How to Use Green Screen in Premiere Pro (4 Easy Steps)

Trying to replace that bright green background with something more interesting? Whether you're shooting a YouTube video or working on a short film, green screen can help you drop your subject into any scene you want.

The good news? Premiere Pro makes it pretty straightforward once you know where to look. Here's exactly how to do it.

1. Import Your Footage

First things first, bring everything into Premiere Pro.

1. Open your project or start a new one.
2. Drag your green screen footage and the background clip or image into the Project panel.
3. Drop both onto the timeline. Make sure the green screen clip is on top (V2) and the background is below it (V1).

2. Apply the Ultra Key Effect

This is where the magic happens, Ultra Key is what removes that green color.

1. Go to the Effects panel.
2. Search for Ultra Key.
3. Drag it onto your green screen clip in the timeline.

3. Select the Green Color

Now it's time to tell Premiere which color to remove.

1. Click on your green screen clip in the timeline.
2. Head over to the Effect Controls panel.
3. Under Ultra Key, find the Key Color option.
4. Use the eyedropper tool and click directly on the green part of your video in the Program Monitor.

You should see most of that green disappear right away.

4. Clean Up the Edges

Sometimes there’s still a bit of leftover green around your subject. Here’s how to fix that:

1. In Effect Controls, under Ultra Key, open up Matte Generation and Matte Cleanup.
2. Adjust settings like Transparency, Pedestal, Choke, and Soften until things look clean.
3. If needed, tweak Spill Suppression too, this helps remove any green tint from edges like hair or clothing.

Take your time here. Small changes can make a big difference. And that’s it! Your subject should now be standing in front of whatever background you chose, no more bright green wall behind them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you green screen on Premiere Pro?

To use a green screen in Premiere Pro:

1. Import both your footage and background.
2. Place footage with green screen above background on timeline.
3. Apply Ultra Key effect to green screen clip.
4. Use eyedropper tool to select green color.
5. Adjust settings for clean keying.

How to make green background transparent in Premiere Pro?

Use the Ultra Key effect:

1. Apply Ultra Key from Effects panel onto your clip.
2. In Effect Controls, use eyedropper under "Key Color" to select green area.
3. The selected color becomes transparent automatically.
4. Fine-tune Matte Cleanup settings if needed.

How do I put a background on a green screen?

Once you've keyed out the green:

1. Place your new background layer below your keyed footage on timeline (V1).
2. Resize or reposition as needed using Motion settings in Effect Controls.
3. Make sure everything lines up visually for best results.

How to use green screen in video editing?

Green screens let you replace solid backgrounds:

1. Film with a solid color backdrop (usually bright green).
2. In editing software like Premiere Pro, apply chroma keying (Ultra Key).
3. Remove that solid color and insert any new background behind it.

Got some tricky lighting or uneven greens? Don’t stress, even pros need a few tweaks sometimes! Just keep experimenting with those Matte Cleanup sliders until things look right.