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Get started with Adobe Premiere Pro

Learn how to get started using Premiere Pro, a non-linear editing software for filmmakers, television broadcasters, journalists, students, and videographers.

Learn how you can get started using Premiere Pro, starting from importing rough footage all the way to a complete video.

Before you begin

  • Gather your footage and other media files: Premiere Pro supports a variety of file formats. Check our list of supported file formats to understand if your files can be imported into Premiere Pro. Save your files in your computer or in a dedicated storage drive (recommended).
  • Check your system requirements: If your computer meets these system requirements, go ahead and install Premiere Pro. If your graphic cards are not fully supported, Premiere Pro flags this issue when you launch the app. Check and update your drivers to get the best out of Premiere Pro.

Basic workflow

After you have your footage ready in your computer, open Premiere Pro and get started editing.

Tip:

If you don't have footage handy, try using the sample project files within Premiere Pro. From the Home screen, select Learn > Get started to use a sample project.

Start a new project or open an existing project

  • To create a new project, select New Project or press Ctrl + Alt + N (Windows) and Opt + Cmd + N (macOS).
  • To open an existing project, select Open Project.
  • If you're collaborating with others, then create a new Team Project by selecting New Team Project.

Import video and audio

  • Use the Media Browser or press Ctrl + Alt + I (Windows) or Opt + Cmd + I (macOS).
  • Use dynamic linking to bring in assets from After Effects, Photoshop, or Illustrator.

Assemble and refine a sequence

To view a clip in the Source Monitor, double-click the clip in the Project Panel. Using the Source Monitor, you can view clips, set edit points, and mark frames before adding clips to a sequence. Refine sequences by manipulating clips in the Timeline panel

Add clips to a sequence in the Timeline panel by dragging them from the Project Panel or by using the Insert or Overwrite buttons. 

Edit Video

Cut or split a clip to remove unwanted sections and create a new and separate instance of the original clip. 

Once you've built a rough-cut sequence on the timeline, you can trim clips to refine the edits and timing.

You can also perform J and L cuts to keep video and audio flowing seamlessly across scenes.

Add titles

To get started with titles, you can select an existing motion graphic template from Premiere Pro. You can also directly create a title using the Type tool in the Program Monitor or using keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (macOS).

Type in a title, and then adjust its appearance. Save your title as a Motion Graphics template so it can be reused and shared. 

Add transitions and effects

Add transitions between clips to smoothly move from one clip to another. The Effect Controls panel includes an extensive list of transitions and effects you can apply.

Add an effect or transition to a clip in the Timeline panel by dragging it from the Effects panel. Adjust the effect, duration, and alignment using the Effect Controls panel.

Edit color

There are multiple color workflows in Premiere Pro. You can:

  • Apply color presets and make adjustments.
  • Refine looks using RGB and Hue Saturation Curves.
  • Compare and match color across clips.
  • Adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights using color wheels.
  • Apply LUTs and make technical corrections to light 
  • Tone mapping and more.

To get started, experiment with looks. Select a clip in the timeline, and select a look from the Creative section of the Lumetri color panel. Adjust the Intensity and Adjustments sliders to fine-tune the preset.

Mix audio

Premiere Pro offers a complete audio editing solution within the application. Some common audio edits you can do are sync audio with video, or reduce background noise. You can also choose to edit audio in Audition for advanced audio mixing. 

Change duration and speed

You can set a duration for video or audio clips, letting them speed up or slow down to fill the duration.

You can use the following options to change the speed and duration of clips:

  • Speed/Duration command (Windows: Ctrl + R, macOS: Cmd + R)
  • Rate Stretch tool (Windows: R, macOS: R)
  • Time Remapping feature

 

Export

Export your edited sequences quickly and easily to the focussed content destinations. You can also export completed videos by using optimized render settings for popular social platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, or Twitter.

Work across platforms

You can work on a project across computer platforms. For example, you can start on Windows and continue on macOS. A few functions change, however, as the project moves from one platform to the other.

Accessibility in Premiere Pro

Accessibility refers to making products usable for people with visual, auditory, motor, and other disabilities. Examples of accessibility features for software products include screen reader support, text equivalents for graphics, keyboard shortcuts, change of display colors to high contrast, and so on.

Premiere Pro provides tools that make it accessible to use and tools that you can use to create accessible content.


Related resources

Talk to us

If you have a question about getting started with Premiere Pro, reach out to us in our Premiere Pro community. We would love to help.

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