Premiere Pro Tutorials

How to Replace Any Screen in Premiere Pro

Replace the picture on a TV, laptop or phone screen using the Corner Pin effect, with the right perspective and keyframes for moving shots.

Premiere ProVideo Effects
A drifting red car video playing on a wall-mounted TV in a warm orange room, replaced using Corner Pin in Premiere Pro

Watch the tutorial

Step 1: Stack the replacement clip above the main clip

Put the shot that contains the screen, which we will call the main clip, on a lower video track. Place the clip you want to show on the screen, the replacement clip, on the track directly above it. Make both clips the same length, or trim the replacement clip to match the part of the shot where the screen is visible. Select the replacement clip and open the Effect Controls panel.

Step 2: Add the Corner Pin effect

Open the Effects panel (Window > Effects), type corner pin into the search box and find Corner Pin under Video Effects > Distort. Drag it onto the replacement clip, or double-click it while the clip is selected.

Searching for Corner Pin in the Premiere Pro Effects panel under Video Effects and Distort

Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Corner Pin and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX

Step 3: Select Corner Pin to show the four corners

In Effect Controls, click the words Corner Pin. Four handles appear at the corners of your replacement clip in the Program Monitor. They match the Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Left and Lower Right values in the effect. If the handles sit outside the visible area, zoom the Program Monitor out so you can reach all four.

Corner Pin settings in the Premiere Pro Effect Controls showing Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Left and Lower Right values

Step 4: Drag each corner onto the screen

Zoom in on the screen in your main clip, then drag each handle to the matching corner of the screen. Work one corner at a time. As you pull the corners in, the replacement clip shrinks and bends to follow the shape of the screen. If the screen is photographed at an angle, the replacement clip will take on the same angle automatically.

A replacement clip being pulled into shape with Corner Pin handles over a TV screen in Premiere Pro

Zoom in as far as you need for the final adjustments, so the edges of your clip sit right on the edge of the screen, and check that none of the old screen shows around the border.

A car clip fitted exactly inside a wall-mounted TV screen with Corner Pin in Premiere Pro

Step 5: Keyframe the corners if the camera moves

If the camera in the main clip stays still, you are done. If the shot moves, the screen moves with it, so you need to move the four corners too. Click the stopwatch next to each of the four corner values to turn on keyframes. Then step forward through the clip and adjust the handles whenever the screen has moved. Smaller, more frequent adjustments give the smoothest result. Play the clip back to check that the new picture stays locked to the screen.

Corner Pin Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Left and Lower Right with keyframe stopwatches enabled in Premiere Pro

Tips

  • Match the look. Lower the brightness or add a slight blur to your replacement clip so it matches the screen glow in the room.
  • Handle reflections. If the original screen has reflections or glare, lower the replacement clip's opacity a little or add a light overlay on top.
  • Static objects too. The same method works for pictures, posters and signs. See our guide on attaching objects to a surface.

FAQ

How do I replace a screen in a video with Premiere Pro?

Place your replacement clip above the main clip, add the Corner Pin effect, and drag its four corners onto the corners of the screen.

Does this work when the camera moves?

Yes, but you need to keyframe all four corner values and adjust them as the screen moves.

Why does my replacement clip look flat?

Match the lighting. Adjust brightness and contrast, and consider a touch of blur so the clip looks like it belongs on the screen.

Corner Pin is just one effect you will use again and again, and a plugin gets you to it in seconds. Try BetterFX for Premiere Pro