4 Fast & Easy VFX Every Editor NEEDS (Premiere Pro Tutorial)

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create four fast and easy visual effects (VFX) using Adobe Premiere Pro. These effects are designed to enhance your short-form content for platforms like TikTok and Instagram, making your videos more engaging and visually appealing.

Step 1: Create an Old School Television Effect

1. Import Clips: Start with a clip of an old-school television and another clip of yourself.
2. Layer Clips: Drag your video clip on top of the television clip in the timeline.
3. Adjust Motion Properties:
   • Select your video clip.
   • Navigate to the Effect Controls panel.
   • Adjust the Scale and Position to fit your video into the TV screen.
4. Add Lens Distortion:
   • Search for the Lens Distortion effect in the Effects Library.
   • Drag it onto your video clip.
   • In Effect Controls, disable the Fill Alpha and increase the Curvature to match the TV screen.
5. Blend the Video:
   • Set the Opacity blending mode to Linear Dodge Add.
6. Crop the Video:
   • Find the Crop effect in the Effects Library and apply it to your clip.
   • Adjust the crop properties to fit the TV screen.
7. Add Static Noise:
   • Import a static noise clip (available from Storyblocks).
   • Place it above your video clips, set the blending mode to Screen, and adjust opacity as needed.
8. Create a Mask:
   • Use the Pen Tool to create a mask around the TV screen.
   • Increase the feather to smooth the edges.

Step 2: Add Fire to Your Finger

1. Prepare Clips: Use a clip where you're pretending to light a cigarette.
2. Import Fire Clip: Drag a clip of fire onto your timeline above your main video.
3. Set Blending Mode:
   • Select the fire clip and go to Effect Controls.
   • Set the Opacity blending mode to Screen or Linear Dodge.
4. Mask the Fire:
   • Use the Pen Tool to create a mask around the flame.
   • Adjust the feather for a smooth edge.
5. Animate the Flame:
   • Move the playhead to the first frame of the clip and set Position keyframes.
   • Scale down and position the flame on your finger.
   • Continue adjusting keyframes until the end of the clip.
6. Fade Out the Fire:
   • Move to the point you want the fire to disappear and set an Opacity keyframe.
   • Move the playhead forward and set Opacity to zero.

Step 3: Replace the Sky

1. Import Sky Clip: Place a sky clip beneath your main video.
2. Create a Cut: Cut the video at the point where you want the sky replacement to start.
3. Mask the Castle:
   • Select the castle clip and use the Pen Tool to draw a mask around the castle.
   • Increase feathering for a smoother transition.
4. Color Match:
   • Go to the Lumetri Color panel.
   • Adjust Basic Correction settings to match the castle’s colors with the sky.
5. Animate Exposure:
   • Set keyframes for the exposure to simulate lightning effects.
   • Copy and paste exposure keyframes to the trees for synchronization.
6. Add Rain Effect: Import a rain clip and set its blending mode to Color Dodge, adjusting opacity as needed.

Step 4: Create a Teleportation Effect

1. Film the Scene: Capture yourself jumping in the air and then walking to a different location.
2. Import Clips: Drag the entire clip into Premiere, making sure to keep the camera rolling.
3. Cut and Arrange:
   • Cut the clip where the empty shot starts, moving the first part up one track.
   • Trim the second clip to where you reappear.
4. Masking:
   • Create a mask around yourself in both clips to hide jump cuts.
   • Increase feathering for a smooth transition.
5. Add Directional Blur:
   • Nest the clip first, then apply the Directional Blur effect.
   • Animate the blur length to create a disappearing effect.
6. Reappear Animation:
   • Create the same steps in reverse for when you reappear.
   • Adjust Opacity and Position keyframes for a seamless effect.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create captivating VFX for your videos in Adobe Premiere Pro. Experiment with different effects and refine your techniques to enhance your content further. Explore additional resources on platforms like Storyblocks to find assets that complement your creativity. Happy editing!