
This is a current limitation of the transition system

First scene has unexpected transition

Problem: Video starts with a transition effect.Solution:

First scene’s transition applies when moving TO the second scene
There should be no transition at the very start of the video
If you see an effect at video start, it may be:
- An intro scene with its own transition
- Video player fade-in (not part of your video)
- Check that first scene’s transition isn’t being misapplied
The transition at video start should typically be instant (no effect)

Transition Behavior Examples

Understanding exactly when transitions occur:

Example 1: Three Scenes with Different Transitions

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Scene A", sceneTransition: "fade" },       // Fade when going A → B
    { story: "Scene B", sceneTransition: "wiperight" },  // Wipe when going B → C
    { story: "Scene C", sceneTransition: "none" }        // Not used (last scene)
  ]
}

Result:

Video starts → Scene A (no transition)
Scene A ends → FADE → Scene B begins
Scene B ends → WIPE RIGHT → Scene C begins
Scene C ends → Video ends (no transition)

Example 2: All Scenes Use Same Transition

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Scene 1", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Scene 2", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Scene 3", sceneTransition: "fade" },
    { story: "Scene 4", sceneTransition: "fade" }
  ]
}

Result: Fade transition between every scene for consistent flow.

Example 3: No Transitions (Fast Cuts)

{
  scenes: [
    { story: "Scene 1", sceneTransition: "none" },
    { story: "Scene 2", sceneTransition: "none" },
    { story: "Scene 3", sceneTransition: "none" }
  ]
}

Result: Instant cuts between all scenes, no transition effects.

Next Steps

Enhance your videos with these complementary features:

Intro/Outro Scenes

Add professional intro and outro with transitions

Scene-Level Music Control

Control music per scene with transitions

Background Music

Add music that flows with transitions

Custom Subtitle Styling

Style subtitles to complement transitions

API Reference

For complete technical details, see:

Render Storyboard Video - Full API specification including scene configuration
Get Job Status - Monitor job status and get video URLs

Getting started

Text to Video

Article to Video

Presentation to Video

Audio to Video

Video to Shorts

Video Story CoPilot

Smart Layouts and Subtitles

Branding & Customization

Advanced Features

​What You’ll Learn

Transition Types

Per-Scene Control

Visual Continuity

Professional Polish

​Before You Begin

​How Scene Transitions Work

​Complete Example

​Understanding the Parameters

​Scene Transition Configuration

​Available Transitions

​Basic Transitions

​Directional Wipe Transitions

​Smooth Slide Transitions

​Special Effect Transitions

​Transition Selection Guide

​Transition Patterns

​Pattern 1: Consistent Transitions Throughout

​Pattern 2: Varied Transitions for Energy

​Pattern 3: No Transitions Except Section Breaks

​Pattern 4: Directional Storytelling

​Common Use Cases

​Professional Presentations

​Social Media Content

​Step-by-Step Tutorial

​Product Showcase

​Best Practices

​Troubleshooting

​Transition Behavior Examples

​Example 1: Three Scenes with Different Transitions

​Example 2: All Scenes Use Same Transition

​Example 3: No Transitions (Fast Cuts)

​Next Steps

Intro/Outro Scenes

Scene-Level Music Control

Background Music

Custom Subtitle Styling

​API Reference

What You’ll Learn

Before You Begin

How Scene Transitions Work

Complete Example

Understanding the Parameters

Scene Transition Configuration

Available Transitions

Basic Transitions

Directional Wipe Transitions

Smooth Slide Transitions

Special Effect Transitions

Transition Selection Guide

Transition Patterns

Pattern 1: Consistent Transitions Throughout

Pattern 2: Varied Transitions for Energy

Pattern 3: No Transitions Except Section Breaks

Pattern 4: Directional Storytelling

Common Use Cases

Professional Presentations

Social Media Content

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Product Showcase

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Transition Behavior Examples

Example 1: Three Scenes with Different Transitions

Example 2: All Scenes Use Same Transition

Example 3: No Transitions (Fast Cuts)

Next Steps

API Reference