How to Use Transitions to Make Your TikTok Videos More Interesting

If you're a TikTok creator, you know how quickly those minutes of video can go by. One of the ways to move the narrative forward is to use transitions between clips.

Although TikTok offers a handful of templates that look like slideshow presentation transitions, these don't seem to be very popular. Instead, many users opt for manual transitions that use video editing and recording tricks to transition their video from clip to clip. Some of these transitions are relatively simple and only require a few steps, while others require a bit of planning.

All transitions have a purpose, however, and that is to move the video forward and keep pace with the music or what the person is saying. Transitions can also be used to reveal something new, such as a change in appearance, or to signal that the speaker is moving on to the next topic.

Here's how to perform a simple TikTok transition:

Use one hand to hold your phone.
Rotate your camera so that it's in selfie mode.
Press and hold the record button.
Say or do what you want to say or do.
Once you've finished speaking, use your free hand to cover the phone's camera.
Stop recording.
Prepare your next shot by moving elsewhere or preparing to speak again.
With your hand still on the camera, start recording again.
When you start speaking, move your hand away from the camera.
End the clip and stop recording.
Replay the clip on the next screen to make sure the transition is smooth.
Keep recording or post the video!

If you need an example, I use this transition method below:

Once you've mastered the basics, you can start experimenting. Making transitions compelling really depends on camera placement and timing. Some combinations require your phone, body, or both to stay in the same place for each frame. Other transitions, especially with objects or body movements, require the right timing when editing the clips. Matching the previous movement to the next movement is what makes a transition seamless.

Here's an example of a more complex transition and a visual explanation of how the creator did it:

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