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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Select your subject with the Object Mask tool
Put your clip on the timeline and select it. In the toolbar, press and hold the shape tool to open the extra masking tools and pick the Object Mask Tool. It finds and automatically masks objects and people, so you do not need to draw anything by hand. This tool is only available in recent versions of Premiere Pro, so update the app if you cannot find it.
Look at the Program Monitor and you will see a small bar with Smooth and Sharp options. Smooth gives softer edges and is a good default for this look. Now hover over the person you want to highlight. Premiere shows a red preview over whatever it detects, and a click turns it into a mask.
Step 2: Track the mask through the clip
Open Effect Controls and find the new Object Mask under Opacity. In its Tracker row, click the button that tracks the selected mask forward and backward. Premiere analyzes the clip and shows a progress window while it works, so give it a moment. When it finishes, scrub through the clip and check that the mask stays on your subject.
Step 3: Create a color matte
Next you need a solid color to paint the highlight with. Go to the Project panel, click the New Item button at the bottom and choose Color Matte. A New Color Matte window opens. Keep the size and timebase matching your sequence (the video uses 3840 x 2160 at 60 fps), click OK and pick the color you like in the Color Picker. Bright, saturated colors work best because the Overlay blend mode softens them later.
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Step 4: Move the mask onto the matte and set Overlay
Drag the matte to the track above your clip and trim it to the same length. At first it covers the whole frame in flat color. Copy the Object Mask from your video clip's Effect Controls and paste it onto the color matte, so the matte only shows inside the shape of your subject.
Then, with the matte selected, open Opacity in Effect Controls and change Blend Mode from Normal to Overlay. Overlay blends the color with the footage underneath, so you keep the texture and detail of the jacket, skin and hair instead of a flat blob. Try other blend modes from the list too, since some footage looks better with Soft Light or Color.
Step 5: Fade the highlight in and out
A highlight that pops on at full strength can look harsh. Instead, add keyframes to the mask's Opacity (inside the Object Mask settings) so the glow fades in when you want attention on the person, and fades out again afterwards. Move the playhead, click the stopwatch next to Opacity, set a lower value at the start and a higher value a moment later.
For a smoother fade, right-click the keyframes and choose Ease In or Ease Out. You will find these next to Linear, Bezier, Auto Bezier, Continuous Bezier and Hold in the same menu.
Smoother with EaseFlow: select the opacity keyframes and apply a real easing curve in one click instead of dragging Bezier handles. See EaseFlow
Step 6: Highlight more people with different colors
Want to highlight several subjects? Repeat the steps for each one. Use the Object Mask tool on the next person, track the mask, and add it to a color matte. Give each person their own color by double-clicking the matte in the Project panel or changing the color in the Color Picker, such as the red used in the video. Each matte can have its own fade, so you can pass the spotlight from person to person.
Tips
- Check the mask on motion. Play the clip and watch the edges. If the mask slips on a fast move, step back to that frame and track again, or switch between Smooth and Sharp.
- Keep the color believable. Overlay at full strength can look neon. Lower the matte's Opacity if you want a subtle tint instead of a strong glow.
- Need softer edges? Increase Feather under the Object Mask settings for a gentler transition. For another way to isolate a subject, see text behind object, which also relies on masking.
FAQ
Why can I not find the Object Mask tool in Premiere Pro?
It is a newer feature. Update Premiere Pro to a recent version, then press and hold the shape tool in the toolbar to reveal the masking tools.
Which blend mode is best for a glow highlight?
Overlay is the one used in the tutorial and it keeps the detail of your footage visible. Soft Light is gentler, and Color replaces the hue without brightening much.
Can I highlight more than one person?
Yes. Create a separate Object Mask and color matte for each person, then set each matte to Overlay and give it its own color.
Want a head start on glow and color looks? The Ultimate Premiere Pro Presets pack has over 500 presets you can drop straight onto your clips. Browse the presets
