How to Add Fade in Premiere Pro (3 Easy Ways)

Trying to make your video start or end more smoothly? Adding a fade is one of the simplest ways to do that. Whether you're fading in from black, fading out at the end, or just want a smoother transition between clips, Premiere Pro gives you a few easy tools to get it done.

Let’s walk through the most common ways to add fades in Premiere Pro.

1. Use Cross Dissolve for Video Fades

This is probably the easiest method if you’re just looking for a quick fade in or out.

Here’s how:

1. Go to the Effects panel.
2. Search for Cross Dissolve under Video Transitions > Dissolve.
3. Drag and drop it onto the beginning or end of your clip.
4. Adjust the length by dragging the edges of the transition on your timeline.

That’s it. You’ll get a smooth fade from black at the start, or a fade to black at the end.

2. Use Opacity Keyframes for More Control

If you want more control over how and when your clip fades, keyframes are your friend.

To fade in:

1. Select your clip on the timeline.
2. Go to the Effect Controls panel.
3. Under Opacity, click the stopwatch icon to enable keyframes.
4. Set opacity to 0% at the start of your clip.
5. Move forward a second or two, then set opacity to 100%.

To fade out:

1. Move near the end of your clip.
2. Add a keyframe at 100% opacity.
3. Move forward slightly and set opacity to 0%.

This gives you full control over how gradual or quick your fade is.

3. Fade Audio with Constant Power

Don’t forget about audio! If you want music or dialogue to fade too, use this method:

1. In Effects, search for Constant Power under Audio Transitions > Crossfade.
2. Drag it onto either end of your audio clip.
3. Adjust duration by dragging its edges on the timeline.

It creates a smooth volume ramp that sounds natural, especially when fading music under dialogue or into silence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut for fade out in Premiere Pro?

There isn’t a direct shortcut for adding a fade out, but you can use these steps quickly:

• Select your clip
• Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac) for Cross Dissolve
• Then drag it to the end of your clip if needed

How do I add a fade out in Premiere Pro?

To add a video fade out:

1. Go to Effects > Video Transitions > Dissolve
2. Drag Cross Dissolve onto the end of your clip
3. Adjust duration as needed

For audio, use Constant Power instead.

How do I add fade in and out?

You can use Cross Dissolve at both ends of your video clip:

• Drag one onto the beginning for a fade-in
• Drag another onto the end for a fade-out
  For audio, use Constant Power transitions on both ends too.

How do I add a transition in Premiere Pro?

To add any transition:

1. Open Effects panel
2. Find a transition like Cross Dissolve (video) or Constant Power (audio)
3. Drag it between two clips or onto one clip’s edge
4. Adjust timing by dragging its handles on timeline