4 Easy Steps To Split Screen Into Thirds In Premiere Pro * bigfinish.com

Master the art of visual storytelling by seamlessly dividing your Premiere Pro screen into thirds. Whether you’re showcasing multiple camera angles, comparing footage, or creating engaging split-screen effects, this technique unlocks endless possibilities for dynamic visual presentations.

By harnessing the power of Premiere Pro’s Multi-Camera tools, you’ll discover the intuitive process of creating split screens in varying configurations, including thirds, halves, and quarters. With step-by-step guidance and practical examples, this comprehensive guide empowers you to elevate your video editing skills and captivate your audience with captivating split-screen sequences.

Furthermore, you’ll delve into advanced techniques for customizing your split screens, such as adjusting the size and position of each panel, applying transitions to create seamless flows, and even incorporating motion graphics to enhance the visual impact of your presentations. Whether you’re a seasoned video editor or just starting your journey, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to effectively split your screen into thirds in Premiere Pro and create dynamic visual narratives.

Creating a Third by Dividing the Screen

Creating a third of the screen in Premiere Pro involves a simple process of dividing the screen into three equal parts. Let’s dive into the detailed steps:

Dividing the Screen into Three Parts

Drag the Timeline Splitters:
- Move your cursor over the vertical red line between two video clips on the timeline.
- When the cursor turns into a double-sided arrow, click and drag the line to the right. As you drag, the timeline will split into three parts.
- Adjust the lines to ensure that the three parts are of equal width.

Below is an HTML table with additional details on dragging the timeline splitters:

Step	Details
1.	Start by hovering your mouse over the vertical red line between two video clips on the timeline.
2.	Wait for the cursor to change into a double-sided arrow, indicating that it is in "split mode."
3.	Click and drag the line to the right, observing how the timeline divides into three parts
4.	Keep adjusting the lines until each of the three sections has an equal width.

Select the Split Tool:
- In the timeline navigation bar, click on the "Split Tool" icon (a vertical line with two horizontal short lines).
- Drag the tool over the area you want to split. In this case, drag it over the second third of the screen.
Adjust the Split Lines:
- Use the split lines to fine-tune the division. Click and drag the lines to adjust the width of each third.
- Ensure that all three sections are evenly distributed across the screen.

Using the Razor Blade Tool to Make Precise Splits

The Razor Blade tool offers fine-tuned control over split placement, allowing you to execute precise edits with ease.

Precise Placement Using the Razor Blade Tool

To use the Razor Blade tool:

Select the clip or sequence you wish to split.
Activate the Razor Blade tool from the Tools panel or by pressing the “C” key.
Position the playhead at the exact frame where you want to split the clip.
Click to execute the split.

Customizing the Razor Blade Tool

You can customize the Razor Blade tool’s behavior to suit your preferences:

Setting	Description
Snap	Snap to the nearest frame, edit point, or marker.
Ripple Edit	Automatically ripple-trim adjacent clips after splitting.
Timecode Display	Display the timecode at the playhead position.
Show Audio Channels	Display the audio channels in the clip.

Executing Complex Splits with the Razor Blade Tool

The Razor Blade tool enables flexible editing scenarios:

Splitting Multiple Clips Simultaneously: Select multiple clips and click on the playhead to split them all at the same time.
Splitting on the Fly: While the clip is playing, hover over the point where you want to split and click to execute the split.
Splitting with Snap Options: Use snap options to align split points with specific frames or markers.

Utilizing the Scale Tool for Proportional Resizing

The scale tool in Premiere Pro offers a precise method for resizing elements within the three-screen layout while maintaining their aspect ratio. To use the scale tool effectively, follow these steps:

Select the clip or element you want to resize.
Move your mouse over the edge of the clip until you see the resizing handles.
Click and drag the handle while holding down the Shift key. This will constrain the proportions of the element, preventing it from becoming distorted.
Adjust the size of the element until it fits within the intended third of the screen.

When using the scale tool, you can also enter specific values for the width and height of the element in the “Motion” panel. This provides fine-grained control over the resizing process.

Customizing the Thirds Layout

You can further customize the thirds layout by adjusting the spacing between the elements. To do this, select one of the clips or elements in the layout and then click on the “Crop” button in the “Effects Panel.” In the “Crop” dialog box, you can adjust the “Left,” “Top,” “Right,” and “Bottom” values to fine-tune the positioning of the element within its respective third.

