Text transitions are a simple yet powerful way to make your titles and lower thirds feel dynamic and polished. Whether you’re cutting between two title cards or animating a single text layer, Resolve offers built-in transitions plus the ability to customize your own in Fusion. In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to apply standard text transitions from the Effects Library
• How to adjust timing and parameters for a seamless look
• How to create a custom text transition in the Fusion page

By the end, you’ll be able to quickly add professional-quality text transitions—and even dive into Fusion for bespoke animations.

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Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open the Edit Page
   Launch Resolve and switch to the Edit page via the toolbar at the bottom. This is where you’ll build your timeline and apply quick transitions.
2. Add Text Clips to the Timeline
   • Open the Effects Library (top left).
   • Under Toolbox > Titles, drag Text+ (for advanced controls) or Text (simplicity) onto a video track.
   • In the Timeline, position two separate text clips back-to-back where you want the transition to occur.
3. Overlap Clips for a Cross-Dissolve
   To create a simple dissolve transition:
   • Click and drag the end of the first text clip over the start of the second.
   • Resolve will automatically create a Cross Dissolve; if not, proceed to Step 4.
4. Apply a Transition from the Effects Library
   • In Effects Library > Toolbox > Video Transitions, find Cross Dissolve (or any other).
   • Drag the transition onto the cut point between the two text clips on your timeline.
5. Adjust Transition Duration
   • Click the transition icon on the cut.
   • In the Inspector (top right), set the Duration in frames or seconds.
   • Use Ease In/Out curves if available for smoother acceleration.
6. Customize Transition Parameters
   • With the transition selected, explore additional settings like Border Width, Softness, or Lighting Effects in the Inspector.
   • Tweak until it complements your text style.
7. Create a Custom Fusion Text Transition (Optional)
   • Select the transition in the timeline and click Fusion at the bottom.
   • In the Fusion node editor, you’ll see two Text+ inputs and a Dissolve node.
   • Animate parameters (e.g., Opacity, Position, or Center) by setting keyframes at frame 0 and at the end frame.
   • Return to the Edit page to preview.
8. Fine-Tune in the Color Page (Optional)
   • Go to the Color page and add a Power Window or Blur node to the transition clip for a more cinematic look.
   • Adjust contrast or saturation to emphasize the text pop.

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Pro Tips & Workflow Improvements

1. Use Preset Fusion Transitions: Resolve comes with Fusion Transitions under Effects Library > Toolbox > Fusion Transitions—try Swipe, Push, or Zoom for instant flair.
2. Keyboard Shortcuts
   • Press Ctrl / Cmd+D after selecting a cut to automatically apply the default transition.
   • Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) when dragging to copy a transition’s settings to another cut.
3. Adjust Transition Placement: Right-click the transition icon and choose Transition Alignment to decide whether it starts at the cut, ends at the cut, or is centered.
4. Batch-Apply to Multiple Edits
   • Select multiple cuts on your timeline.
   • Right-click and choose Add Cross Dissolve to apply the same transition to all.
5. Save Custom Transitions: After creating a Fusion transition you love, right-click it in the Effects Library and choose Create Preset to reuse in future projects.

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Advanced Use Case: Scripting Text Transitions

For power users, DaVinci Resolve’s scripting API lets you automate text transitions:

1. Open Workspace > Console.
2. Use Python or Lua to select clips and apply transitions via commands like timeline.AddTransition().
3. Save your script and bind it to a keyboard shortcut for one-click text transitions across your edit.

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Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes

• Transition Doesn’t Show: Ensure clips overlap or you’ve dragged the transition onto the cut (not the clip itself).
• Choppy Playback: Lower the playback resolution in the Viewer menu to Half or Quarter.
• Keyframes Missing in Fusion: Verify you’re on the correct frame when adding keyframes; use the Spline editor to see all animated parameters.
• Transition Looks Harsh: Increase Softness or use Ease In/Out curves in the Inspector for smoother motion.
• Text Flickers: Avoid very rapid transitions (< 5 frames) on complex Fusion titles—render cache if needed.

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Conclusion

Adding text transitions in DaVinci Resolve is both quick with built-in tools and infinitely customizable through Fusion. You’ve learned to:

• Apply and tweak standard transitions
• Build your own Fusion animations
• Optimize your workflow with shortcuts and scripts

Now it’s your turn: experiment with different transition types, combine them with color grading effects, and explore Fusion presets. Next up, check out our guide on Creating Dynamic Lower Thirds in Resolve to take your titles even further!