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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Draw the graph with the Pen Tool
Start with a plain background, such as a white color matte on your timeline. Select the Pen Tool (shortcut P) in the toolbar, then click in the Program monitor in the corner where the graph should begin.
Keep clicking to add points that follow the rise and fall of your line. Each click adds a new point, and Premiere connects them for you. At the end of the graph you may need to click inside the screen first, and then drag the point out beyond the edge of the frame so the line runs off the screen cleanly.
Step 2: Close the shape
To get a filled graph, you need to connect the last point back to the first one. Zoom out a little in the Program monitor so you can reach the points that sit outside the frame, then click the first point to close the shape. You now have a gray, filled shape.
Step 3: Style the fill and stroke
Select the shape layer and open Effect Controls. Expand the Shape settings and find Appearance. Click the color swatch next to Fill, pick a color you like (the video uses a bright green) and press OK.
You can also turn on Stroke, choose a different color for it and click OK. Don't forget to raise the stroke width, because the default is thin. A stroke in a stronger color gives the graph a bold top edge.
If you need to adjust the graph later, keep the shape layer and the Pen Tool selected. You can then move any point to change the line.
Step 4: Apply the Linear Wipe effect
To animate the graph, open the Effects panel and search for wipe. Under Video Effects > Transition, apply Linear Wipe to the shape layer by dragging it onto the clip.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Linear Wipe and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 5: Keyframe the Transition Completion
Select the layer and go to Effect Controls. Make sure the playhead is at the very start of the clip. Click the stopwatch next to Transition Completion to start keyframing, set it to 100% and set Wipe Angle to 270. That makes the wipe move from the left, so the graph is hidden at first.
Now move the playhead forward a bit and set Transition Completion to 0%. Premiere creates a second keyframe, and the graph is revealed from left to right between the two. To speed the animation up, drag the second keyframe closer to the first one, and drag it farther away to slow it down.
Step 6: Smooth out the motion
For a smoother reveal, select both Transition Completion keyframes, right-click one of them and choose Ease In. Then select the keyframes again and choose Ease Out. The graph now starts and finishes gently instead of moving at a constant speed.
Smoother with EaseFlow: select the keyframes and apply a real easing curve in one click instead of dragging Bezier handles. See EaseFlow
For even more control, expand the Transition Completion settings to open the velocity graph and play with the curve until the reveal feels right. If you'd like a deeper explanation, read our guide on how to ease keyframes in Premiere Pro.
Step 7: Soften the edge with Feather
If you'd like a softer leading edge on the reveal, increase the Feather value in Linear Wipe a bit. The edge of the wipe blurs, so the graph appears to fade in as it travels.
You can also switch off the fill color if you want only the line. The animation then plays as a simple line drawing across the screen.
Tips
- Add more points. More points in the Pen Tool give the graph a more natural, uneven line.
- Match the brand. Pick fill and stroke colors from your channel or brand palette.
- Count up the numbers. Pair the graph with our number counting animation for a full data scene.
FAQ
How do I animate a line graph in Premiere Pro?
Draw the graph with the Pen Tool, apply Linear Wipe and keyframe Transition Completion from 100% to 0%.
Why does my graph reveal from the wrong side?
Change the Wipe Angle. A value of 270 reveals the graph from the left.
How do I make the graph animation smoother?
Select both keyframes and apply Ease In and Ease Out, then fine-tune the curve in the velocity graph.
Want a ready-made version you can edit in minutes? Get the Smooth Graph Animation project and skip the setup.
