by 
Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Create your text and add Color Balance (HLS)
Type your word with the Type Tool and place the text layer on your timeline. A bold, thick font works best because the gradient has more surface to show off. Keep the text color simple, as the gradient will replace it.
Open the Effects panel (Window > Effects) and search for color balance. Pick Color Balance (HLS), which lives in the Obsolete folder, and apply it to your text layer. Do not confuse it with the regular Color Balance effect in the Color Correction folder.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Color Balance (HLS) and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 2: Add the 4-Color Gradient to the same layer
Clear the search box and type 4 color gradient. The effect is under Video Effects > Generate. Apply it to the same text layer. Your text now picks up four colors blended together.
Select the layer and open Effect Controls. The order of effects matters here, so drag Color Balance (HLS) above 4-Color Gradient in the list, exactly as in the video. That is the order that lets the Hue control you animate later shift the colors of your rainbow.
Step 3: Place the four gradient points on your text
Click the name 4-Color Gradient in Effect Controls. Four small crosshairs appear in the Program Monitor, one for each point. By default they sit in the corners of the frame, far away from your word.
Drag Point 1 onto the first letter of your text. Then do the same with Point 2, Point 3 and Point 4, spreading them left to right across the letters. Depending on how long your word is, you may need to adjust the spacing of the points until the gradient flows evenly from the first letter to the last.
Step 4: Set the rainbow colors
Go back to Effect Controls and click the color swatch next to Color 1. A color picker opens. Choose red, then repeat for the others:
- Color 1: red
- Color 2: orange
- Color 3: yellow
- Color 4: green
You can type hex codes into the color picker or just click on the color field, whatever is quicker. When you are done, your text should flow from red through orange and yellow to green.
Step 5: Animate the Hue so the colors cycle
Now make the rainbow move. In Effect Controls, open Color Balance (HLS) and click the stopwatch next to Hue. Make sure your playhead is at the start of the clip first, so that the first keyframe sits on the first frame.
Then move the playhead to the end of the clip and change the Hue value. A bigger number means the colors spin around the color wheel more times, so choose a value depending on how fast you want the text to change colors. Play it back and adjust until the speed feels right.
For a smoother, more natural color change, you can ease those two keyframes instead of leaving them linear. Our guide to easing keyframes in Premiere Pro shows how.
Tips
- Use a bold font. Thin letters hide most of the gradient, while a heavy typeface shows every color.
- Try other color sets. Pastels, a sunset palette or just two similar colors give a very different look using the same setup.
- Make it loop. If you want the colors to cycle seamlessly, choose a final Hue value that is a full turn around the color wheel.
FAQ
Why does my gradient not cover the whole word?
The four points are probably still near the corners of the frame or bunched too close together. Drag them onto the first and last letters and spread them out evenly.
Can I use this on more than one word or a logo?
Yes. The effects work on any clip with a transparent background, so a logo or a group of text layers works too. Place the four points over the area you want to color.
Where is Color Balance (HLS) in Premiere Pro?
It is in the Obsolete folder inside Video Effects. The easiest way to find it is to search for color balance in the Effects panel.
Want more text looks without building each one by hand? Take a look at the Ultimate Text Preset Pack.
