So, you have amazing video footage and want to create a masterpiece? This guide shows you how to edit a video in Premiere Pro, covering everything from import to final touches. Whether you’re a business owner creating marketing content, a vlogger, or a beginner, this guide is for you. You’ll be editing comfortably in no time. If you don’t have the time to learn or handle, SEO Locale does offer video editing services for everyone as well.
Many people feel lost when they first open Premiere Pro. It’s powerful, which can be intimidating. But don’t worry, this Premiere Pro edit guide starts with the basics. We’ll move to advanced features and project prep. It’s easier than you think.
Getting Started with Premiere Pro
Before editing, import your footage and set up your project. This first step is crucial for a smooth workflow. So let’s get it right.
Importing Your Footage
Importing video clips is simple. Go to File > Import and locate your files. Create a dedicated project folder beforehand for organization.
Creating a New Project
Give your project a descriptive name. Choose video settings that match your video files. Ensuring correct project settings from the start will save you potential headaches down the line. Consider aspects such as resolution, frame rate, and aspect ratio.
Organizing Your Project
Keeping clips organized in the Project Panel is essential, especially for complex projects. This can involve utilizing Libraries and Collections. Use bins to group similar footage or different sections of your final video. Consider establishing a clear file naming convention from the outset to maintain consistency.
How to Edit a Video in Premiere Pro: The Basics
Now for the main part: editing. We’ll cover adding your video to the timeline and making seamless edits. These edits can transform individual clips into a cohesive story.
Setting up Your Sequence
A sequence is the edited timeline in Premiere Pro. Drag a video clip to the timeline to create a sequence automatically. Premiere Pro may use incorrect default settings when creating a sequence this way, so double-check the resolution.
Alternatively, create a new sequence manually via File > New > Sequence, to adjust the video and audio settings with more control.
Making Basic Cuts
The razor tool (C on the keyboard) is essential. Select it from the Tools Panel, then use it on the selected clip to create a cut by dragging across the desired spot. Use the Selection Tool (V on the keyboard) to delete portions.
Arranging Clips
Drag and drop clips on the timeline to arrange them. This determines the order of your footage in the final video. Consider experimenting with different clip lengths and placements to improve the video sequence.
Adding Audio and Transitions
Sound transforms videos, and smooth transitions polish your cuts. Adding these elements can elevate your edit in Premiere Pro.
Working with Audio
Adding music or sound effects sets the mood. Adjust audio clips on separate audio tracks below video tracks and refine audio levels with the Audio Track Mixer for more control. Use the pen tool to adjust volume and implement keyframing to make it change over time. Take your editing audio further by utilizing audio effects located in Effects > Audio Effects to manipulate the recording audio in Premiere Pro
Adding Transitions
Transitions create smooth shifts between cuts. Find them under Effects > Video Transitions, which is also where you’ll find video effects to further enhance your footage. Experiment with different transitions, but avoid overuse.
Adding Titles, Graphics, and Text
Now, enhance your video with titles, graphics, and text using Premiere Pro’s built-in tools. This will take your project to the next level and create an even more compelling story.
Working with Titles
Create eye-catching titles and captions via Title > New. This often-used feature allows you to add and customize text elements within Premiere Pro, creating professional-looking videos.
The legacy titler still offers extensive design control with various fonts, styles, and animation options. Creating engaging visuals has never been simpler.
Using the Essential Graphics Panel
Add logos or icons using the Essential Graphics panel. This provides additional control for all graphic elements. Use keyboard shortcuts for this and other features in Premiere Pro to increase your speed and efficiency. Import your own assets or browse through Adobe Stock, for a range of design assets to add to your project. The essential graphics panel can also apply effects, create shapes with tools such as the pen tool, or edit pre-existing graphics you imported into Premiere Pro, from files created in dedicated graphic programs like Photoshop.
Color Correction and Grading
Adjust brightness, contrast, and color balance for a professional look. Premiere Pro provides a robust set of tools to refine your footage, similar to those found in pro edit software such as Final Cut Pro.
Using the Lumetri Color Panel
The Lumetri Color panel offers a range of color tools. It also offers pre-set templates, lets you save custom looks, and provides non-destructive editing, preserving the integrity of the original clips and eliminating the need for extra video cuts or duplicates. You can even perform color adjustments with masks, controlling specific video sections by cutting, copying, or masking certain parts.
Exporting Your Video
Now, export your finished video from Premiere Pro. Select from the available video and audio formats to ensure your project will be shared exactly how you desire.
Choosing the Right Format
H.264 is a versatile format that works on most devices. It keeps file sizes manageable. You have several encoding options when selecting file formats to ensure your videos look their best, whether it’s a video sequence or basic video file for social media, or video tutorial for YouTube. If needed you can control video metadata and add basic info about video settings like subtitles or other file formats, similar to options offered by software such as Final Cut or Cut Pro. Use video effects from Premiere Pro to control the visual style of the final video cut you are looking to export. When creating a title within your Premiere Pro project remember that there are different sizes for titles that will display well on certain types of social media apps.
Using the Adobe Media Encoder
Adobe Media Encoder lets you queue exports while continuing to work. This is helpful for large projects. Premiere Pro creates a direct pipeline, allowing a more efficient way of handling even high-resolution file exports directly after completing your edit within Premiere Pro. The program monitor allows the editor to view ongoing projects within the software while the encoding settings within Adobe Media Encoder can allow you to automate several tasks while handling your latest cut within Premiere Pro.
Tips and Shortcuts for Faster Editing
Keyboard shortcuts significantly speed up your workflow. Practice using them regularly to improve your editing efficiency.
| Action | Shortcut (Windows) | Shortcut (Mac) |
|---|---|---|
| Cut | Ctrl+K | Cmd+K |
| Copy | Ctrl+C | Cmd+C |
| Paste | Ctrl+V | Cmd+V |
| Save | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S |
Congratulations. You’ve learned the essentials of how to edit a video in Premiere Pro. Learning video editing software takes time, but with these tips and the videos mentioned, you’ll grasp the Premiere Pro basics quickly. For beginners, this guide is just the start of your video editing journey. Remember there are additional resources such as Premiere Pro’s built in “learn panel” that gives quick overviews on topics in real time along with the Premiere Pro official help section within Adobe’s website for specific information.
For more Premiere Pro edit tutorials and tips, check out Adobe Video Training. Whether it is basic editing, video and audio effects, creating a title, creating custom transitions for smooth transitions between your clips, or rearranging clips, there is a tutorial for all topics Premiere Pro.
Learning how to edit a video in Premiere Pro is an ongoing process. With practice, you’ll master video editing. Explore advanced features as you improve. Practice and push your creative boundaries. This process involves not only learning about the technical aspects like setting up video and audio tracks, and how to add format info but understanding visual language. Explore topics like adding and adjusting volume to improve your sound editing in your projects. As your Premiere Pro skills improve consider taking video tutorials further and create them on a more professional scale for yourself and others. Using the toolbars located on the various sides of the Premiere Pro layout to access additional functions for your video edits as well. Consider subscribing to Adobe stock if you plan to regularly access stock footage and photos for use in your videos as you continue to master Premiere Pro. You can select the desired format when exporting your video, from video sequences, to even shorter social media videos, and everything between, thanks to the video editing software, Premiere Pro by Adobe.
