Enhance your video editing skills with this comprehensive guide to creating an RGB transition using the Razor Tool and Nested Sequences. Learn how to apply and adjust effects to create a smooth, visually appealing transition that can be customized to suit any project.
Key Insights
- The process begins with careful use of the Razor Tool to cut up parts of the clips, then creating Nested Sequences from the pieces. Two effects, Levels and Channel Blur, are then applied to the sequences.
- The guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on using different tools such as the Playhead, the Razor Tool, and the Selection tool to execute cuts and edits on the footage.
- Specific timecodes are given to guide users on where to make cuts and how to set up the transition effects accurately.
- Users are guided on adjusting keyframes on the effects, including changing the RGB White Input Levels and altering the Red and Green Blurriness settings using the Channel Blur effect.
- The guide also introduces the concept of 'Repeat Edge Pixels' to ensure the effect covers the edges of the footage.
- It concludes with suggestions on how users can experiment with different Levels settings, alter the Channel Blur settings, or add other effects to enhance the RGB transition.
RGB Transition Build
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Duplicate Your Clip
Stack three identical clips on V1, V2, V3.
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Apply Channel Effects
Use Arithmetic or Channel Mixer to isolate R, G, B per layer.
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Offset Each Channel
Slightly shift each layer's position for the chromatic split.
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Animate the Split
Keyframe the offset over the transition duration to land on a clean cut.
Getting the Project Files
- Download the project files.
- After the download has finished, be sure to unzip the file if it hasn’t been done for you. You should end up with a Premiere Pro RGB Transition Effect folder.
Project Overview
We’ll be first carefully cutting up parts of our clips with theRazor Tool, then making Nested Sequences from the pieces. After that, we’ll be applying the Levels effect to both new sequences, then the Channel Blur as well. Finally, we’ll be adjusting some keyframes on the effects, and it’ll be done!
Body
1. Move the Playhead to 00;00;02;12.
2. Now, with Shift held down, hit the left arrow key four times to move back a total of twenty frames to 00;00;01;17.
3. Hit C to bring up the Razor Tool.
4. Click right on where the Playhead line touches the footage line to chop the footage there.
5. Now either slide the Playhead or use Shift-right arrow key to move the Playhead
to 00;00;03;07.
6. With the Razor Tool still in use, click on the intersection of the Playhead
line and footage to cut another piece off.
7. Hit V for the Selection tool.
8. Shift-Click on both footage slices you just cut off.
9. Right-click on either.
10. Click on Nest in the list that pops up. This will take both footage clips and combine them in a new clip together, side by side.
11. Name your new sequence RBG Transition 1.
12. Hit OK.
13. Now let’s move the Playhead to00;00;5;16.
14. Shift-left arrow key to move the Playhead three times to00;00;05;01.
15. Hit C to use the Razor Tool .
16. Click on the intersection of the Playhead and the footage to slice it.
17. Now let’s Shift-right arrow key six times to go to 00;00;06;06.
18. Hit C once again to use the Razor Tool .
19. Click on the footage where the Playhead intersects it for the last piece.
20. Press V to activate the Selection tool.
21. Shift-Click both new pieces.
22. Right-click on either.
23. Select Nest.
24. Name the new sequence RGB Transition 2.
25. ClickOK. We have our two Nested Sequence s! Onto applying the effects.
Effect Settings
1. Go over to the Effects panel on the left.
2. Type in Levels.
3. Click and drag the name Levels that show up ontoRGB Transition 1.
4. Click and drag Levels onto RGB Transition 2.
5. Now type in Channel Blur.
6. Click and drag Channel Blur onto RGB Transition 1.
7. And of course, click and drag Channel Blur onto RGB Transition 2.
8. Select RGB Transition 1.
9. In the top left there should be an Effects panel.
10. Move the Playhead to 00;00;01;16.
11. In the (RGB) White Input Levels, click the stopwatch symbol. This will set a keyframe.
12. Move the Playhead to 00;00;02;11.
13. Change the (RGB) White Input Levels to0.
14. Once more, move the Playhead to 00;00;03;07.
15. Scroll down to Channel Blur in the RGB Transition 1.
16. Click the stopwatch next to Red Blurriness.
17. Click the stopwatch next to Green Blurriness.
18. Now let’s move back to 00;00;03;07.
19. Change the Red Blurriness to 300.
20. Change the Green Blurriness to 30.
21. And finally, move back to 00;00;01;16.
22. Alter the Red Blurriness to 0.
23. Green Blurriness is now 0.
24. Lastly, check the box next to Repeat Edge Pixels to let the effect cover the edges of the footage as well.
25. Hit the Spacebar to preview your work. It blurs out with a slight chromatic effect, which is super cool. Let’s go on to the next sequence!
Final Nested Sequence
1. Move the Playhead to00;00;05;03.
2. Select RGB Transition 2.
3. Since we already added the effects before, you should see Levels there in theEffects panel.
4. Next to (RGB) White Input Levels, press the stopwatch to start keyframes.
5. Move the Playhead to00;00;05;18.
6. Change the (RGB) White Input Levels to0.
7. Move the Playhead to 00;00;06;04.
8. Once more, we’ll change the (RGB) White Input Levels to 255.
9. Now go down to the Channel Blur effect that we added before to this sequence.
10. Press the stopwatch next to Red Blurriness.
11. Do the same for Green Blurriness.
12. Go back to 00;00;05;18.
13. Change Red Blurriness to 300.
14.Green Blurriness, change to30.
15. Finally, move back to00;00;05;03.
16. Red Blurriness should be 0 once again.
17. Lastly, Green Blurriness is0 as well.
18. Move the Playhead to00;00;00;00.
19. Hit Spacebar and preview your video! Now the clips blend into each other with a cool colored transition. That was pretty simple!
Conclusion
With just two effects, the Razor Tool, and Nested Sequence s, you’ve made an awesome RGB transition! You can adjust the different Levels on the Levels effect, change up the settings on Channel Blur, and of course, alter the duration of the effects on your clips. Maybe just alter the Blue channe l or turn up all the settings on the Channel Blur clip. Add another effect and see what happens!
Happy editing!
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