Premonition: Free Final Cut Pro X transition

This transition first shows a few frames of the incoming clip, then some of the outgoing clip, then the incoming clip and continues in varying patterns.

It re-creates the ‘cuts only’ scene transitions used in the early 70s in films such as ‘Easy Rider.’ By showing a few frames of the next scene a little while before it starts, the clip acts as a ‘premonition’ of what will happen next. It was also used with a musical cue in ‘Captain Scarlet’ – a kids TV series.

As well as using the incoming clip, there is also the option to use a frame from elsewhere in your primary storyline instead. You choose it by dragging a ‘Timeline Pin’ which appears when you select the transition:

Here are the controls:

There are six flicker patterns to choose from. They currently aren’t described in the pop-up menu. If you can suggest useful names, I’ll add them. Also, if you have ideas for patterns you’d find useful, comment below.

Pattern 1 shows the same small number of frames from the incoming clip at increasingly frenetic rate:

Pattern 2 shows an increasing number of frames:

Pattern 3 shows the same larger number of frames from the incoming clip more often:

Pattern 4 first shows a small number of frames from the incoming clip twice, then cuts to the incoming clip apart from showing a small number of frames from the outgoing clip a couple of times:

Pattern 5 is the same as pattern 4, but with a larger number of frames:

Pattern 6 is a straightforward premonition, it shows a few frames from the incoming clip, then stays showing the outgoing clip until the end of the transition:

Download the effect archive from here.

Expand the ZIP archive and add the folder to Movies : Motion Templates : Transitions : Alex4D :

If you don’t have Motion installed on your Mac and you’ve never installed any third-party effects, download the archive of the Motion Templates folder with the Premonition effect in the correct sub-folder. Expand the ZIP and put the resulting Motion Templates folder in the Movies folder of your home folder.

If you find this free plugin useful, you might like my Alex4D Animation Transitions plugin pack:

Find out more about Alex4D Animation Transitions.

There are many more free plugins on my Final Cut Pro X page