Now in Beta: Rounded corners in the timeline

[Francis-Crossman]

Starting with Premiere Pro (Beta) version 25.0, build 32, all clips in the timeline have rounded corners!

Rounded corners in the timeline

As part of the New Spectrum UI updates, we are now adding rounded corners to all of the clips in the timeline UI. Rounded corners are easier to look at all day long, require less cognitive load to parse and understand, make it easier to see the boundaries between clips, and are just plain friendlier! There is a lot of psychology behind rounded corners. Just look at any object within sight right now, and you will start to see rounded corners everywhere.

Here are a few interesting reads on Medium that explain the concept rather well.

Rounded edges are “friendlier”

The human brain is conditioned to process sharp objects as potentially harmful and dangerous. A human neuroimaging study has shown that it is natural behaviour to lean towards objects with curved contours compared to sharper objects.

(Benjamin Tey, The current obsession with rounded edges in user interfaces)

The Effect

A complete lack of sharp edges and sudden transitions eradicates the manufactured feel that we’re so used to in mass-produced goods. Instead of reminding us of industrial supply chains, automobile production, and chemical laboratories, these softer shapes evoke succulents, pine trees, and rocks that have tumbled through mountain streams. There’s an organic quality that just feels healthy and warm.

(Arthur Van Siclen, Rounded corners in the Apple Ecosystem)

The radius will reduce as the clip gets very small to avoid the timeline looking too “bubbly” and there is a threshold width below which clips will revert to 90° angles entirely. We have tested with very large timelines and we are confident in our settings, but we want to know what you think.  We encourage you to post screenshots of your timeline if you wish.

Radius reduces when narrow

We want to know what you think.  Please join the conversation below.

[Tom_edit]

Glad you think so! most working professionals here don't agree though! hope that helps! 😌

[seana31465149]

I hope there will be an option to turn this off. It's one of the few things I hate about Resolve, and it's the one thing you are copying?

I see rounded edges I see a phone app. It does not look serious, and makes me feel that the timeline is not frame accurate when I look at it.

[NickMcCall]

Horrible can it be switchable in prefs? Doesn't look precise or pro and has become iMovie looking. 

[christianb69160500]

Adding to the voices calling for rounded corners to be an optional feature in future patches. I want to see where my frame joins are across multiple tracks. Rounded corners means I have to zoom in/squint at a detail that should look pixel-perfect at any scale. This is adding to cognitive load and making my work less time efficient.

Professional editors really don't mind how fuzzy and friendly the UI is, and I expect amateurs and learners would benefit from the clarity as well. Please by all means make it an option so those who do not like it can switch it off.

[davef43726944]

Truly the worst update to PP I've seen in many years. PlLease turn this crap off or allow it to be a preference. 

Now I have to go through and make sure these fake gaps on the timeline aren't actually gaps? You're just wasting my time.

[Dom Grimard]

I strongly dislike the rounded corners, It's the one thing I hated about Da Vinci resolves and this is identical. I'm always wondering if i'm leaving an empty frame between clips, always have to zoom in to confirm. Please bring back the sharp squared corners or at least let us have the option to chose. Cheers!

[Chase32601021uo24]

How do i remove the rounded corners? Please, it is so, SO bad! I can't even begin to express how much I hate this. PLEASE let us turn this off.

[michael powell]

Sharp edges are necessary to see where clips connect.  I don't want to zoom all the way into my timeline to make sure my clips are connnecting.  At the very least, give us an option to change these settings in the preferences menu.

[Lins38220569l5vp]

No, this doesn't work for me. You can keep it for those who likes it. But please reconsider to make it optional.

[suzannej90825337]

 Rounded corners are easier to work with on touch/ stylus interfaces only. Why have you done this to me lol. Please give me back easy to see corners bro I do so much frame by frame stuff -weeps-

[suzannej90825337]

Reduces cognitive load! It takes far more cognative load to parse curves for humans and robots alike. Instead of updating my own algorithm can I just have the option to make it more gridlike?

[Vincetagram]

Yeah so how about let's undo this ASAP lol. I recently updated to 2025 and I cannot believe this made it through and entire team of approvals and out of beta. It's so much harder to see where clips start and begin now. This does not make it easier to parse adn understand, and it does not make it easier to see the boundaries between clips. I thought this was an option that was enabled by default and could be configured in the settings but the fact that this isn't undoable is terrible. To the point that I'm considering going back to 2024 until I find an actual good use for the AI features.

[Tom_edit]

honestly guys... as someone who is currently flicking between 25.0 and the 25.2 beta right now and has been doing so since these were introducted... I still heavily feel like this is a massive mistake.

General usability in the timeline is just worse. Like there's no real way to sugar coat it, it's just an overall worse experience to do my job in the rounded interface than it is when everything is squared off. I know at this point that it's probably too late but I really do wish this would be reverted or offered as an option because it's just... not good to actually use.

[Jcampanale]

One of the major advantages Premiere has over Resolve right now is the ability to customize the UI to the user's advantage. Everyone works differently, and Premiere has done an excellent job in adapting to invidual needs, allowing users to leverage the program to work faster and more efficienty. If you spend 8 to 16 hours everyday in Premiere, the smallest UI details can - and do matter. 

Moreover, I find that as Premiere allows me to configure it different ways to suit my preference and workflow, I become more invested in it in ways I don't with other more rigid programs. 

I'd ask the developers to continue to consider customization on things like inverse audio waveforms, rounded edges, and in my case, the legibility of cuts themselves, which I am having a hard time discerning with darker labels in the new versions (seemingly solved with a bevel per prior versions). 

[mikenulty1]

No, at least give us the option for sharp corners in settings. When stacking video, it's hard to see the cut point with rounded corners.