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How to use transitions and the effects library in DaVinci Resolve Edit page

DaVinci Resolve Edit page features over 100 transitions and 80 GPU and CPU accelerated effects including blurs, flares, warps, and third-party OpenFX plugins. This guide covers browsing, applying, and customizing effects.

How do you use the effects library on the Edit page in DaVinci Resolve?

Click the Effects Library icon at the top left of the Edit page to open it. The library is organized into categories — transitions, video filters, audio filters, titles, and generators. Browse over 100 transitions including wipes, dissolves, and iris effects. Over 80 GPU and CPU accelerated effects are available including blurs, flares, warps, and stylize tools. Drag any effect onto a clip in the timeline or onto a cut point between clips to add a transition. Adjust the duration by dragging the edges of the transition in the timeline or by changing the value in the inspector.

The effects library on the Edit page is the same Resolve FX engine used on the Color page, but optimized for timeline-based editing. Effects applied here process in real time during playback and render with the final export.

For more DaVinci Resolve tips, read our guide on DaVinci Resolve AI Tools for Colorists and Editors.

Master Fusion effects with How to use node-based compositing in DaVinci Resolve Fusion.

How do you customize transitions in DaVinci Resolve?

After dragging a transition onto a cut point, select it in the timeline. The Inspector shows transition-specific parameters. Adjust the duration, alignment (center on cut, start at cut, end at cut), and any effect-specific settings. For dissolve transitions, you can adjust the softness and cross fade characteristics. For wipe transitions, adjust the angle, softness, and border settings.

Transition duration can be set globally in Preferences or per-transition in the Inspector. Default durations of 12-16 frames are standard for narrative work. Faster transitions (4-8 frames) work for action sequences. Longer transitions (24-48 frames) create montage and time-passage effects.

How do you use third-party OpenFX plugins on the Edit page?

Any installed third-party OpenFX plugin appears in the effects library under the OpenFX category. They work identically to native Resolve FX — drag onto a clip, adjust parameters in the inspector, and keyframe as needed. Popular third-party plugins include film emulation tools, transitions packs, and specialty effects.