Video Sharpening Tips in Premiere Pro for Clear Clips

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 6 min read

If you've ever wondered how to sharpen video in Premiere Pro for that crisp, clear cinematic look, you're in the right place. Let's dive into the world of Premiere Pro and discover the tools and techniques that can take your videos from good to great. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's start!

1. Get Familiar with the Basic Tools

Before you start sharpening your footage, it's important to get to know the basic tools in Premiere Pro. The key players here are Lumetri Scopes, the Effects Panel, and the Program Monitor. Each tool plays a unique role in enhancing the quality of your clips. Let's check them out!

Using Lumetri Scopes

Think of Lumetri Scopes as your roadmap to understanding the visual information in your clips. This tool allows you to see exactly what's going on with your footage's color and exposure. It's an invaluable guide when you're adjusting contrast, saturation, and other parameters. Keep an eye on the waveform and vectorscope — they'll give you a solid grasp of how bright your footage is and what colors are dominant.

Working with Effects Panel

The Effects Panel is where all the magic happens. It's your one-stop-shop for all sorts of video enhancements; from color correction to sharpening. Here, you'll find the 'Sharpen' effect that is a vital part of how to sharpen video in Premiere Pro. Remember to apply effects carefully. A little goes a long way!

Manipulating the Program Monitor

Last but not least, the Program Monitor is your canvas. It's where you'll see all your changes come to life. You can zoom in, move around, and even compare your edited footage to the original. It's like having a magnifying glass over your work. Use it to track the progress of your edits and make sure you're moving in the right direction.

2. Tweak Your Clip Settings

Once you've got a handle on the basic tools, it's time to start tweaking your clip settings. This stage is all about fine-tuning the details to get your video looking just right. Exposure, color balance, saturation, and vibrance are all up for adjustment. Ready to roll up your sleeves and dive in?

Adjusting Exposure and Contrast

Exposure and contrast are the yin and yang of video editing. Exposure controls how light or dark your video is, while contrast determines the difference between the darkest and lightest parts. Adjusting these two parameters can dramatically change the look of your footage, making it a crucial part of how to sharpen video in Premiere Pro. Just remember: balance is key. Overdoing it can make your video look unnatural.

Balancing Colors

Color balance is a bit like cooking. It's all about finding the right mix of ingredients. Too much red and your video could end up looking like a summer barbecue. Too little blue and it might feel like a winter wonderland. Play around with the color wheels in the Lumetri Color panel until you find the perfect balance. Your video should look natural and pleasing to the eye.

Fine-tuning Saturation and Vibrance

Last up, let's talk about saturation and vibrance. Saturation controls the intensity of all colors in your footage, while vibrance smartly boosts the intensity of the more muted colors. Fine-tuning these settings can bring life to your scenes without making them look garish. It's the final touch that can take your video from ordinary to extraordinary. Don't be afraid to experiment!

3. Master the Art of Sharpening

Now that we've tweaked our clip settings, let's turn our attention to the main event: sharpening. Sharpening is the secret sauce that gives your footage that crisp, professional look. But it's an art, not a science, so it takes practice. Ready to learn how to sharpen video in Premiere Pro like a pro? Let's get started.

Using Sharpen Effect

The sharpen effect is your go-to tool for quick and easy sharpening. It enhances the contrast where color changes occur, making edges appear more defined. To use it, simply drag and drop the effect onto your clip and adjust the amount to your taste. Be careful though — too much sharpening might give your footage an overly harsh look.

Employing Unsharp Mask

A bit of a misnomer, the Unsharp Mask is actually a sharpening tool! It works by increasing contrast along the edges of objects in your footage, which can make those objects appear more defined. It offers more control than the basic sharpen effect, allowing you to adjust the amount, radius, and threshold. Remember, subtlety is key — you want your footage to look sharper, not "sharpened".

Handling High-pass Sharpening

High-pass sharpening is a more advanced technique that can yield great results when handled with care. It works by isolating the high-frequency details in your footage (like edges and textures) and enhancing them. The result is a crisper, more detailed image. But be careful — overuse can lead to a gritty or "crunchy" look. It's a powerful tool, but remember: with great power comes great responsibility.

4. Use Advanced Sharpening Techniques

Okay, so you've got the basics down for how to sharpen video in Premiere Pro. Let's take your skills to the next level with some advanced techniques. These tricks require a little more technical know-how, but they can give your footage a professional polish that sets it apart. Ready to dive in?

Working with Dynamic Link and After Effects

Did you know that Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects are like best buddies? You can use Dynamic Link to bring your footage into After Effects for some serious sharpening. The great part about this is that any changes you make in After Effects will automatically update in Premiere Pro. This saves you the hassle of constantly exporting and importing between the two programs.

Using Hi-pass in Photoshop

If you're familiar with Photoshop, you might have used the Hi-pass filter for sharpening still images. But guess what? You can use it for video too! Just like with After Effects, you can use Dynamic Link to bring your footage into Photoshop, apply the Hi-pass filter, and then bring it back into Premiere Pro. It's a bit of a roundabout process, but it can give your footage a unique, stylized look.

Applying Smart Sharpen

Last but not least, let's talk about Smart Sharpen. This is a powerful tool in Photoshop that can also be used for video footage. It's like the Sharpen effect and Unsharp Mask had a baby and it turned out to be a genius. Smart Sharpen allows you to control the amount, radius, and reduce noise of your sharpening, providing a high level of customization. Remember, though, the goal is to enhance your video, not overwhelm it.

5. Evaluate and Refine Your Work

Now we've reached the final stage of our journey on how to sharpen video in Premiere Pro. You've done all the hard work, but don't rush to hit that export button just yet! It's time to step back, evaluate, and refine your work to ensure you're delivering the best possible result. Let's see how to do this.

Reviewing on Different Devices

Here's a pro tip: Always review your footage on multiple devices. Why, you ask? Well, what looks sharp and clear on your high-resolution editing monitor might not look the same on a smartphone or tablet. So, do yourself a favor and check your work on different screens. This way, you can ensure your video looks sharp and clear, no matter where it's viewed.

Checking for Artifacts and Noise

When sharpening, it's easy to go overboard and introduce noise or artifacts into your footage. These pesky little intruders can make your video look grainy or pixelated. So, always keep an eye out for any unwanted changes. Trust your eyes—if something looks off, it probably is. Don't be afraid to dial back your sharpening if needed.

Making Final Adjustments

Finally, it's time for the last tweaks. This is your chance to make any final adjustments to the exposure, color balance, and saturation. Remember, sharpening isn't just about making your video look sharp—it's about making it look good. So, take your time, be meticulous, and don't stop until you're satisfied with the results.

If you're looking to improve the clarity of your videos in Premiere Pro, don't miss the workshop 'How to Sharpen & Resize Images for Print' by Austin James Jackson. This workshop will teach you essential techniques for sharpening and resizing your visuals, ensuring your clips are crystal clear and ready for any platform.