Adobe Premiere Pro CC Editing Basics

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Adobe has been a leading name in creative software for decades, powering everything from graphic design to animation and visual effects. One of their standout products is Adobe Premiere Pro CC, one of the most popular video editing programs used by professionals worldwide.

These are the video editing basics with Adobe Premiere Pro CC that every beginner should know. The software works on both macOS and Windows, making it simple to move projects between platforms. That’s great news for teams working across different operating systems. You can also adapt your videos to a wide range of aspect ratio presets, which is especially handy for social media.

Let’s get into the basics.

When you open Adobe Premiere Pro CC, you’ll see the start screen.

Click ‘New Project.’ A dialog box will appear, asking you to name your project, choose a save location, and configure initial settings like the renderer and scratch disks. Then click OK.

The interface layout may vary. You can pick from predefined workspaces (like Learning or Assembly) or create your own.

Video Editing Basics with Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Our guide on types of tripods for vlogging goes into more detail if you need it.

You can also rearrange all the panels however you like. Close them, drag them around, set them up your way, then save that workspace. (Window > Workspace > Save as New Workspace)

The most important panels you’ll use regularly:

1. Timeline

2. Program Monitor (where you preview your project)

3. Effects

4. Effects Controls

5. Tools

We also wrote a hands-on guide on how to start vlogging that you might find useful.

6. Audio Meters

Now that you’re set up, let’s get started. First, you need to import your files.

1. HOW TO IMPORT FILES: (3 ways)

• File > Import > Import File
• Ctrl + I
• Double Click on the empty space in the Project panel

2. HOW TO START EDITING

• CREATE A SEQUENCE: (3 ways)
  • Click File > New Sequence, then choose your aspect ratio.
  • Click the New Item icon > Sequence, then pick from the aspect ratio presets for your final output.
  • Drag and drop your video from the Project Panel into the timeline, or drag your file onto the New Item icon.

• WORK ON THE TIMELINE
  • To scrub and preview your timeline, drag the blue playhead across the timeline.
  • You can zoom in or out by pressing + or – on your keyboard.
  • You can move frame by frame by pressing the left and right arrows on your keyboard.
  • The eye icon controls visibility. The M / S buttons mute or solo an audio track. Click them to toggle on or off.
  • To cut or slice your video, select the Razor tool from the Tools Panel or press C on your keyboard. Click where you want to make the cut. When you’re done cutting, switch back to the Selection tool by pressing V.
  • To delete a section, click on the part you want to remove and press Delete on your keyboard. Or right-click and choose Ripple Delete to close the gap automatically.
  • To add a transition, drag one from the Effects Panel (like Cross Dissolve) onto the junction between two clips. You can also press ‘Ctrl+D’ to apply the default transition. Another option: search ‘transition’ in the Effects Panel, open Video Transitions, pick the one you want, and drag it onto the connected ends of your footage.
  • You can adjust the transition duration by dragging the transition edges apart or together. Pulling them apart creates a longer buildup. Pushing them closer makes a quicker transition.
    

    connected ends of your footage

  • To apply an effect, go to the Effects Panel and drag the effect onto your clip. Or click the clip first, then double-click the effect in the Effects Panel to apply it.
  • If you want to separate audio from video on an imported clip, right-click the clip on the timeline and select Unlink.
  • To Preview, press the Space Bar or Enter on your keyboard.

• ADJUSTMENTS
  • In the Effects Control Panel, you can tweak Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity, Volume, and any other effects you’ve applied to your clip.
    

• RENDER
  • To export your project, press ‘Ctrl+M’ to open the Export Settings window. Set your output format, choose a preset, and click ‘Export’ or ‘Queue’ to send it to Adobe Media Encoder.
    

    Render Settings on Adobe Premiere CC

  • Your file will appear in Adobe Media Encoder’s queue. Press Enter or click the green play button, then wait for it to finish rendering.
    

    Export Window of Adobe Media Encoder

That covers the basics of getting around in Adobe Premiere Pro CC. Newer versions also include features like Auto Reframe, which automatically adjusts your video’s aspect ratio for different platforms like Instagram or TikTok. It doesn’t just crop your footage into a square. It intelligently keeps the most important parts of your shot in frame.

Take some time to explore the software on your own. There’s a lot you can do with it, and the best way to learn is by experimenting.