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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Find VR Chromatic Aberrations in the Effects panel
Open the Effects panel (Window > Effects) and type VR chromatic into the search box. You will find VR Chromatic Aberrations under Video Effects > Immersive Video. The name says VR, but the effect works fine on normal flat footage.
Step 2: Apply the effect to your clip
Drag VR Chromatic Aberrations onto your clip in the timeline. As soon as it lands, the picture picks up colored edges, especially around high-contrast details such as the mountain ridges.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of VR Chromatic Aberrations and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 3: Move the Point of Interest
Select the clip and open Effect Controls. Find Point of Interest under VR Chromatic Aberrations and click the name. A small blue crosshair icon appears in the Program Monitor, and you can drag it around the frame. The Point of Interest is the area that stays clean, and the aberration grows stronger the further you move away from it. Drag it to the center for the typical lens look, or to one side if you want the effect to hit the opposite edge harder.
Step 4: Invert the falloff to push it to the edges
In Effect Controls, switch on Falloff Invert. This flips the effect so that it applies everywhere except where the blue icon is located. Then play with Falloff Distance, which works like an amount setting for how far the effect spreads. Experiment until the look matches your shot.
Step 5: Adjust the red, green and blue values
Below the Point of Interest you will find Aberration (Red), Aberration (Green) and Aberration (Blue). Each one shifts that color channel away from the others. By default red and blue are set in opposite directions. Change them if you want a stronger split, a different color combination or a more subtle fringe. Small changes are usually enough, so go slowly and watch the result in the Program Monitor.
Tips
- Keep it subtle for a realistic look. Strong aberration looks glitchy, while light fringing looks like a real lens.
- Use it on a short section. Aberration is very eye-catching, so it often works best on one moment, such as a transition or a beat in the music.
- Combine it with other effects. Grain, a slight shake or a glitch overlay all pair well with chromatic aberration.
FAQ
Where is the chromatic aberration effect in Premiere Pro?
Search for VR Chromatic Aberrations in the Effects panel. It sits under Video Effects > Immersive Video.
How do I make chromatic aberration only appear at the edges?
Place the Point of Interest in the center of the frame and turn on Falloff Invert. Then adjust Falloff Distance until the effect reaches as far in as you like.
Can I change the colors of the aberration?
Yes. Use the Aberration (Red), Aberration (Green) and Aberration (Blue) values to shift each color channel separately.
Want to pair it with a glitchy transition? Try our free glitch transitions with sound.
