Uni-Directional Transitions / Fades possible in FCPX?

I came straight into FCPX from several years in the PC world working with Sony Vegas - not a bad program, and overall, the move was well worth it. As is the case when making major switches like that, there are inevitably going to things you miss / got used to in your previous life.

Thus, the subject of this inquiry. Is there any way to do transitional effects or fades in one direction instead of affecting clips on both sides of an insert?

For instance, in Vegas, I often used the Sony Flash effect as a transition to either the right or left clip in a timeline. That program used handles with the option of simple fades or effects like the flash mentioned - which could also be easily controlled for length with zero effect over audio.

I've been looking around and not having much luck, BUT am holding out hope that FCPX doesn't lock us into transitional effects that are only bi-directional across both connected clips in both directions. I've already begun playing with 'workarounds' in my head; possibly putting a gap in in a separate storyline above the main one to the left of a copy of the clip I want to affect placed to the right (example of clip direction I want to affect). Then I could use the position tool to slide both so that it appears to only affect the main storyline clip in one direction. If this works, I'll let you know. Otherwise, if there is an easier way, I'm all ears.

Thanks,
sp

If I correctly understand your question, it's a fairly easy solution. Instead of selecting the entire clip before you apply your transition, just select the very end (whichever end you want), then apply the transition. VOILA !

Good bye Sony Vegas...

If your just looking for a fade. you could key frame opacity on the desired clip. OR Somewhere listed in the Effects and Plugins section of the forum is a free plugin that is a dissolve transition that does what you wish. Actually ialso found a new one as well that is an effect that you can place on your clip and in the inspector choose fade in or fade out or both and select the time it takes.

How are you selecting just the end of the clip?

thanks, sp

Click on the edit point.

Select your Storyline clip, Opt-Cmd-up arrow to lift the clip from the primary storyline to be a connected clip (replaced in the storyline by a gap clip it is not connected to). Add your transition. Done.