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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Create an adjustment layer
Go to the Project panel, click the New Item button at the bottom and choose Adjustment Layer. Premiere shows a small dialog with the video settings of your sequence. Leave them as they are and click OK.
Now drag the adjustment layer into the timeline and drop it on the track above your clips. An adjustment layer applies its effects to everything underneath it, which is why it is perfect for transitions: you only have to apply the effect once, and it hits both clips at the same moment.
One click with Mako: the free Mako panel adds an adjustment layer over the selected clips, at the playhead, on the first free track, in one click. Get Mako for free
Step 2: Trim the adjustment layer to 16 frames
The transition should be short and punchy, so the adjustment layer needs to be about 16 frames long, with the cut right in the middle. Do it like this:
- Park the playhead on the cut between your two clips.
- Press the Left Arrow key 8 times to move back 8 frames, then cut the adjustment layer there (Ctrl+K, or Cmd+K on a Mac).
- Move the playhead back to the cut, step forward 8 frames with the Right Arrow key and cut again.
- Delete the leftover pieces of the adjustment layer on both sides.
You should now have a 16 frame adjustment layer centred on the cut. If you want to check it, right-click the layer and open Speed/Duration, which should show a duration of 16 frames.
Step 3: Add the Lens Distortion effect
Open the Effects panel, type Lens Distortion in the search box and find it under Video Effects > Distort. Drag it onto the adjustment layer in the timeline.
Step 4: Keyframe the curvature
Select the adjustment layer and open Effect Controls. Scroll to Lens Distortion and click the stopwatch next to Curvature to start keyframing it. You need three keyframes:
- Start of the layer: Curvature at 0, so the first clip looks normal.
- On the cut: Curvature at -100. This gives the strong fisheye look at the moment the shot changes.
- End of the layer: Curvature back at 0. Move the playhead to the last frame of the adjustment layer and click the small Reset arrow next to Curvature to set it to zero.
Press the Spacebar and play it back. The picture bends into a fisheye at the cut and relaxes again on the other side.
Step 5: Ease the keyframes
Right now the movement is linear and a little stiff. Select your keyframes in Effect Controls, right-click one of them and choose Ease In. Then select them again and repeat the steps, this time choosing Ease Out. The warp now builds up and fades away smoothly 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
Tips
- Keep it short. Around 16 frames feels snappy. A longer layer makes the warp feel slow, so shorten it if it drags.
- Match the energy of the music. Put the cut on a beat so the fisheye hits together with the sound.
- Reuse it. Copy the finished adjustment layer and paste it over other cuts. The keyframes come along.
FAQ
Where is the Lens Distortion effect in Premiere Pro?
It is in the Effects panel under Video Effects > Distort. Search for "lens distortion" to find it faster.
Why use an adjustment layer for this transition?
The adjustment layer sits above both clips, so a single effect with a single set of keyframes covers the end of the first clip and the start of the next one. That keeps the transition smooth with no jump at the cut.
How do I make the fisheye stronger or softer?
Change the middle Curvature keyframe. -100 is the strongest warp, and values closer to zero are subtler.
Want to apply effects like this without opening the Effects panel every time? Try BetterFX for instant effect search inside Premiere Pro.
