FAQ: How to crop video and change width and height – visual tips and tricks

[caroline_edits]

This post will show you how to change the video width and height (AKA "resolution" or "aspect ratio") as well as how to crop your image! When it comes to post-production, the possibilities are endless. Own your visuals with these quick tips! 

How to change video width and height

With the accessibility of cameras today, it's common for editors to use footage from more than one source, which can result in a video that looks like it changes between different sizes. Changing your video's width and height (aka "resolution") is super simple in Premiere's sequence settings. See the video below for steps.

1. Use the Project panel to check your footage resolution. This is how we choose what the width and height should be!

2. Use the toolbar at the top of your screen to go to Sequence > Sequence Settings...

3. In the video section, there is an option to change Frame Size. Edit it to match your video's resolution.

• There is also a section for video previews which only affects your rendered playback, not your actual video. Ignore this section for now.

4. If some of your clips are too large for your new settings, select the clip in the timeline, and use the Effects Control panel to change the scale of the clip.

How to crop video

Crop your video to create split-screen or multi-screen effects! You can also use it to remove images on the edge of the frame. With the Crop effect in Premiere Pro, you can slice it any way you like. See the video below for steps.

1. Use the Effects panel to find the Crop effect

2. Click and drag the effect to a clip in your timeline

3. Use the Effects Control panel to change the direction and severity of the crop. 

• Click and drag the blue numbers in the control panel to see the crop
• Click the blue number to type in an exact percentage (50% crop will give you a half & half visual)

Hope this helps!

Caroline

[dougsooley]

Is there a way to get uniform sizes for a crop? I have three speakers in a Zoom and I am placing them side by side but I want the boxes to be uniform. I cannot see actual dimensions for the crop. Is there a way to say, I want every clip to be 360 pixels by 400 pixels etc? Then I drag them into alignment?

[caroline_edits]

Hey, great question!

There is no way to set up your crop by pixel size. Here's how we could do it instead.

If they are three different clips, you may be able to adjust the crop settings in the Properties panel, then copy the numbers of the crop onto the other clips. See attachment!

You could also create an opacity mask, make sure it's the right size, and then copy/paste it to your other speakers. This YouTube video doesn't exactly match your situation, but it will show you how to create an opacity mask. Do you have three different clips on your timeline (one for each speaker) or do you have one Zoom recording with all of your speakers included?

Happy to help,

Caroline

[Peru Bob]

@dougsooley 

See the replies to your thread here:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-discussions/crop-sizes/td-p/15342833