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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Create an adjustment layer
Put your two clips back to back on the timeline. Go to the Project panel, click New Item and choose Adjustment Layer, then click OK. Drag it onto the track above your clips so it sits over the cut.
One click with Mako: the free Mako panel adds an adjustment layer over the selected clips, at the playhead, on the first free track, in one click. Get Mako for free
Step 2: Shorten the adjustment layer
A glitch transition should be over in a blink, so the layer has to be short. Right-click the adjustment layer and choose Speed/Duration. In the Clip Speed / Duration window, raise the speed so the duration shrinks to a fraction of a second. The video types in 8 for the speed. Click OK when you are done.
Step 3: Place it on the cut
Drag the short adjustment layer so it sits right on the cut between your two clips. You will probably need to zoom into the timeline with the + key to line it up properly. Half of the layer should sit over the end of the first clip and half over the start of the second, so the glitch hides the cut.
Step 4: Add Wave Warp
Open the Effects panel, search for Wave Warp (it is under Video Effects > Distort) and apply it to the adjustment layer. Click the adjustment layer so you can see your changes, and move the playhead over it. Then open Effect Controls and set Wave Type to Noise. Now raise Wave Height and Wave Width until the picture breaks into streaks that you like. In the video, they end up around 137 and 103, but let your eyes decide.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Wave Warp and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 5: Add Echo for extra glitch
Go back to the Effects panel, search for Echo and drop it on the same adjustment layer. In Effect Controls, set Number Of Echoes to 2 and bring Starting Intensity down to around 0.5. The echoes leave ghost trails behind the streaks and make the transition feel more chaotic.
Step 6: Play it back
Play across the cut. The footage tears into vertical glitch streaks, flashes, and then settles into your second clip.
Tips
- Keep it short. A glitch that lasts only a few frames feels punchy, and a long one gets annoying.
- Add a sound. A quick glitch or static sound effect on the cut makes the transition feel much bigger.
- Reuse it. Copy the adjustment layer and paste it onto other cuts so every transition matches. You can also try the glitch effect on a single clip.
FAQ
How do I make a glitch transition in Premiere Pro?
Place a short adjustment layer on the cut, then add Wave Warp set to Noise and Echo to it. Adjust wave height, wave width and echoes until it looks right.
Why use an adjustment layer?
It lets one set of effects hit both clips at the same time, and you can move or copy it to any other cut without touching your footage.
Does this work with any footage?
Yes. It looks best on busy or colorful clips, but you can use it between any two shots.
Want more ready-made options? Grab the free glitch transitions with sound pack.
