How to List FFmpeg xfade Transition Types

This article provides a quick guide on how to list all the transition types available in FFmpeg’s xfade filter. You will learn the specific command-line instruction to query your installed version of FFmpeg for this information and see how to apply these transitions in your video editing workflows.

To see the complete, up-to-date list of transition types supported by your specific installation of FFmpeg, run the following help command in your terminal:

ffmpeg -h filter=xfade

Running this command outputs the built-in documentation for the xfade filter. Inside the output, locate the -transition option details. It will display a list of all available transition names next to the option description.

Common Transition Types

While the exact list can vary depending on your FFmpeg version, running the help command will display many of the following popular transition effects:

• fade: Standard crossfade.
• wipeleft / wiperight / wipeup / wipedown: Linear wipes in specific directions.
• slideleft / slideright / slideup / slidedown: Slide transitions.
• circlecrop: A circular crop transition.
• rectcrop: A rectangular crop transition.
• dissolve: A pixelated dissolve effect.
• pixelize: A mosaic/pixelation transition.
• radial: A radial sweep transition.

How to Apply a Transition

Once you have chosen a transition from the generated list, you can apply it using the following basic command structure:

ffmpeg -i input1.mp4 -i input2.mp4 -filter_complex "xfade=transition=slideleft:duration=1:offset=5" output.mp4

In this command: * transition=slideleft specifies the transition effect chosen from the list. * duration=1 sets the transition to last for 1 second. * offset=5 starts the transition 5 seconds into the first video.