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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Cut the part of the clip that will shrink
Move the playhead to the exact frame where you want the effect to begin and press Ctrl + K (Cmd + K on Mac) to make a cut. Then move forward to the frame where the video should be normal again and cut once more. You now have three pieces on the timeline, and the middle one is the clip that will get the void effect.
Step 2: Add a black color matte below the video
For the next step it is important that nothing sits on the track below your clip. If the track under it is not empty, you need a black background. Go to File > New > Color Matte, make it black, and drag it onto the track directly below your video. Stretch it so it covers all three pieces. Without it, the shrinking video would reveal whatever is underneath instead of a clean black void.
One click with Mako: the free Mako panel adds a color matte over the selected clips, at the playhead, on the first free track, in one click. Get Mako for free
Step 3: Scale the middle clip down
Select the middle piece of your video and open the Effect Controls panel. Find Scale under Motion and bring it down to around 50. The video now floats in the center of the frame with black all around it. Pick a size that suits your footage, because there is no single correct value.
Step 4: Animate a slight zoom out with keyframes
A static small clip works, but a gentle zoom makes the void feel alive. Move the playhead to the start of the middle clip and click the stopwatch next to Scale to create a first keyframe. Then jump to the end of the clip and reduce Scale even more. Premiere Pro creates the second keyframe automatically, and the video slowly drifts away into the dark.
Smoother with EaseFlow: select the two Scale keyframes and apply a real easing curve in one click instead of dragging Bezier handles, so the zoom starts and stops softly. See EaseFlow
Step 5: Add a Black & White look (optional)
If you want an even moodier result, open the Effects panel and search for Black & White. You will find it under Video Effects > Image Control. Drag it onto the middle clip only, and the shrinking video turns grayscale while the rest of your sequence keeps its color.
Tips
- Match the cuts to the beat. If you are using music, place the cuts on a beat so the void drops in exactly when the song does.
- Keep the clip short. The effect works best for one or two seconds. Longer than that and viewers start to wonder why the video is small.
- Add a sound. A short whoosh or bass drop under the zoom makes it feel much bigger.
FAQ
Why do I need a black color matte under the video?
When you scale a clip below 100, Premiere Pro shows whatever is on the tracks beneath it. If those tracks are empty you get black, but a color matte guarantees a solid black background no matter what else is in your project.
Can I use a different background color than black?
Yes. Create a color matte in any color and place it below the clip. Black gives the classic void look, while a bright color gives a more playful result.
How do I make the effect smoother?
Apply easing to the Scale keyframes. In the Effect Controls panel you can right-click each keyframe and use the temporal interpolation options, or use this guide to easing keyframes.
Want a ready-made version you can drop straight into your timeline? Try the Zoom Out YouTube Animation template.
