How to Adjust Levels on Adobe Premiere
Imagine shooting a complex video scene in low lighting and later discovering that the footage is unusable. Lighting plays a key role in any video project. Instead of reshooting scenes that are washed out or too dark, you can correct the video's luminance levels using Adobe Premier. This video editing program has a "Fast Color Correction" effect that can lighten shadows that are too dark and darken white areas that appear too bright. Simply drag a couple of sliders to adjust your levels in real time.
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Instructions
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Launch Adobe Premier, and click "File." Click "Import," and double-click one of the video files in the Import window. An icon representing this file appears in the Project panel.
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Click and drag that icon to the Timeline at the bottom of Premier. A small thumbnail of the clip appears on the timeline. The Program preview player also displays the first frame from the clip. This player is Premier's upper right corner.
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Click "Window," and then click "Effects" to open the Effects browser. Type "Fast Color Correction" in the search box at the top of the Effects browser. The "Fast Color Correction" icon appears in the list of search results.
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Click and drag that icon to the video clip thumbnail you placed on the timeline. Press "Shift" and "5" to open the Effects Control panel. This panel opens at the top of Premier.
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Click the drop-down arrow next to the word "Fast Color Corrector." Additional controls expand and appear below the arrow. Scroll down and locate the "Output Levels" slider bar. This horizontal slider bar allows you to adjust the effect's black and white output levels. A black triangle appears on the left side of the slider bar, and a white triangle appears on the right side of the slider bar. You have the ability to move both triangles.
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Click and drag the black triangle to the right. As you drag, notice how the image in the Program preview player gets lighter. This happens because as you move that triangle to the right, Premier makes all shadow colors lighter.
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Click and drag the white triangle to the left. As you move this slider, the image in the Program preview player gets darker. This occurs because Premier makes white colors darker as you move that slider to the left.
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Adjust these two sliders until the image appears acceptable to you. Press the spacebar. The player plays the video using the new level settings you set.
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Tips & Warnings
Strive for a well-balanced, even-toned video that contains normal contrast and does not appear washed out. Move the white and black triangles slowly and experiment with different combinations of slider positions as you tweak your luminance levels.
You can also use these controls to create interesting tonal effects if that is your goal. Create an ominous dark scene, for example, by dragging the white triangle far to the left on the Output Levels slider.
You don't have to be a cinematographer to use Premier's Fast Color Correction effect. Enhance any video on your hard drive by using the techniques described in these steps.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit David De Lossy/Valueline/Getty Images
