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Premiere Pro: Basic Effects

Adobe Premiere Pro 2021. Be aware that different versions of Premiere will vary in appearance and functionality. The following instructions are based on the Editing workspace interface.

The majority of effects are accessible from the Effects panel, which is a tab in the window with the Project panel. Effects can only be added to clips that are in the Timeline. All types of clips have effects that are editable by default. Keyframing can be applied to an effect to animate it. Experiment with the various effects and keyframing to see what theyre capable of. Instructions in Premiere Pro: Keyframing & Automating Effects can be applied to most effects.

Effects can be modified in the Effects Controls panel, which is a tab in the window with the Source Monitor.



Default video effects:
  • Motion (scale, position)
  • Opacity (transparency/fading)
  • Time Remapping (speed)
  • Sharpen
Default audio effects:
  • Volume
  • Panning

Expand each section below to see its content.


To add an effect to a clip in the Timeline:
  1. Open the Effects panel, which is a tab in the window with the Project panel. If its not visible, click the double-arrow to the top-right and select Effects from the pop-up.

  2. Navigate to the desired effect, which are organized into folders (from Video, Audio, etc).
  3. Click-and-drag the effect over to the clip in the Timeline.
  4. Navigate to the Effect Controls tab, which is a tab in the window with the Source Monitor, and adjust the settings of the new effect as desired.


Lumetri Color can be used to color correct footage. The color in videos and photos can look off, such as too blue or orange, due to improper camera settings. To determine whether or not your clip needs color correction, look at an object thats supposed to be white. If its slightly off-white or not pure white, it may need correcting. Lumetri Color samples the color white to reset the rest of the colors of a clip. 

To color correct with Lumetri Color:
  1. Locate the Lumetri Color effect in the Effects panel, which is a tab in the window with the Project panel (Video Effects > Color Correction).
  2. Click-and-drag Lumetri Color to the desired clip in the Timeline.
  3. Navigate to the Effects Controls panel, which is a tab in window with the Source Monitor, and expand the Basic Correction section.
  4. Move the playhead to a part of the clip that shows white. The white object needs to be large and pure white (not a beige-colored object).
  5. Click the eyedropper icon next to WB Selector and the mouse cursor will change into an eyedropper. With the eyedropper, click the white object from the Program panel.

Once the white object has been clicked with the eyedropper, the rest of the colors should adjust automatically. If the color is still off, select a different part of the white object with the eyedropper. Also try adjusting the color sliders labeled Temperature and Tint located below the eyedropper.


Handheld camera shots often result in shaky footage. Warp Stabilizer can be used to reduce some shakiness, but be aware that it cant fix major issues.

To use Warp Stabilization:
  1. Navigate to the Effects panel.
  2. Locate Warp Stabilizer under Video Effects > Distort.
  3. Click-and-drag the Warp Stabilizer effect on top of the clip with shaky footage in the Timeline.
Once Warp Stabilizer is applied, a message will appear on the clip in the Program panel: Analyzing in background. It may take a few minutes to process the effect. When processing is complete, the message will disappear. Review footage to ensure it applied correctly when done.


To brighten/darken a clip with the Brightness & Contrast effect:
  1. Navigate to the Effects panel.
  2. Locate the Brightness & Contrast effect under Video Effects > Color Correction.
  3. Click-and-drag the Brightness & Contrast effect on top of the desired clip in the Timeline.
  4. Navigate to the Effect Controls tab to adjust the settings.
  • Brightness: decrease below 0 to expand shadows and shrink highlights (darken); increase above 0 to shrink shadows and expand highlights (lighten).
  • Contrast: decrease below 0 to shrink shadows and expand highlights (lighten); increase above 0 to expand shadows and shrink highlights (darken).

Play around with the brightness and contrast settings to find a nice balance. Although both control the relative lightness or darkness of an image, brightness and contrast behave differently.


To speed up or slowdown a clip:
  1. Right-click the desired clip in the Timeline and select Speed/Duration from the pop-up.
  2. In the new window, change the percentage of the speed. Values below 100% will slow down the clip, and values above will speed it up.

  3. Click OK when done. The length of the clip will adjust depending on the new speed. Faster clips will shorten, and slower clips will lengthen.
  • If more clips are after this clip in the Timeline, ensure Ripple Edit is selected. This will make sure the speed adjustment doesnt overwrite other clips, or leave gaps in the Timeline.
To reverse a clip so it plays backwards, select Reverse Speed in the Speed/Duration window.


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KeywordsAdobe, editing, video, audio, movie, color correction, white balance, stabilize, shaky, brightness, contrast, speed   Doc ID100575
OwnerJanelle B.GroupPacific Lutheran Univ
Created2020-04-14 11:33:48Updated2023-08-04 16:29:48
SitesPacific Lutheran University
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