To crop a vertical video in Premiere Pro, you primarily adjust its size and position within a sequence frame using the Motion controls and can optionally use the Crop effect to remove edges. The process involves importing your footage, setting up your sequence correctly (especially for vertical formats), adjusting the video properties, and then exporting.
Working with vertical video often involves fitting it into a horizontal frame or creating a dedicated vertical sequence. The term "cropping" in this context usually refers to adjusting the viewable area, which is achieved through a combination of resizing (scaling/positioning) and sometimes using the Crop effect.
Understanding Vertical Video in Premiere Pro
Vertical video, common on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Stories, and YouTube Shorts, has an aspect ratio taller than it is wide (e.g., 9:16). When you bring vertical footage into Premiere Pro, you typically need to decide whether to place it in:
- A standard horizontal sequence (e.g., 16:9). This leaves black bars on the sides. You might then resize (scale/position) the video to fill the frame (losing the top/bottom), or add a background effect.
- A vertical sequence (e.g., 9:16). This matches the video's original orientation. You might still need to resize or crop if the video's exact dimensions don't match the sequence, or if you want to remove parts of the frame.
The steps below guide you through this process, incorporating the core actions mentioned in the reference.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cropping Vertical Video
Based on the provided steps, here's how to handle your vertical video in Premiere Pro:
Step 1: Import Your Clip and Create a Sequence
Begin by bringing your vertical video into your project.
- Open a new Project in Premiere Pro.
- Import your clip. You can do this by going to
File > Import, or by double-clicking in the Project panel and selecting your video file. - Once imported, drag your clip onto the timeline. This automatically creates a sequence based on the video's properties.
Actions in Step 1:
- Import your video clip.
- Create a sequence from the clip.
Step 2: Adjust Sequence Settings
This is a crucial step, especially if you want your final output to be vertical or match specific dimensions. While dragging the clip creates a sequence matching the source, you might need to customize it.
- Go to
Sequence > Sequence Settings.... - In the Video tab, adjust the
Frame Size. For vertical video, the Vertical pixel count should be larger than the Horizontal. Common vertical frame sizes include:- 1080 Horizontal x 1920 Vertical (for 9:16 Full HD)
- 1080 Horizontal x 1350 Vertical (for 4:5 Instagram feeds)
- 1080 Horizontal x 1080 Vertical (for 1:1 squares)
- Ensure the
Pixel Aspect Ratiois usuallySquare Pixels (1.0). - Click OK. Premiere Pro will warn you that changes cannot be undone. Click OK again.
Actions in Step 2:
- Edit sequence settings.
- Adjust Frame Size to desired vertical dimensions (e.g., 1080x1920).
Step 3: Resize and Crop the Video
With your vertical video in the correct sequence format, you now adjust its appearance within the frame. The reference mentions "Resize and Crop".
- Select the vertical video clip on your timeline.
- Go to the Effect Controls panel (usually next to the Project panel). If you don't see it, go to
Window > Effect Controls. - Under the Motion property:
- Use the Scale control to zoom in or out on the video. Scaling up is often necessary to fill a horizontal frame, or to zoom into a specific part of the video within a vertical frame.
- Use the Position control to move the video horizontally and vertically within the frame.
- To explicitly Crop the edges (cut them off permanently for that clip):
- Go to the Effects panel (
Window > Effects). - Search for the Crop effect (it's under Video Effects > Transform).
- Drag the Crop effect onto your video clip in the timeline.
- In the Effect Controls panel, find the Crop effect you just added.
- Adjust the Left, Top, Right, and Bottom percentage values to remove parts of the video from each side.
- Go to the Effects panel (
Actions in Step 3:
- Resize the video using Motion > Scale and Position.
- Apply and adjust the Crop effect to remove edges if desired.
Step 4: Export Your Video from Premiere
Once you are happy with how your vertical video is framed and potentially cropped, you need to export it.
- Go to
File > Export > Media...(or use the shortcutCtrl+MorCmd+M). - In the Export Settings window, choose your desired Format (e.g., H.264 for common video files).
- Under Preset, you can often find presets specifically for vertical video (like "Match Source - Adaptive High Bitrate" after setting up a vertical sequence, or social media presets like "1080p HD (9:16) Vertical").
- Crucially, ensure the Output tab shows the correct vertical Source / Output Summary matching your sequence settings (e.g., 1080x1920). If it doesn't, double-check your sequence settings or manually set the output resolution.
- Choose an Output Name and Location.
- Click Export.
Actions in Step 4:
- Export your video from Premiere.
- Select export settings (format, preset).
- Verify or set the output resolution to match your vertical sequence.
Tips for Working with Vertical Video
- Preview: Always preview your video in the Program Monitor to ensure the framing looks correct.
- Background: If placing vertical video in a horizontal sequence without scaling to fill, consider adding a background (e.g., a blurred duplicate of the video) behind it to fill the black bars.
- Crop vs. Scale: Remember that scaling changes the size and position of the whole video layer, while the Crop effect cuts off parts of the layer. You usually use scaling first to position the video how you want it, and then crop if you need to remove specific pixels from the edges.
Here is a summary of the steps:
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Import & Sequence | Import your vertical video clip | Drag clip to timeline to create sequence |
| Step 2: Sequence Settings | Edit sequence settings | Set Frame Size to vertical dimensions (e.g., 1080x1920) |
| Step 3: Resize & Crop | Adjust Motion (Scale/Position) and/or Crop effect | Scale to resize/zoom, Position to move, Crop effect to cut edges |
| Step 4: Export | Export your video | Choose format/preset, verify output resolution matches sequence settings |
By following these steps, you can effectively adjust and "crop" your vertical video within Premiere Pro to fit your desired output format.
