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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Get a light leak overlay and import it
A light leak overlay is a short clip that fades from black into a bright burst of colour and back again. You can search for a free light leak overlay online or use a pack you already own. Download one, then import it into your project with File > Import or by dragging it into the Project panel.
Place your two clips next to each other on V1 so there is a cut between them. That cut is where the transition will happen.
Step 2: Put the light leak above the cut
Drag the light leak clip from the Project panel onto the track directly above your footage, V2. Position it so it covers the cut between your two clips. At this point the overlay will look like a plain black or white rectangle, which is normal because the blend mode has not been set yet.
Now scrub through the overlay and find the moment where it is at its brightest. This is the peak of the leak, and you want the cut to land exactly on it. At that frame, make sure the light leak clip is selected and press M to add a marker.
Drag the light leak left or right until the marker sits exactly on the cut between your two clips. Because the brightest part of the leak now covers the cut, the jump from one shot to the next is hidden behind the flash.
Step 3: Set the blend mode to Screen
Select the light leak clip and open Effect Controls. Under Opacity, click the Blend Mode dropdown, which is set to Normal by default, and choose Screen. Screen makes every black pixel in the overlay transparent and lets only the bright, coloured light show through on top of your footage.
Press the spacebar to play back the cut. You should see your first clip glow, flare up in orange and then reveal the second clip.
Step 4: Slow the light leak down with Ctrl + R
If the flash feels too quick, you can stretch it out. Right-click the light leak clip and choose Speed/Duration, or select it and press Ctrl + R (Cmd + R on a Mac). In the Clip Speed / Duration window, lower the Speed value below 100 percent and click OK. A lower speed makes the leak longer and softer, while a higher one gives a short, punchy flash.
After changing the speed, check that your marker still lines up with the cut. If the clip grew or shrank around its start point, nudge it so the peak of the leak sits on the cut again.
Tips
- Match the leak to the mood. Warm orange leaks suit sunny, nostalgic footage, while purple or red ones work well for moody shots.
- Use it sparingly. One light leak per scene change feels special. A leak on every cut quickly becomes distracting.
- Trim the overlay. If the leak is longer than you need, shorten the clip or use only its brightest section so the transition stays quick.
FAQ
Why is my light leak showing as a black box in Premiere Pro?
The overlay is still using the Normal blend mode. Change Blend Mode in Effect Controls to Screen and the black areas will disappear.
Where can I find free light leak overlays?
You can search online for free light leak overlays or film burn packs, and many come as a short video file that you import like any other clip. We also have a free film burn pack in the store.
How do I make a light leak transition faster or slower?
Select the overlay clip and press Ctrl + R to change its speed. A speed below 100 percent slows it down, and a speed above 100 percent makes it quicker.
Want ready-made options? Grab the free film burn transitions and drop them onto your cuts in seconds.
