How to Use Custom Luma Transitions in Kdenlive

This guide explains how to import and apply a custom grayscale Luma matte image to create personalized transitions between video clips in Kdenlive. You will learn how to set up your timeline, apply the Wipe transition, and load your custom image to drive a seamless, luminance-based visual reveal.

Step 1: Prepare Your Clips and Custom Matte

To begin, ensure you have two video clips ready on your timeline and a custom Luma matte image. The matte should be a high-contrast, grayscale image (typically saved as a PNG or PGX file) where black represents the incoming clip, white represents the outgoing clip, and the gray gradients dictate the soft edge of the transition.

Step 2: Set Up the Timeline

  1. Place your first video clip (Clip A) on a track, such as Video 1.
  2. Place your second video clip (Clip B) on the track directly above it, such as Video 2.
  3. Overlap the end of Clip A and the beginning of Clip B. The length of this overlap will be the duration of your transition.

Step 3: Add the Wipe Composition

  1. Hover your cursor over the bottom-left corner of the upper clip (Clip B) on the timeline until the mouse pointer changes to a finger icon.
  2. Click to automatically add a transition. By default, Kdenlive will apply a “Dissolve” or “Mix” transition.
  3. Select the newly created transition block on the timeline to open its settings in the Properties panel.
  4. In the Properties panel, change the transition type from “Dissolve” (or “Mix”) to Wipe.

Step 4: Load Your Custom Luma Matte

  1. Look at the properties for the Wipe transition. You will see a dropdown menu or file selection field labeled Wipe Method or Image.
  2. Click the folder icon next to the selection menu to browse your local files.
  3. Locate and select your custom grayscale Luma matte image, then click Open. Kdenlive will import this image and use its brightness values to drive the transition.

Step 5: Fine-Tune the Transition

  1. Play through the timeline to preview the transition.
  2. If the transition is progressing in the opposite direction of what you intended, check the Invert box in the Wipe properties.
  3. Adjust the Softness slider to control how hard or feathered the edge of the transition looks as the grayscale gradient progresses.