Adding a film halation effect can give your videos a dreamy, nostalgic look reminiscent of classic film photography. Adobe Premiere Pro makes it easy to achieve this effect with a few simple steps. Follow this guide to create a stunning film halation effect in your next project.
Step 1: Prepare Your Clip
Before you start, make sure your video clip has a noticeable light source. This effect works best when there are highlights in your footage.
1. Open your project in Adobe Premiere Pro.
2. Import your video clip if you haven’t already done so by going to File > Import or dragging the file into the Project panel.
3. Drag your video clip into the timeline.
Step 2: Duplicate the Clip
To create the halation effect, you need to work with two layers of the same clip.
1. Select your video clip in the timeline.
2. Right-click and choose Copy.
3. Right-click again in an empty area of the timeline and choose Paste to duplicate the clip. The duplicated clip should be directly above the original in a new video track.
Step 3: Apply the Channel Blur Effect
The next step is to blur the red channel of the top clip to create the halation effect.
1. Go to the Effects panel.
2. Search for the Channel Blur effect.
3. Drag the Channel Blur effect onto the top clip in the timeline.
Step 4: Adjust the Channel Blur Settings
Now, you need to adjust the settings of the Channel Blur effect to achieve the desired
look.
1. Select the top clip in the timeline.
2. Go to the Effect Controls panel.
3. Find the Channel Blur effect.
4. Set the Red Blurriness to 50. You can adjust this value based on your preference to get more or less halation.
5. Make sure the Repeat Edge Pixels option is checked to avoid unwanted artifacts at the edges of your clip.
Step 5: Change the Blend Mode
To blend the blurred top clip with the original bottom clip, you need to change the blend
mode.
1. With the top clip still selected, go to the Effect Controls panel.
2. Scroll down to the Opacity section.
3. Change the Blend Mode to Lighten. This blend mode will create a soft glow effect around the highlights.
Step 6: Review and Fine-Tune
Play back your sequence to see the halation effect in action. Make any necessary adjustments to the blur amount or blend mode settings to perfect the look.
1. Use the playback controls to preview your sequence.
2. If needed, adjust the Red Blurriness in the Channel Blur effect or try different blend modes like Screen or Add for varied results.
Final Thoughts
By following these steps, you can create a beautiful film halation effect in Adobe Premiere Pro. This effect adds a soft, glowing highlight to your footage, enhancing its visual appeal and giving it a classic film-like quality. For more video editing tips and tricks, be sure to follow our blog. Happy editing!
