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How to make a zoom effect in Premiere Pro.

A zoom is the simplest way to add emphasis in a talking video. In Premiere Pro it takes two keyframes; what makes it look good is easing and motion blur.

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1. Zooming with Scale keyframes2. The Transform effect for motion blur3. Ready-made zoom ramps: with SylbaUsing zooms well

1. Zooming with Scale keyframes

  1. Select the clip and open Effect ControlsUnder Motion you will see Scale and Position.
  2. Set the first keyframeMove the playhead to where the zoom should start and press the stopwatch next to Scale.
  3. Set the second keyframeGo a few frames forward and raise Scale (from 100 to 120, for example). To push in toward a face, keyframe Position at the same two points.
  4. Ease itSelect the keyframes and right-click: Temporal Interpolation › Ease In and Ease Out. The move no longer starts and stops abruptly.

2. The Transform effect for motion blur

Scale under Motion produces no motion blur, which is why a fast zoom looks artificial. Add the Transform effect (Distort folder) from the Effects panel, keyframe this effect's Scale instead of Motion, uncheck Use Composition's Shutter Angle and set Shutter Angle to 180. To apply the same zoom to several clips, put the effect on an Adjustment Layer.

3. Ready-made zoom ramps: with Sylba

The Curves and Ramps tool in Sylba's Studio section applies a ready-made zoom ramp to the clip and gives its keyframes easing. There are 38 zoom ramp presets; the result stays on the timeline as keyframes, so you can edit it later.

Using zooms well

Land the zoom on the word you want to stress. Scaling too far softens the image; on 1080p footage staying under 120-130 percent is safe. If there is music, putting the fastest moment of the zoom on the beat feels stronger.

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Beat markers and Studio toolsPRO

Finds the beats of your music and lays them out as sequence markers. No more marking by hand to cut to the rhythm. Zoom ramps and shake in the same section.

Learn more ›

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