Parameter	Description
Left	Adjusts the distance between the left edge of the element and the left edge of the third.
Top	Adjusts the distance between the top edge of the element and the top edge of the third.
Right	Adjusts the distance between the right edge of the element and the right edge of the third.
Bottom	Adjusts the distance between the bottom edge of the element and the bottom edge of the third.

Aligning Thirds with Nudging and Grid Snapping

Nudging

To nudge an element precisely, select it and press the arrow keys on your keyboard. Each press of an arrow key will move the element by one pixel. Hold down the Shift key while pressing the arrows to move the element by ten pixels at a time.

Grid Snapping

Enable Grid Snapping (View > Snapping > Grid Snapping) to align elements to the grid lines. Press “Ctrl” (Windows) or “Command” (Mac) while dragging an element to snap it to the nearest grid line. You can adjust the grid settings (Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid) to control the spacing and visibility of the grid lines.

Using the Transform Panel

The Transform Panel (Window > Transform) provides precise control over object positioning and size. Select an element and navigate to the Transform Panel. Under the Position tab, enter specific pixel values into the X and Y fields to align the element precisely.

Adding Separators for Clean Division

Now that you have your three rectangles in place, it’s time to add separators to divide them cleanly. This will ensure that your video footage is split into thirds with precision.

To create a separator:

Select the Rectangle Tool (R) from the toolbar.
Draw a vertical or horizontal line to separate the rectangles.
Adjust the stroke width and color of the separator to suit your design.
Position the separator precisely between the rectangles using the Align panel.
Repeat the process for each of the two remaining subdivisions.

Creating Vertical Separators with Precision

For vertical separators, ensure that the stroke width is set to 1px or less. This will create a thin, clean line that won’t obscure your video content.

To align the separators perfectly, use the Align panel (Window > Align) with the following settings:

Horizontal Align	Vertical Align
Center	Center

This will ensure that the separators are centered within each rectangle.

Keyframing for Dynamic Thirds

To create dynamic thirds that move and change over time, keyframing is necessary. Here’s a detailed guide to keyframing for dynamic thirds:

1. Create a New Adjustment Layer

Create a new adjustment layer in Premiere Pro by right-clicking in the Timeline panel and selecting “New” > “Adjustment Layer”.

2. Apply the Grid Effect

Apply the “Grid” effect to the adjustment layer by dragging the effect from the Effects Panel onto the adjustment layer in the Timeline panel.

3. Adjust Grid Settings

Adjust the grid settings in the Effect Controls panel to create the desired thirds. Set the “Number of Rows” to 1 and “Number of Columns” to 3.

4. Create a Keyframe for the Grid Offset

Select the adjustment layer in the Timeline panel and click the Position stopwatch icon to create a keyframe for the “Grid Offset” property. This will control the movement of the thirds.

5. Move the Playhead and Adjust the Offset

Move the playhead to a new time in the Timeline panel and manually adjust the “Grid Offset” property in the Effect Controls panel to move the thirds. Repeat this process to create multiple keyframes for the dynamic movement.

6. Fine-Tune the Keyframes

Once the keyframes are created, you can fine-tune them using the Bezier handles. By dragging the handles, you can control the speed and direction of the movement and create a more natural and dynamic effect. Here are some techniques for fine-tuning the keyframes:

Ease In and Out: Drag the Bezier handles towards the next or previous keyframe to create an easing effect, making the movement smoother.
Control Speed: Adjust the distance between keyframes to control the speed of the movement. Closer keyframes create faster movement, while farther keyframes create slower movement.
Vary the Bezier Curve: Experiment with different Bezier curve shapes by dragging the handles to create different acceleration and deceleration patterns.
Preview and Refine: Preview the animation by pressing the Spacebar and make any necessary adjustments to the keyframes until you achieve the desired effect.

Keyframing Technique	Effect
Ease In and Out	Creates a smoother transition between keyframes.
Control Speed	Adjusts the speed of movement between keyframes.
Vary the Bezier Curve	Creates different acceleration and deceleration patterns for the movement.

Adjusting Opacity for Subtle Dividers

To achieve a more subtle dividing effect, you can adjust the opacity of the lines. Follow these steps:

Click on the “Opacity” property in the Effect Controls panel.
Drag the slider to lower the opacity value to around 20-30%. This will make the lines less visible while still providing a visual distinction.
Repeat for the other two vertical lines, adjusting their opacity to the desired level.

