Actually there is a transition called flash I believe that would work well for this. Basically goes from the 1st clip, does a bright flash to white then into the 2nd clip. Would probably work out pretty well, maybe put a little blur effect on the flashback clip for effect.

I've got 1980 era scene of ex-military pilot in a contemporary aircraft and want to flashback to 1940's news clips and photos of this pilot going through initial navy flight training, then incrementally follow him through his flight career back to 1980, then jump to present day. I have period music to help with the transition back in time and want a way to visually convey the 'flashback' for the initial jump from 1980 to 1940 via some kind of transition. Hope this is a little clearer now.

Why wouldn't you just use a very slow crossfade?

Thanks. I will try the slow crossfade but I think Jsnkc's suggestion using a flash may help the transition stand out from the other transitions, some of which are already slow crossfades. Thanks for the help.

Try keyframing with the wave FX filter over a simple crossfade.Worked well for me in a similar scenario.

Okay, okay . . now I understand . . . . when I read "flashback" I immeadiatley thought of the "flash" transition as being what you were alluding to to get the "feeling" of something happening in the past, and that is where I was having a problem understanding where you were coming from . . Now, here we are talking about getting the cinematopgraphy "correct" and easy for the audience. Yes visual trasnni can do this . . but don't forget audio . . . think of an event that may ahve happened in WW2 - Maybe a few bars of Glenn Miiller; maybe the sound of those times; maybe a spinning newspaper having a refernce to that time - bit cheesy but again it is about the overall cnematography you are after - yeah?; do you have anybody looking skywards? Make this the disslove out to the thing in the past; a very short reverese of the video - this can work, if used with a light touch; backwards "speech"; clouds suddenly going into reverse; a very quick and pacy set of stills placing the "next" sequence IN that period, in the mind of the audience; Dates going backwards; Clock/s going backwards; some design Icons that firmly pakce the next sequence in that time; some "naf" graphics that definatley ther! Think of "Groovey Baby!" - now yer got it!!!! . . . anymore? oh yes zillions . . . mist; fog; waves breaking backwards; - dogs walking backwards is good for a giggle - iLKIE THIS ONE . . . .

. . . anything good here . . but to get back to the flash . . well, not sure . . flashes "tend" to give the idea of time and space being moved . . it could mean forward too! Need to nail this one. yo0u could end up conveying the absolute opposite of what you intended - yeah? And this you don't want . . you could easily fall into a time trap here . . in the wrong direction . . . nice trick is to have the next sequnece imergin from the head=mind-memory of an individual. Of course the obvious, dissolve of the subject - could be in the late '50s - in the same/similar position directly onto them in their teenage years - that's always a stunner - yeah? Sometime the easiest things are the most effect - tell me about! I've often over egged the pudding on this - couldn't you guess? - Hah!

Have fun . . . . . well, you may be doing a memorial piece . . . maybe "fun" aint the correct word here then . . but you do get my drift - yeah?

Grazie