I avoid third party plug-ins as much as possible.with respect to item 2 I also do not show image sequences rapidly preferring to use collages to combine images together in a way that the viewer has time to see each one yet the total run time is less than if you sequenced the images and left enough time for them to be viewed properly.avoid adding effects just for the sake of it - if they do not add to the story I am telling, I will not use them.avoid any sort of effect that can leave a viewer disorientated or uncomfortable eg the spinning whizzy effects, fast sequences - modern transitions?.use only transitions that add to the story, eg if the video has distinct sections I will use a through black, or occasionally a page turn, to indicate the end/start of a new section, within a section I use mainly crossfades and cuts.
Hmmm - I wonder if my Mask Generator tutorial is an option here with a suitable video source to create the mask John CB I too am puzzled by what you mean by 'modern' transition - see below. there is no plugin that automatically creates an odd-shaped mask. Thanks for that - I dislike pre-empting another users hard work an effort.
