How to Remove Video Background in Adobe Premiere Pro CC (Tutorial)

Introduction

In this tutorial, we'll explore how to remove a video background in Adobe Premiere Pro when you don't have access to a green screen. Many users struggle with background removal, especially when working with various backgrounds, but with the right techniques, you can achieve great results. We'll focus on a two-layered approach using both the Luma Key and Ultra Key effects, which can help you isolate your subject effectively.

Understanding Your Footage

Before we begin, it's important to analyze your footage. In this example, we have a bright, solid background where the subject is not against a traditional green screen. Factors like brightness, contrast, and the color of the subject’s clothing (in this case, a white t-shirt) play a significant role in the success of our background removal.

Step-by-Step Guide to Background Removal

1. Setting Up Your Timeline Start by importing your video clip into Adobe Premiere Pro. Place the original clip on Track 1 of your timeline and create a duplicate of this clip on Track 2. You can do this by holding the option key (or alt key) and dragging the clip above itself.

2. Applying the Luma Key

   • Navigate to the Effects panel and search for the Luma Key effect.
   • Drag the Luma Key onto the duplicate clip.
   • In the Effect Controls panel, adjust the Threshold and Cutoff sliders to isolate your subject. The Threshold determines which brightness levels will become transparent, while the Cutoff defines the limit of the keying effect.
   • To see the transparency clearly, check the Transparency Grid option in the settings.

3. Using the Ultra Key

   • On the layer above, remove the Luma Key and apply the Ultra Key effect.
   • Use the Eyedropper tool in the Ultra Key settings to select a color from the background (e.g., a light blue).
   • Adjust the Tolerance and use the Matte Cleanup tools to refine the keying until your subject is properly isolated.

4. Adding a Mask To further refine your cut-out, you can create a mask around your subject:

   • Select the Pen Tool and create a rough outline mask of the subject.
   • You can animate this mask by keyframing the Mask Path to adapt to movement in the frame.

5. Combining Effects By stacking both the Luma Key and Ultra Key, you can achieve a more precise cut-out, maintaining the details of your subject while minimizing background interference.

6. Final Touches You might have remnants of the background remaining, particularly in corners. If necessary, apply an opacity mask on the Luma Key layer to clean up any stray elements.

7. Background Replacement To see your work in action, drag another clip onto Track 3 beneath your cut-out and observe the result.

8. Creating Before and After Transitions To create a before-and-after effect, use the Crop Effect under the Transform video effects, applying animation to the crop values.

By using this combination of keying effects, masks, and careful adjustments, you can effectively remove backgrounds even when a green screen is unavailable.

Keyword

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Background removal
• Luma Key
• Ultra Key
• Masking
• Video editing tutorial
• Green screen

FAQ

Q: Can I remove the background without a green screen?
A: Yes, using effects like Luma Key and Ultra Key along with masking techniques, you can effectively remove backgrounds even without a green screen.

Q: What if my subject's shirt is similar to the background color?
A: You'll need to be cautious with the settings in both Luma Key and Ultra Key. Adjust the tolerance carefully to avoid cutting into the subject.

Q: Is there a way to animate a mask for moving subjects?
A: Yes, you can keyframe the Mask Path to adjust the mask shape over time, making it follow the subject as they move within the frame.

Q: Where can I find the crop effect for before-and-after transitions?
A: The Crop Effect is located under the Transform video effects folder. You can apply animations to make the crop transition smoothly from one clip to another.

Q: Can this method also be applied to other video editing software?
A: While the specific tools may differ, the basic principles of keying, masking, and layering can be adapted to other video editing software.