Create a black video

Last updated on Apr 2, 2026

Learn to create a solid color clip in Adobe Premiere to use as a placeholder, background, or transition element.

Empty areas on a track appear black if there are no visible clips on the tracks beneath it. You can also create opaque black clips to use anywhere in a sequence. A black clip acts like a still image. To use another color, create a color matte.

Select Window > Projects and then select the project you want to open.

In the lower-right corner of the Project panel, select New Item icon and then select Black Video.

In the New Black Video dialog box, adjust the Width, Height, Timebase, and Pixel Aspect Ratio to match these settings for the sequence in which you'll use the black video clip.

Select OK to create the clip. The new black video appears in your Project panel.

You can change the default duration of black video clips and other still image clips.