Step-by-Step Guide: Highlighting with Lumetri Color and Masks

Highlighting a specific part of an image or video frame in Adobe Premiere Pro typically involves using an effect combined with a mask. This allows you to apply adjustments, like increasing brightness, saturation, or contrast, only to the selected area, making it stand out.

Here's how to highlight a part of your image in Premiere Pro:

Using an effect like Lumetri Color with a mask is a common method to isolate and enhance a specific area of your footage.

This technique allows you to apply targeted adjustments to make a particular subject or object pop.

1. Apply an Effect: Drag and drop the Lumetri Color effect from the Effects panel onto the clip you want to modify in your timeline. Lumetri Color is found under Video Effects > Color Correction > Lumetri Color.
2. Access Effect Controls: Select the clip in the timeline. Then, navigate to the Effect Controls panel.
3. Create a Mask: Under the Lumetri Color effect settings in the Effect Controls panel, you'll find options to create masks. According to the reference, you should "select the ellipse mask tool". Premiere Pro offers three mask tools:
   • Ellipse Mask: (Circle icon) Ideal for round or oval shapes.
   • Four-Point Polygon Mask: (Square icon) Useful for creating rectangular or square masks.
   • Free Draw Bezier Mask: (Pen tool icon) Best for drawing custom, complex shapes around your subject.
     Click on the desired mask tool icon (e.g., the Ellipse icon) under the Lumetri Color effect in Effect Controls.
4. Modify the Mask: A mask shape will appear on your Program Monitor overlaid on your footage. Drag the points or edges of the mask to "begin modifying the mask around the subject you want to isolate." You can also reposition the entire mask by dragging its center.
5. Refine the Mask (Feathering): To create a softer transition between the masked area and the rest of the image, adjust the Feather setting. The reference suggests increasing the feather, giving an example value: "increase the feather to 190." A higher feather value creates a more gradual blend.
6. Adjust the Highlight Effect: Now that the mask is created, any adjustments you make within the Lumetri Color effect panel (like Basic Correction, Creative, Curves, HSL Secondary) will only apply to the area inside the mask by default.
   • To "Highlight" (e.g., brighten): Go to the Basic Correction section within Lumetri Color and increase the Exposure or Whites slider.
   • To make it more vibrant: Increase the Saturation slider in Basic Correction or use the HSL Secondary section for more precise color adjustments.
   • To add a specific color tint: Adjust the White Balance or use the Color Wheels.

Customizing Your Highlight

The Lumetri Color effect offers numerous ways to customize how the masked area is highlighted:

• Contrast: Increase Contrast or use the Curves section to make the area more defined.
• Color: Use the HSL Secondary tools to selectively adjust specific colors within the mask, making them pop.
• Sharpening: Apply sharpening after Lumetri Color (on the same clip) and potentially add another mask to that sharpening effect if you only want the masked area sharpened.

Mask Expansion

Below the Feather setting, you'll also find a Mask Expansion setting. This allows you to grow or shrink the size of the mask shape after you've drawn it. A positive value expands the mask, while a negative value contracts it.

Inverting the Mask

If you want to apply the effect outside the masked area instead of inside, click the Inverted checkbox next to the mask settings. This can be useful for dimming or desaturating the background to make the unmasked subject stand out even more.

Mask Setting	Purpose	Example Use
Shape	Defines the area of the mask	Ellipse for faces, Pen Tool for complex objects
Feather	Softens the edges of the mask	Creates a smooth blend with the background
Opacity	Controls the transparency of the mask effect	Reduces the intensity of the highlight
Expansion	Grows or shrinks the mask size	Fine-tunes the mask area
Inverted	Applies the effect outside the mask	Dimming the background

Using masks with effects like Lumetri Color is a flexible and powerful way to selectively highlight or modify parts of your footage in Adobe Premiere Pro.