How to Remove Background In Adobe Premiere?

28 minutes read

Removing the background in Adobe Premiere is a fairly straightforward process. Follow these steps to achieve a clean and polished final result:

  1. Launch Adobe Premiere and create a new project.
  2. Import your footage into the project by clicking on 'File' and selecting 'Import.' Choose the video file you want to edit and click 'OK.'
  3. Drag the video file to the Timeline panel, located at the bottom of the interface.
  4. Locate and select the video clip on the timeline.
  5. Go to the 'Effects Controls' tab, usually found in the top-left corner of the interface.
  6. Expand the 'Opacity' section by clicking on the triangle-shaped icon next to it.
  7. In the 'Blend Mode' drop-down menu, choose 'Ultra' or 'Difference.'
  8. Adjust the 'Opacity' slider gradually until the background of the video starts to disappear. Play around with different opacity settings until you achieve the desired effect.
  9. To further refine the background removal, you can try adding additional effects to the video clip, such as 'Chroma Key' or 'Luma Key.' These effects can help eliminate specific colors or luminance levels from the background.
  10. Experiment with the settings of the added effects to fine-tune the background removal. Adjust the keying parameters, such as the key type, color range, similarity, and so on.


Remember that the success of removing the background in Adobe Premiere depends on several factors. Factors like the lighting conditions during filming, the colors and contrast in the foreground and background, and the overall quality and resolution of the video can affect the outcome. It may require trial and error to achieve the best results.

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Is there a specific order of steps to follow when removing the background in Adobe Premiere?

There isn't a specific order of steps to follow when removing the background in Adobe Premiere, as different techniques and workflows can be used based on the specific requirements of your project. However, here is a general guideline that you can follow:

  1. Import your footage: Start by importing the footage with the background you want to remove into your Premiere project.
  2. Create a new sequence: Drag the footage onto the "New item" button at the bottom of the Project panel to create a new sequence based on the footage's settings.
  3. Apply the Ultra Key effect: Locate the Effects panel and search for the "Ultra Key" effect. Drag and drop it onto the footage in your sequence.
  4. Select the color to key out: With the footage still selected in the Timeline panel, go to the Effect Controls panel and click on the "Eyedropper" tool next to the "Key Color" option. Use the tool to select the color you want to remove from your footage.
  5. Fine-tune the effect parameters: Adjust the "Tolerance," "Edge Thinness," "Pedestal," and other options in the Effect Controls panel until you achieve the desired result. Preview your footage in the Program Monitor to see the changes.
  6. Refine the key: To further refine the key, you can apply effects like "Spill Suppressor" or "Chroma Key" and adjust their parameters as needed.
  7. Replace or modify the background: Once you have removed the background, you can replace it by dragging a new background image or video onto a track below your keyed-out footage in the Timeline panel. You can also apply additional effects or make further modifications to the foreground and background layers.
  8. Export your video: When you are satisfied with the result, go to File > Export > Media to export your video with the removed background.


Remember, the specific steps and settings may vary depending on the complexity of your footage and the desired outcome. It's always a good idea to experiment, fine-tune, and adjust the settings to achieve the best possible result for your specific project.


What is the best way to achieve a clean background removal in Adobe Premiere?

To achieve a clean background removal in Adobe Premiere, you can follow these steps:

  1. Import your footage: Import your footage into Adobe Premiere by dragging it to the project panel.
  2. Create a new sequence: Create a new sequence by right-clicking on the footage in the project panel, selecting "New Sequence from Clip," and choosing the appropriate settings.
  3. Duplicate the video track: Right-click on the video track in the timeline and select "Duplicate." This will create a copy of the video track.
  4. Apply the Ultra Key effect: Select the top video track, go to the Effects panel, and search for "Ultra Key." Drag and drop the effect onto the top video track.
  5. Adjust the Ultra Key settings: In the Effects Control panel, click on the "Ultra Key" effect to access its settings. Use the eyedropper tool to select the green or blue background that you want to remove.
  6. Refine the key: Adjust the settings like Matte Cleanup, Spill Suppression, and Transparency to refine the key and ensure a clean background removal. The Matte Cleanup and Spill Suppression settings help eliminate imperfections and color spillage.
  7. Fine-tune the mask: If necessary, use the Pen tool or the Mask Path option in the Effect Controls panel to manually adjust and refine the mask around the subject.
  8. Preview and adjust: Play your sequence to preview the background removal. If there are any remaining imperfections or halos, you can experiment with the Ultra Key settings further to achieve a cleaner result.
  9. Add a new background: Once you are satisfied with the background removal, you can add a new background by creating a new video track and placing it below the keyed footage.
  10. Export the final video: Once you have added the desired background, you can export the final video by going to File > Export > Media and selecting your preferred format and settings.


By following these steps, you should be able to achieve a clean background removal in Adobe Premiere. However, note that the success of this technique depends on the quality of the original footage and the lighting conditions during the shoot.


Does Adobe Premiere offer any automatic background removal features?

Yes, Adobe Premiere Pro offers an automatic background removal feature called "Ultra Key". Ultra Key is a powerful built-in chroma key effect that allows you to remove green or blue screen backgrounds automatically. It analyzes the color information in the footage and creates transparency based on your desired key color. This feature is commonly used in post-production to replace the background with other imagery or footage.

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What version of Adobe Premiere do you need to remove the background?

To remove the background in Adobe Premiere, you can use the "Ultra Key" effect. This effect is available in Adobe Premiere Pro CC versions and later. So, you would need at least Adobe Premiere Pro CC version to remove the background using the Ultra Key effect.


Can I remove the background in Adobe Premiere using only audio cues?

No, you cannot remove the background in Adobe Premiere solely using audio cues. While Premiere Pro offers various audio editing tools and effects, they are primarily meant for adjusting audio levels, enhancing sound quality, or applying creative effects. Removing the background requires video editing techniques, such as chroma keying (green screen) or masking, which rely on visual information and cannot be accomplished solely through audio.

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