Editing > Dissolves and Wipes > Creating Dissolves on the Desktop >
Creating Complex Dissolves with the Dissolve Editor

Use the Dissolve Editor to create complex dissolves. For example, instead of having a gradual fade-in of the incoming clip, you can make your clip fade in, fade out, then fade in again.

NoteThe curve in the Dissolve Editor can be used only on video dissolves.

To create a complex dissolve:

1. Click Dissolve in the Editing menu and select the two source clips in the Desktop reels.

   An “E” (for Editor) appears on the Dissolve button.

2. Click Dissolve.

   The “E” on the Dissolve button is highlighted.

3. Select the destination reel.

   The Dissolve Editor appears.

   (a) Boundary key(b) Boundary key

   The graph plots the frame number of the result clip (on the horizontal axis) against the mix percentage (on the vertical axis). The default linear curve represents a gradual dissolve across the number of frames specified by the dissolve duration.

4. The mix percentage values for one frame specify the amount of the incoming and outgoing clip used in the mix for that frame. For example, if you enter 90% in the Out Mix field, 90% of the outgoing clip and 10% of the incoming clip are used in that frame. The In value is calculated based on the Out value (to make 100%).

   To edit the mix percentage in any frame, use one of the following methods:

   - Add and move control points on the mix percentage curve using the Add and Move options in the Edit Mode box.
   - Display the frame that you want to edit and change the value in the Out Mix field.
   NoteAuto Key must be enabled.

   (a) Out Mix field(b) In Mix field(c) Dissolve Mode box(d) Render Type box

   NoteYou can only add control points between the dissolve boundary keys (control points outside the boundary keys will not be processed). The boundary keys are located at the first and last frames in the dissolve. When you enter a new duration, the boundary keys are automatically updated.
5. Select processing in frames or fields from the Render Type box.
6. To load or save the mix curves, see Saving, Loading, and Deleting Items.
7. When you are satisfied with the results, click Exit.