The table below shows the opacity values used in the example:

Line	Opacity
Horizontal	100%
Vertical Left	30%
Vertical Right	20%

By adjusting the opacity, you can create dividers that are less distracting and more integrated with the overall design of your video.

Creating Vertical Thirds

Creating vertical thirds in Premiere Pro involves dividing the screen into three equal vertical columns. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Premiere Pro project and import your footage.

2. Click on the “Effects Panel” and search for the “Transform” effect.

3. Drag and drop the “Transform” effect onto your clip.

4. In the “Transform” effect controls, click on the “Scale” tab.

5. Under “Horizontal Scale,” enter “0.333.”

6. Under “Vertical Scale,” enter “1.”

7. Click on the “Position” tab and enter “0” for both “X Position” and “Y Position.”

Aligning Three Vertical Thirds

To align three vertical thirds, create three video tracks and place your footage on each track:

Track 1	Left third
Track 2	Center third
Track 3	Right third

8. Adjust the “Scale” property of each clip:

For the left third, set “Horizontal Scale” to “0.333” and “Vertical Scale” to “1.”
For the center third, set “Horizontal Scale” to “0.666” and “Vertical Scale” to “1.”
For the right third, set “Horizontal Scale” to “1” and “Vertical Scale” to “1.”

Adjust the “Position” property to align the thirds:

For the left third, set “X Position” to “0” and “Y Position” to “0.”
For the center third, set “X Position” to “0.333” and “Y Position” to “0.”
For the right third, set “X Position” to “0.666” and “Y Position” to “0.”

Using the Essential Graphics Panel for Thirds Templates

Step 9: Adjust the Position and Scale of the Thirds Template

To fine-tune the position and scale of the thirds template, use the Transform properties in the Effect Controls panel. Under the Transform heading, you’ll find six properties:

Property	Description
Position	Sets the X and Y coordinates of the template’s anchor point.
Scale	Adjusts the width and height of the template.
Rotation	Rotates the template around its anchor point.
Shear	Skews the template horizontally or vertically.
Skew	Rotates the template along the X or Y axis.
Anchor Point	Sets the reference point for the template’s position and scale.

By experimenting with these properties, you can precisely position and scale the thirds template to fit your video’s composition.

Exporting a Split-Screen Project

Once you’re happy with your split-screen layout, it’s time to export it as a video file. Here’s how:

1. Choose Your Export Settings

Go to File > Export > Media…

2. Select a Format

Choose the video format you want to export to, such as MP4 or H.264.

3. Set the Output Resolution

Enter the resolution you want the exported video to be, such as 1920×1080.

4. Choose a Bitrate

The bitrate determines the quality and file size of the exported video. Higher bitrates produce better quality but larger files.

5. Enable Multiplexing

Ensure the “Multiplexing” option is enabled to combine the audio and video tracks into a single file.

6. Choose a Destination Folder

Select the folder where you want the exported video to be saved.

7. Name Your File

Enter a name for the exported video file.

8. Advanced Settings

If needed, you can adjust advanced settings such as video codec, frame rate, and audio sampling rate.

9. Export the Video

Click the “Export” button to start the exporting process.

10. Additional Tips for Troubleshooting

If you encounter any errors during the export process, here are some additional troubleshooting tips:

Error	Solution
“Media Encoder is not installed”	Install Adobe Media Encoder
“The specified path is invalid”	Ensure the destination folder exists and is accessible
“The file format is not supported”	Choose a supported export format
“The file size exceeds the maximum allowed”	Reduce the bitrate or output resolution

How To Split Screen Into Thirds Premiere Pro

The Multi-Camera feature in Premiere Pro allows you to easily split your screen into thirds, which can be useful for creating side-by-side comparisons, displaying multiple angles of a scene, or creating other custom layouts. You’ll need at least three video clips in your project timeline in order to use this feature.

Here’s how to split your screen into thirds in Premiere Pro:

Import your three video clips into your project timeline.
Select the three clips and right-click.
Select “New Multi-Camera Source Sequence”.
In the Multi-Camera Source Sequence window, select the “Split Screen” tab.
Choose the “Thirds” layout from the drop-down menu.
Click “OK”.

Premiere Pro will now create a new multi-camera sequence with your three clips split into thirds. You can now use the Multi-Camera Monitor to switch between different camera angles and adjust the layout of your split screen.