Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 168)

168 Chapter 8 Adding Video Filters and Transitions
When you initially ingest your clips, you should include some extra footage around the
scene or event that a clip shows. Final Cut Pro requires extra footage before an In point
or after an Out point to create a transition. The extra frames on the ends of clips are
called handles. When you use transitions, your clips must have handles in order for the
transitions to work.
Handle before the In point Handle after the Out point
If there are no handles between two clips, Final Cut Pro has no extra frames to work
with to create a transition. In this case, Final Cut Pro may prevent you from adding a
transition. Or, if clip handles are short, the transition that Final Cut Pro creates will be
short as well. To ensure that your transitions are the duration you want, make sure your
clips have handles long enough to allow the specific transition. Keep in mind that as
you initially capture or transfer clips, you must include enough extra frames around a
scene to allow for the handles that transitions require.