From Slow to Pro: How to Speed Up Your Premiere Pro Workflow

1. Use Adjustment Layers

Adjustment layers are often overlooked by beginners but they are a huge time-saver when it comes to editing multiple clips on your timeline. 

An adjustment layer is like a magical layer that you can apply effects to, and any clip underneath the layer will also be affected by those effects. This means that you can apply the effect just once to the adjustment layer, and it will automatically be applied to all the clips below it. Pretty awesome, right? 

Adjustment layers are particularly useful when you want to apply the same effect to a whole section of your project. For example, if you're creating a montage and want all the clips to have a specific color grade or look, you can apply the effect to an adjustment layer and save yourself the headache of applying the effect to each clip individually. 

Just imagine the time saved by this one trick! Try experimenting with adjustment layers and see how they can enhance your workflow.

2. Utilize Proxy Workflow

If you're working with high-resolution footage, you may find that Premiere Pro struggles to keep up with your editing demands. This can be particularly true if you're working on an older or less powerful computer.

One way to speed up your Premiere Pro workflow when working with high-resolution footage is to use a proxy workflow. This means that you create lower-resolution copies of your original footage, called proxy files, and use them for editing instead. 

Proxy files are much easier for Premiere Pro to handle, so you can edit them without any hassle, freezes or lags. When you're done editing, you can switch back to the original high-resolution files and export your final video.

Creating proxy files is not hard either. You can use the Ingest and Proxy Workflow to convert your original footage to a lower resolution and link the proxy files to the original files in Premiere Pro. This way, Premiere Pro will know which files to use for editing and which ones to use for export.

3. Organize Your Files

Organizing your files is a critical part of speeding up your Premiere Pro workflow (or any other workflow for that matter).

When you're working on a project with a lot of footage and assets, it's easy to become overwhelmed and lose track of where everything is, so having an organized work space can help a lot! 

Here are some tips to help you keep your files organized and make your workflow smoother:

• Start with a base project that has pre-made bins: Always begin a project with a base project that already has multiple bins created. This way, the names of your bins will be the same in all your projects, saving you the time and effort of creating them separately each time.
• Use a consistent naming convention: Make sure all of your files are named in a way that makes sense and is consistent. For example, you could use a naming convention like "ProjectName_ClipType_Description_v1" to keep things organized and easy to find.
• Use color coding: You can also use color coding to help you visually organize your assets. For example, you could assign different colors to different types of footage, or to footage from different shoots.
• Keep your project file organized: Make sure your Premiere Pro project file is also organized. Use the project panel to keep track of your assets, and group related clips together.

By taking the time to organize your files, you'll be able to find what you need more quickly, and avoid wasting time searching for files or trying to remember where you put something. Plus, a well-organized project is easier to navigate and can help you stay focused on the task at hand.

4. Use Nested Sequences

Nested sequences are a powerful tool for keeping your timeline clean and editing interviews more efficiently. They allow you to group related clips together, making it easier to manage and manipulate complex projects.

When working on an interview, start by putting the interview footage in one sequence and sync up your audio. Then nest this sequence in a new sequence to edit the interview. This way, you can easily do color correction or audio enhancements to the entire interview. It also helps in keeping your timeline organized and allows for a smoother editing experience.

5. Use Smart Tools And Plugins

When it comes to speeding up your creative workflow, nothing beats the convenience and efficiency of smart tools and plugins. With Film Impact's extensive library of smart tools & plugins, you can achieve incredible results with just a few clicks, saving you time and effort.

Here are some of the best Film Impact tool packs you can start using right now:

• Animation Series: The animation series lets you create and customize mind-blowing animations right inside Premiere Pro. You no longer need to switch back and forth between Premiere Pro and After Effects to create a good looking animation. It also features a 3D motion blur engine for the most realistic and smooth animations you’ve ever seen!
  
• Transformer Transitions: Transformer transitions are all about advanced mind-blowing reveals that are sure to leave your audience in awe. You can slice up, stretch and dynamically transition into text with ease and grace. Also, you can create 3D Rolls and apply 3D transformations to your scenes within seconds.
  
• Essential Transitions: The Essential Transitions pack consists of the most needed and used transitions for your everyday Premiere Pro usage. Powered by the latest GPU technologies, they perform in real time for a smooth and fast workflow.
  
• Smart Plugins: And the cherry on the cake are our best and most cutting-edge plugins you can find in the market today. With this pack you are armed with the ability to animate any text in any way you want. You can also use our new state-of-the-art Shape Flow tool to create a mesmerizing shape reveal. The sky's the limit with this pack! 

Each of these smart tool packs are filled to the brim with advanced transitions to help you create your next masterpiece with lightning speed.

And the best part is that you can try them out right now for free with our 30-days of free unrestricted access when you sign up! 

So what are you waiting for? Lost time is not coming back. Let's make the most of it now!