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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Draw a rectangle over your clip
Place your talking-head clip on the timeline. Select the Rectangle Tool in the toolbar, then click and drag in the Program Monitor to draw a big shape. Reposition it so it covers both the left and the right side of the screen. The shape appears as a new graphic layer on the track above your clip.
Step 2: Set the shape color to black
With the shape layer selected, open Effect Controls and expand the Shape section. Next to Fill, click the color swatch, set the color to black and click OK. The rectangle is now a solid black block over your video.
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Step 3: Add a mask to the shape
Scroll all the way down in Effect Controls to Opacity. Click the rectangle icon, Create 4-point polygon mask. You need a mask because it lets you extend and feather the edges of the shape, which a plain shape cannot do.
Step 4: Extend the mask outside the screen
Because the mask will be feathered a lot, its edges need to reach outside the frame so no hard black edge shows on the sides or bottom. Zoom the Program Monitor out to 10% so you can see the whole canvas and the area around it. Move the mask down to the bottom of the screen, then drag each corner of the mask outside the frame, so it ends up as a wide black band along the bottom edge. When you are done, reset the zoom level back to 100%.
Step 5: Feather and expand the mask
Select the shape layer and go back to the mask settings under Opacity in Effect Controls. Increase Mask Feather to around 400, or whatever you like. This turns the hard edge into a soft gradient. Then raise Mask Expansion to around 200 so the black grows a little further up the frame.
Step 6: Animate the overlay in
Make sure the playhead is at the start of the clip. Under Video > Motion, click the stopwatch next to Position to create a keyframe. Then move the keyframe forward in time to where you want the animation to finish. Go back to the first keyframe and change the Position values so the shape sits lower, below the screen. Play it back and the black gradient now rises into the frame.
Step 7: Smooth the animation
Select both keyframes, right-click one and choose Temporal Interpolation > Ease In. Then right-click again and choose Temporal Interpolation > Ease Out. Now the overlay 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 right-clicking through the menu twice. See EaseFlow
Tips
- Put text on top. The dark gradient makes titles and subtitles easy to read. For a text animation to place on top, try the typewriter text effect.
- Match the length. Stretch the shape layer over the whole clip so the overlay stays on screen.
- Adjust the strength. Raise or lower Mask Expansion to make the black reach higher or lower.
FAQ
How do I make a black gradient overlay in Premiere Pro?
Draw a black rectangle, add a mask to it and increase Mask Feather until the edge fades smoothly into the video.
Why do I see hard edges on the sides?
The mask corners need to be outside the screen. Zoom the Program Monitor out and drag every corner beyond the frame.
How do I animate the overlay?
Keyframe the shape's Position under Motion so it starts lower and moves into place, then apply Ease In and Ease Out.
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