Creating a gap effect over a transition has three advantages. First, like other gap effects, it keeps the effect separate from the underlying elements. You can modify the transition without interfering with the effect, and vice versa. Second, you apply the effect once rather than to each element separately, greatly simplifying fine-tuning the effect. Finally, you can restrict the effect to just a portion of the underlying elements.

Example: To apply a Soft CC to a gap over a transition:

1. Add an empty layer above a layer with a transition between two elements.
2. Move the focus point of the positioner to the empty layer.
3. Add splices before and after the start and end points of the transition.

   
   

4. Select the gap and create a CC soft effect.

   You can trim the gap effect independently of the transition, or edit the animation of the Soft CC effect without being restricted by the relative location of the cut point or the start and end frames of the transition.