To copy and paste motion effects in Premiere Pro, you'll primarily be using the standard copy and paste functions available, specifically within the Effects Controls panel, rather than directly manipulating the clips on the timeline. Here's how:
Copying Motion Attributes
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Select the Clip: First, select the clip on the timeline that contains the motion effects you wish to copy.
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Access Effect Controls: Go to the Effects Controls panel. You may need to select the clip again in the program monitor to refresh the controls shown in the panel.
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Copy Motion Parameters: In the Effects Controls panel, locate the Motion effect section. Expand it. You should now see parameters like Position, Scale, Rotation, Anchor Point, and Opacity (although opacity isn't always considered "motion" it can also be copied this way).
- To copy all motion attributes, click on the word Motion to select it, then use the copy command (Ctrl + C on Windows or Command + C on macOS).
- To copy a specific attribute, such as position only, then click the word "Position" or another motion parameter, and then use the copy command (Ctrl + C or Command + C).
Pasting Motion Attributes
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Select Target Clip: Select the clip on the timeline where you want to paste the copied motion effects.
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Open Effects Controls Panel: Go to the Effects Controls panel for the target clip.
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Paste Motion Parameters:
- To paste all of the motion attributes (all parameters that were copied), click anywhere within the Effects Controls panel and use the paste command (Ctrl + V on Windows or Command + V on macOS).
- To paste a specific motion parameter, find the same parameter (for example "Position") and click on the word, then use the paste command (Ctrl + V or Command + V).
- You can also paste a motion property onto multiple clips by first selecting multiple clips in the timeline and pasting it using the techniques described above. This means that if the motion property of a clip was copied, that property could be pasted on multiple clips.
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Adjust as Needed: After pasting, you can adjust the parameters in the Effects Controls panel to fine-tune the motion.
Alternative Method - Copying and Pasting Entire Clips
If you want to duplicate a clip along with all it's effects, there is another option for copying and pasting clips in Premiere Pro:
- Copy Clip: Right click (Windows) or Command click (Mac) on the clip on the timeline that you wish to copy. Select Copy.
- Paste Clip: Right click or Command click in an empty space on the same, or a different, timeline. Select Paste. This will duplicate the entire clip, including all motion attributes and effects.
Practical Insights
- Keyframes: When copying motion, keyframes associated with that motion are also copied. Be sure to check your keyframe placement after pasting.
- Relative Motion: If you've created complex animations, the copied motion will be duplicated in a way relative to the target clips' original position or attributes.
- Experiment: Feel free to experiment with copying and pasting various parameters to create unique effects.
By using the methods described above you can save time and effort in your editing workflow, especially when dealing with repetitive motion effects across multiple clips.
