How to Add a Shake Transition in Premiere Pro

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Step 1: Add an adjustment layer above both clips

Open the Project panel, click the New Item button at the bottom and choose Adjustment Layer, then click OK. Drag the new adjustment layer into the timeline and drop it on the track above both of your clips.

The layer is probably much longer than you need. Shorten it to around 2 seconds, with the cut between your two clips somewhere in the middle. Because an adjustment layer affects everything beneath it, the shake will hit the end of the first clip and the start of the second clip together.

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Step 2: Apply the Transform effect

Open the Effects panel and search for Transform. Pick the one in Video Effects > Distort and drag it onto the adjustment layer. It is the Transform effect, not the Motion controls every clip already has, that gives you the shutter angle for motion blur later on.

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

Step 3: Set the first keyframes and scale up

Select the adjustment layer and open Effect Controls. Go to the start of the layer and, under Transform, click the stopwatch next to Position and next to Scale to create the first keyframes.

Now move the playhead to the cut and increase Scale to around 120. Scaling up first means the picture can slide around without showing the edges of the frame, so make sure you never move it far enough to reveal the black background.

Step 4: Shake the position around the cut

This is where the shake happens. Work in small steps of 3 frames:

• With the playhead on the cut, press the Left Arrow key 3 times. Change Position so the video sits toward the bottom left edge.
• Press Left Arrow 3 more times and nudge the video up and a bit sideways.
• Go back to the cut and press the Right Arrow key 3 times. Move the video toward the top right.
• Press Right Arrow 3 more times and move the video down and a bit sideways.

The exact numbers do not matter. Vary the direction and the distance as you like, and keep the moves big enough to feel like a jolt but small enough to hide the edges.

Step 5: Reset the values at the end

Move the playhead to the end of the adjustment layer. Click the Reset icon next to Position and next to Scale. This adds keyframes at the default values, so the picture settles back to normal after the shake. Play the section back and the transition should already feel punchy.

For a smoother flow between the shake keyframes, read our guide to easing keyframes in Premiere Pro.

Step 6: Add motion blur and save a preset

To blur the movement, scroll down in the Transform effect and set Shutter Angle to around 360. If the field is greyed out, uncheck Use Composition's Shutter Angle first. The blur sells the speed of the shake and hides small jumps between frames.

Because you built everything inside one Transform effect, you can save it. Right-click Transform in Effect Controls and click Save Preset. Give it a name and click OK. Your preset now lives in the Effects panel under Presets, ready to drop onto any adjustment layer in future projects.

Tips

• Match the music. Put the cut on a beat and the shake lands exactly with the sound.
• Keep it short. A shake is only a few frames of movement. If it drags, trim the adjustment layer.
• Add a whoosh. A short sound effect under the cut makes the transition feel even faster.

FAQ

How do I make a shake transition in Premiere Pro?

Put an adjustment layer over the cut, add the Transform effect, keyframe Position and Scale so the picture jolts in different directions around the cut, and finish with a shutter angle of around 360 for motion blur.

Why do I see black edges during the shake?

The picture moved too far. Increase the Scale at the cut or make the Position moves smaller so the frame edges stay hidden.

Can I save a shake transition as a preset?

Yes. Right-click the Transform effect in Effect Controls, choose Save Preset and name it. You will find it in the Effects panel under Presets.

Want a shake you can use right away? Grab the free shake transition preset and drop it on your next cut.