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Photo Transitions

Choose how your slideshow moves between photos

What is a transition?

A transition is the visual effect used to move from one photo to the next in your slideshow. pic.ie offers four different styles, from the simple and timeless to the cinematic.

To change the transition: tap or click anywhere on the screen while the slideshow is running to open the settings panel, then switch to the Photo tab. The Transition buttons are near the top. Your choice is saved on that device and takes effect with the very next photo change - no reload required.

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✦ Fade (default)

The outgoing photo gently fades out while the new photo fades in - a classic cross-dissolve. It is the smoothest and least distracting option, which is why it is set by default.

Best for: family portraits, baby photos, sentimental albums - anything where you want the focus firmly on the photograph itself rather than the movement between them.

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→ Slide

The new photo slides in smoothly from the right while the old photo is pushed out to the left. It gives the slideshow a more energetic, TV-broadcast feel and makes it clear that something new is arriving on screen.

Best for: travel albums, holiday collections, or any set of photos where the sense of moving forward from one scene to the next adds to the story.

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⊕ Zoom

The new photo appears scaled slightly larger than the screen and shrinks down into place as it comes into view, while the previous photo fades out. The effect is confident and modern - a little like a photographer pulling focus on a shot.

Best for: landscape and architecture photography, where the slight scale movement emphasises the depth and detail in the image.

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⟿ Ken Burns

Named after the American documentary filmmaker who popularised the technique in his historical films, the Ken Burns effect adds a slow, organic pan and zoom to each photo while it is being displayed. The camera gently drifts across the image - zooming in on a face, panning across a landscape - giving still photographs a sense of life and movement. When the time comes to change, the photos crossfade.

Best for: landscapes, panoramas, group shots, and older or scanned photographs that benefit from the feeling of being explored rather than simply viewed. This is the most cinematic option and works particularly well on large screens.

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Tips
  • Each device stores its own transition choice - one frame can use Ken Burns while another uses Fade.
  • Changes take effect immediately with the very next photo; you do not need to refresh or restart.
  • Ken Burns and Zoom look their best on larger screens (32″ or more) where the subtle movement is clearly visible.
  • The transition setting is stored in the browser's local storage, so it survives page reloads but is tied to that browser on that device.
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