How to Create a Splatoon-Inspired Transition in Vegas Pro

In this guide, we will take a look at the process of creating a transition inspired by the popular game franchise, Splatoon. Although this was created in Vegas Pro 19.0, it should work on every version of Vegas and Sony Vegas. You are also able to transfer this guide over to other editing programs if you are knowledgeable about masking.

For the required footage, I have attached examples of both media and audio that I will be using for your convenience.

Supplies

Vegas Pro or any other Editing Software
Footage of your choice to use as a transition
Sound Effect (Optional)

Step 1: Timeline Setup

Import the media that you wish to use for the transition onto the Timeline, next to your existing project.

Step 2: Delete Audio Track From Media

Select the audio track from the transition media
Press 'U' on your keyboard to separate the audio track from the media track
Right click and delete the empty audio track

Step 3: Combine Audio (Optional)

This step is optional if you wish to use a sound effect.

Combine both the Media and SFX files together on the timeline

Make sure that both tracks are exactly the same length

Select the "Selection Edit Tool" from the bottom toolbar
Drag and Select the clips using the tool
Right click and go to Group -> Create New

Now your SFX will be properly combined with your transition

Step 4: Initial Masking

Open the Pan/Crop Menu button that is located on the media clip on the timeline. (It should look like a box)
Tick the checkmark "Mask" on the bottom left corner of the new window
Select the rectangle mask creation tool on the top left toolbar
Drag out a rectangle the exact size of the canvas

Step 5: Anchor Creation

Select the anchor creation tool from the top left toolbar
Create anchors in the places you wish to have the "Waves" for your transition on the top and bottom of the rectanglular frame

Tip: Start from the middle of the frame to make it easier to create even spaces between anchors

Step 6: Wave Creation

Select the normal edit tool from the top left toolbar
Drag the middle of each line between anchors to create the "Waves" for the transition

If your borders for the mask are too small on the left and right side, fill free to extend them horizontally

Step 7: Animation

Copy the first keyframe on the bottom track, labled "Mask"
Paste the keyframe on the bottom track at the very end
Toggle the "Move in.." Button Twice until you reach the "Move in Y Direction" Mode
Select the first keyframe, double click on the mask, and drag it up above the frame
Select the second keyframe, double click on the mask, and drag it up below the frame

Tip: You can ajust the animation appearence by right clicking on the keyframes and selecting options like "Slow" or "Fast" (No two keyframes can have both speeds consecutively)

Step 8: Your Transition Is Now Complete!

Move the transition above where you would like it to be on the timeline

Now that your transition is complete, you can mess around and change it twoards your prefrences

If you wish to use this transition multiple times you can simply copy and paste it wherever you like

If you wish to use this transition in another project, have both windows open and copy / paste it into the new project

You can make the transition pop more with the "Layered Demensionality" effect that Vegas 19.0 has built in, this will create a drop shadow among other things that you wish

Thank you for reading! Happy Editing!