Premiere Pro Tutorial for Beginners 2024 - Everything You NEED to KNOW! (UPDATED)
Education
Introduction
In today's digital landscape, video editing and content creation are invaluable skills. Nearly every business requires content, and successful content creators often enjoy substantial financial rewards. Having started my journey as a freelance video editor and eventually building a multi-six-figure annual business, I can assure you that learning video editing was one of the best decisions I made. In this tutorial, I aim to provide you with the essential basics to get started with Adobe Premiere Pro, which can often be a daunting process for newcomers.
Getting Started with Adobe Premiere Pro
When you first open Adobe Premiere Pro, you will be greeted by a welcome screen. The first action you need to take is to click on the blue icon that says "New Project." You can name your project whatever you like—let's say "Surf" for this example. Additionally, you can choose where to store this project by clicking on the dropdown icon to select a custom folder. Once everything is set, click "Create."
Before diving into the editing process, I'd like to acknowledge a special thanks to Envato Elements for sponsoring this video. Envato Elements offers unlimited downloads of millions of digital assets for your projects, including stock footage, graphics templates, music, sound effects, images, and fonts. Signing up with Envato gives you a license for both personal and commercial use, saving you the hassle of licensing each asset individually.
Organization Is Key
Before you start editing, organization is crucial. Creating folders for different types of assets can simplify your workflow immensely. For example, you might create folders for B-roll, sound effects, music, and transitions. By dragging and dropping these organized folders into your project library, you can easily access and manage your clips.
Create a Sequence
Within a project, you can have multiple sequences, each with its own settings like resolution and frame rate. To create a sequence, right-click in the project panel and select "New Item" then "Sequence." You can choose from various presets or set custom dimensions. Once created, your timeline will appear, ready for editing.
Understanding Workspaces
If your layout looks different from mine, don't worry; you might be in a different workspace. Premiere Pro offers several layout presets optimized for specific tasks. You can always reset to the saved layout from the "Window" menu if you've customized it and need to start fresh.
Importing Clips
To begin importing your footage into the timeline, you can simply drag clips from the library into a video track. Alternatively, you can double-click a clip, set in and out points by pressing "I" for in and "O" for out, and drag the selected section onto your timeline.
Navigating the Layout
The primary layout includes a project library where imported footage resides, a timeline for your edits, and a preview window for monitoring your work. Zooming in and out can be done using the touchpad or by adjusting the zoom controls.
Editing Tools
On the toolbar, you will frequently use the selection tool to navigate tracks and the razor tool to cut clips. You can delete unwanted sections using the delete key, or for a more sophisticated approach, use ripple delete by pressing Shift + Delete.
Getting to Know the Effect Controls
The Effect Controls tab is where you'll adjust clip parameters like position, scale, rotation, and opacity. You can also modify the speed by right-clicking and selecting "Speed/Duration."
Adding Transitions and Effects
To apply a transition, drag it from the Effects panel between two clips on the timeline. Manipulating transitions can enhance your video significantly. For video effects, you can find a wealth of built-in options or install third-party effects.
Working with Adjustment Layers
Adjustment layers apply effects universally to any clips beneath them. This is especially useful for color grading, allowing you to make changes to multiple clips at once simply by adjusting the settings of the adjustment layer.
Handling Audio
To add music or sound effects, drag audio files to the audio track in the timeline. Adjust the audio levels either by dragging the white line in the audio track or modifying the settings in the Effect Controls tab. You can also create fade-in or fade-out effects using audio transitions.
Adding Text and Graphics
Navigate to the Essential Graphics panel to add text easily. You can customize alignment, color, and font. Furthermore, you can import motion graphics (MOGRT) downloaded from websites like Envato Elements, providing ready-made animations to enhance your videos.
Keyframing for Animation
Keyframing allows you to animate changes over time for various parameters. By using the toggle animation buttons in the Effect Controls, you can create smooth transitions in opacity, scale, and more.
Color Grading Your Clips
Utilize the Lumetri Color panel for adjusting the color properties of your clips. It's most effective to apply color grades using adjustment layers so that changes can be easily modified later on.
Exporting Your Video
Once your project is complete, select the segment you wish to export by marking your in and out points. Navigate to the export settings and review your format, preset, and destination. Click "Export" to render your final product.
Conclusion
With all these tools and insights, you should feel more confident navigating Adobe Premiere Pro and starting your video editing journey. If you're eager to learn more, consider joining the Video Editors community for in-depth tutorials and reviews of your work. Thank you for your time, and good luck!
Keywords
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Video Editing
- Content Creation
- Envato Elements
- Sequence
- Clip Editing
- Audio Levels
- Animation
- Color Grading
- Keyframing
FAQ
Q1: What is Adobe Premiere Pro?
A1: Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editing software used for creating and editing videos.
Q2: How do I start a project in Premiere Pro?
A2: To start a project, open Premiere Pro, click "New Project," name your project, select a storage location, and click "Create."
Q3: What is an adjustment layer?
A3: An adjustment layer applies effects universally to all clips underneath it, making color grading and effect application easier.
Q4: Can I import motion graphics into Premiere Pro?
A4: Yes, you can import MOGRT files to use premade animations in your videos.
Q5: How do I export my video?
A5: To export, mark your in and out points, go to the export settings, configure the options, and click "Export."
