Ah, Fade to Black. One of Metallica’s greatest tracks. Is there anything more grand than Kirk Hammett’s illustrious guitar riff coming in over James Hetfield’s haunting acoustic opening?
While we could talk about that track all day, that’s not the fade to black we’re here for. Instead, we’re talking about the editing technique: the fade to black editing transition.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about how to fade to black using the WeVideo editor. More importantly, we’ll also explore why it’s such a powerful technique and where it likely originated.
FADE OUT:
While we take great pride in explaining filmmaking techniques, there’s not a lot to say about fading to black. As the name suggests, the image on screen simply fades into a solid black color. We’ve all seen a fade to black technique in action, whether in a YouTube documentary, the latest HBO series, or a feature film by a legendary director. It’s even used countless times in trailers, like this:
The fade to black transition a timeless technique that works across all media. But why is it so effective?
First, it provides a clear, natural sense of closure to the end of a sequence. Unlike an L-cut, J-cut, standard cut, or cross-dissolve, there’s no ambiguity with a fade to black. It tells the audience one thing: this part of the story is over. Like closing your eyes at the end of the day, a fade-to-black visually tells the audience, “There’s nothing more to see here.”
Arguably, this technique draws influence from the world of theater. On stage, when a scene ends, a new set needs to be brought in, or actors need to clear the stage; there’s no magical jump cut that the theater producers can execute. Instead, the lights will dim and the stage fades to black. Here, the audience understands the transition: this scene has ended, and something new is about to begin.
Image via Unsplash
This same visual language has carried over seamlessly into film and video editing!
When to fade to black
So, we know where the fade to black comes from. But the real question is: when should you use it?
Since you won't want to end every scene with a fade to black (though there aren't strict rule against this), the fade to black transition tends to be most effective in a few specific instances:
- Fading out and into a later date if the following scene takes place in the exact location
- Transitioning from the end of one scene to the beginning of another when there’s a thematic shift
- Shifting between two different character narratives where a stand cut would be too jarring
Fade to black is also commonly used as a visual cue to signal a passage of time or emotional resolution. It’s the perfect exit from the “Fellowship of the Ring’s” lengthy expositional opening:
As noted earlier, the fade to black is prevalent in trailers. However, in the context of film and television teasers, a fade to black doesn’t necessarily signal the end of a scene, because in trailers we're simply viewing snippets. Therefore, it suggests that information has been deliberately omitted, and we’re skipping through moments rather than watching them unfold in real time. If you want to see what happens in between, well, you need to watch the film.
Take the linked trailer for Celine Song's latest A24 film, "Materialists." Around the 50-second mark, when the lead character runs into an old flame, multiple fade-to-black transitions happen in quick succession. This technique works incredibly well in trailers because it conveys passage, movement, and change without showing every beat. A lot of cuts would be jarring.
Going straight from the restaurant to the loading bay would be visually unsettling and lack flow, but the fade to black helps blend these sequences together.
How to fade to black
In the WeVideo editor, there are several ways to fade a video clip to black. Let’s run through each method, as you may find yourself in different editing situations where one approach makes more sense than another.
Dip to black transition
The built-in fade to black transition is the first, and perhaps the most straightforward method. To use this, go to the Transitions panel, select Dip to Black, and drag it onto your video clip.
A transition icon will appear at the end of your selected video clip. Press play, and you’ll see that the clip now fades smoothly to black.
You can adjust the duration if you want the transition to last longer or end sooner. Click on the transition icon and input a different time value in the duration box. It’s also worth noting that if you have multiple Dip to Black transitions on your timeline, you can apply the same time adjustment across all of them.
The second method for fading to black is adjusting a clip’s opacity. You won’t want to do this on a long video clip, though. Instead, split off the end section (press S on the keyboard or click the Split button) so you’re working with a shorter snippet (blue arrow). As shown in this screenshot, navigate to Audio & Opacity and select Show Opacity Level (red arrow).
You’ll see two opacity handles appear. Take the end opacity handle and drag it downward. This fades the opacity from 100% to 0%, creating a fade to black effect.
However, keep in mind: if there’s another video clip underneath this one (for example, if the current clip is on Track 2), you won’t get a fade to black. Instead, you’ll get a dissolve into the underlying clip, so it becomes more of a crossfade than a true fade to black.
Fade to black using solid
The third and final method is to use a black solid. This approach involves a few extra steps, so it’s not the most practical when compared to the previous two methods, but it can be useful for more complex projects. If you’re working with multiple layers and transitions are starting to feel cumbersome across a large timeline, this might be better for you.
Start by going to the Backgrounds section and dragging a black solid onto the timeline. Place it on the track above the video clip you want to fade to black. You don’t need to change the color; by default, it’s black.
Next, go to Audio & Opacity and select Show Opacity Level. Then, split the black solid into two clips (blue arrow). Lower the start opacity handle to 0% on the first clip and raise it to 100%. On the second clip, do the opposite: start at 100% and drop it down to 0% (red arrow). This creates a fade to black using the solid itself rather than manipulating the video clip or applying a built-in transition.
Again, this method isn’t ideal for everyday edits; you’ll usually want to stick with the transition or opacity techniques. But it can come in handy for certain animation or motion design situations.
Conclusion
So, there we have it! Fading to black is one of the simplest editing forms, but it can have a great effect when used correctly. Remember, in short, it’s best used to signify closure, time shifts, or narrative transitions, not just as a default way to end every clip.