How to Remove Background in Premiere Pro

By Martin Published June 15, 2023

In the realm of multimedia and video editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro stands out as a powerful tool for content creators, filmmakers, and video editing enthusiasts. One of the most sought-after techniques in video editing is the ability to remove background, transforming ordinary footage into visually stunning masterpieces. Whether you're looking to isolate your subject for a dramatic effect, create a composite scene, or simply clean up your visuals, knowing how to remove background in Premiere Pro is an essential skill.

Introduction: The Art of Background Removal

At its core, the ability to remove background from video footage on video editing software is what sets apart amateur videos from professional-looking productions. It's not just about erasing unwanted elements; it's about focusing your audience's attention on what matters most in your scene. Adobe Premiere Pro offers a suite of tools designed for this purpose, enabling users to achieve clean, seamless compositions without the need for external applications. But it doesn't stop there; Premiere Pro also provides solutions to remove background noise in Premiere Pro, ensuring your visuals are matched with crystal-clear audio.

How to Remove Background in Premiere Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

Removing the background of your video in Adobe Premiere Pro involves using the Ultra Key effect, a powerful tool that pulls a single color out of your video. This is commonly used with green screen footage. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Import Your Footage

Start by launching Adobe Premiere Pro and importing your footage into the project panel.

Step 2: Add Your Footage to the Timeline

Drag your footage onto the timeline. If it's green screen footage, you'll see the subject in front of a bright green background.

Step 3: Locate the Ultra Key Effect

In the "Effects" panel, type "Ultra Key" into the search bar. This will bring up the Ultra Key effect under the "Video Effects > Keying" section.

Step 4: Apply the Ultra Key Effect

Drag the Ultra Key effect onto your footage on the timeline.

Step 5: Select the Color to Remove

In the "Effect Controls" panel, use the eyedropper tool next to the "Key Color" option to select the color in the video you want to remove (the green of a green screen, for example).

Step 6: Refine the Effect

Use the "Matte Generation" and "Matte Cleanup" tools to refine the key and remove any leftover color spill.

Step 7: Place Your New Background

If you're replacing the background, import your new background footage into the project panel, then place it on the timeline underneath your keyed footage. You should see the new background appear behind your subject.

Step 8: Fine-Tune Your Composition

You might need to scale, reposition, or otherwise tweak your foreground or background footage to get the look you want.

Step 9: Export Your Video

Once you're happy with the result, go to File > Export > Media to export your video.

Additional Tips and Techniques

While the Ultra Key effect is powerful, here are a few additional tips and techniques that can further improve your result:

• Lighting is Key: The cleaner your green screen lighting is, the easier it will be to key out the background.
• Garbage Matte: Use a garbage matte to crop out unnecessary parts of the scene before applying the key.
• Color Correction: After keying, you might need to apply color correction to make your foreground and background match better.

Advanced Techniques: Beyond Premiere Pro

For those looking to take their background removal skills further, Adobe offers additional tools such as Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Elements. Both applications provide advanced keying features and effects that can be used in tandem with Premiere Pro for more complex projects.

• Remove background in After Effects: After Effects offers advanced compositing features, including the Roto Brush tool, which can be particularly useful for intricate background removal tasks.
• Remove background in Adobe Premiere Elements: Premiere Elements, while more beginner-friendly, includes the Auto Smart Tone feature and guided edits that simplify the background removal process for new users.

Conclusion

Learning how to remove background in Premiere Pro broadens your creative horizons, whether you're creating visual effects, compositing, or simply cleaning up your footage. With the steps outlined above, you're well on your way to mastering this fundamental skill in video editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you remove any background color using Premiere Pro?

While you can key out any color using the Ultra Key effect, brightly colored backgrounds (like green or blue) that contrast with your subject work best.

What if I don’t have a green screen?

While a green screen is optimal, as long as the background is a uniform color and well-lit, it can be keyed out.

Can I add a moving background to my keyed footage?

Yes, you can replace your removed background with any kind of footage, whether it's a static image or a moving video.

Why is there a green outline around my subject after keying?

This is called "spill" and can be reduced using the "Spill Suppression" options in the Ultra Key effect.

Why is my new background appearing on top of my subject?

Make sure your background footage is placed under your keyed footage on the timeline. If it's on top, it will cover your subject.