Apply Sharp and Smooth modes in Object Masking

Last updated on Apr 15, 2026

Adjust mask edge quality to match your footage and creative needs in Adobe Premiere.

Object Masking in Premiere offers edge-refinement controls that help you achieve precise isolation of subjects in your footage.

Edge quality modes control how Object Masking defines the boundary between your selected subject and the background. Use sharp mode for high-contrast subjects or hard edges, and smooth mode for subjects with softer transitions, such as hair or translucent materials. These allow you to handle complex masking scenarios more effectively without compromising quality.

The first time you use Object Masking, Premiere automatically downloads the required AI models. While models are downloading, Object Masking will be temporarily unavailable. You can track download progress in the Progress panel.

Adjust edge quality mode

Select the Object Mask Tool from the toolbar.

Before creating the mask, choose between Sharp or Smooth mode from the quality options.

Program Monitor showing Smooth and Sharp options selected for adjusting object mask edge softness. — Choose Smooth or Sharp to control edge softness for the object mask in the Program Monitor.

Hover over the Program Monitor to see highlighted objects, then select the subject you want to isolate.

With your object selected, open the Effect Controls panel.

Find an effect in the Effect panel, such as Gaussian Blur, drop the effect on the clip in the timeline, and the mask will automatically be applied to the effect.

Tip

Choose Smooth mode for subjects with fine details, such as hair, fur, or intricate textures.
Choose Sharp mode for objects with clear, well-defined edges.
Use Sharp mode if your workflow requires mask expansion, as Smooth mode does not support it.
Start masking from a frame where the subject is most prominently visible.
Test both modes on a representative frame before committing to a full track.

Viewing mask quality

Once you've created an Object Mask, you can view which quality mode was applied:

Open the Effect Controls panel.

Locate the mask in the effects stack, and under Mask Quality, you'll see either Sharp or Smooth displayed, indicating which mode is active for that mask.

Effect Controls panel showing an object mask with options for feather, opacity, and expansion. — View and adjust object mask settings in the Effect Controls panel.

Limitations

Smooth mode masks and Premiere version 26.0 compatibility

If a project containing a Smooth mode mask is opened in Premiere version 26.0, the mask will not render correctly. Editing and saving that project in version 26.0 can permanently corrupt the mask data. Don't open projects with Smooth mode masks in version 26.0

Smooth mode limitations in Team Projects

Smooth mode masks are not supported in Team Projects. When working on a Team Project, you'll not be able to create Object Masks using Smooth mode.

If you migrate a standard project to a Team Project, any existing Smooth mode masks will be removed during the conversion. Similarly, copying and pasting sequences, clips, or effects that contain Smooth mode masks into a Team Project will cause those masks to be dropped.

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