Every great video needs something to grab the viewer's attention right away. Shapes do just that. You can use it to highlight key moments, create flow, and guide the audience's focus. Think about the most entertaining online content you engage with today, where bold titles and dynamic call-outs help information leap out.
To add shapes to your video, you can do it in a video editing program like Premiere Pro. So today, we'll show you precisely how to add a shape in Premiere Pro while creating engaging effects that get people talking.
Part 1. How to Add a Shape in Premiere Pro
To add basic shapes in Premiere Pro, you can usethe Rectangle, Ellipse, and Polygon tools. Or, you can also use the Pen tool for a custom design when you need irregular shapes.
How to Add Shapes in Premiere Pro
- Fill: Choose any color to fill your shape.
- Stroke: Add outer, inner, or center strokes, or layer multiple strokes.
- Shadow: Apply shadows or multiple shadows for added depth.
Advanced Shape Editing in Premiere Pro
To make your shapes more dynamic, you can enhance them with effects and animations. Adding movement or transitions helps the shapes blend naturally into your video and draw more attention.
Step 1. Select Shape and click effects
Click on the shape layer in the timeline to select it. Go to the Effect Controls Panel and make adjustments.
Step 2. Animate the Shape
- Choose the Rectangle Tool and make a shape on the preview. Make sure the playhead is at the beginning of the clip.
- Click the stopwatch next to Position in the Effect Controls Panel to activate animation.
- Move the timeline slider one second ahead, then drag the shape in the preview screen to the desired location.
Repeat this step by advancing the timeline and adjusting the shape's position to create smooth movement.
Part 2. Simplify Your Design with Smarter Shape Editing Tool
Premiere Pro is a great piece of editing software, but the app is costly and complicated, which means it's not very suitable for beginners. If you're in need of a friendly and cost-effective video editor, then Wondershare Filmorais the right thing for you.
Secure DownloadWith Filmora, shape editing becomes simple and creative. Here's what you can do:
- Add Basic Shapes Easily: Incorporate simple shapes like arrows, speech bubbles, rectangles, circles, and more to highlight key moments or guide viewers' attention.
- Use Pre-Animated Shapes: Access the Stickers library to apply ready-made, animated shapes that instantly enrich your visuals.
- Enhance with Editing Tools: Customize shapes with colors, borders, animations, and other advanced editing features to make your video stand out.
Let's check out how you can add shapes with Filmora for an easier editing experience.
Method 1: How to Add Shapes in Filmora
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Method 2: How to Add Shapes Quickly Using Ready-Made Assets
Aside from creating shapes manually, Filmora's Stickers library includes many arrows, frames, callouts, icons, and other creative elements that can instantly enhance your video.
Method 3: How to Add Custom Shapes Using Shape Mask
You can also create precise custom shapes in Filmora using the Draw Mask tool. This feature lets you design shape layers that fit perfectly around objects in your video.
Enhance Shapes with Smart Editing Tools
After mastering ready-made shapes and customizing them with the Draw Mask, the next step is to elevate your video's impact. Smart editing tools in Filmora let you go beyond static shapes, turning them into dynamic, interactive elements.
AI Smart Masking
- Auto Recognition: Automatically detects objects or subjects and creates precise masks.
- Quick Selection: Use Smart Brush or Select Subject to make selections faster.
- Fine Adjustment: Modify opacity, feather, blur, or invert for better control.
- Professional Result: Save time while achieving a clean, polished look.
Motion Tracking with Shapes
- Attach Elements: Link shapes, text, or callouts to any moving object.
- Auto Tracking: Once tracked, the attached elements follow the target automatically.
- Ideal Use Cases: Perfect for emphasizing products, players, or key details in your videos.
Secure DownloadPart 3. Premiere Pro vs Filmora: Shape Tools Comparison
| Feature | Premiere Pro | Filmora |
| Preset Shapes | Basic shapes (Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon) with manual setup | Drag-and-drop shapes (Rectangle, Circle, Callouts, etc.) |
| Customization | Advanced control (fill, stroke, opacity, gradients) | Basic customization (color, opacity, borders, effects) |
| Mask Tools | Pen Tool for custom masks, keyframing available | Draw Mask for custom shapes with keyframing |
| Effects & Motion | Full control over motion, keyframing, and advanced effects | Pre-set motion effects, simple keyframing, and transitions |
| Ease of Use | Complex interface, best for professionals | Simple, intuitive interface, ideal for beginners |
Summary:
- Adobe Premiere Pro is a perfect choice for professional editors who want to have complete command over shapes, masks, effects, motion, and many such advanced features that are not provided by simple editors.
- Filmora is perfect for beginners, content creators, and educators. It offers ultra-intuitive shape editing in just a few clicks. With just the basic steps of drag-and-drop presets, basic masks, and motion tools that make faster yet authentic-looking videos.
Conclusion
Shapes are also important elements in creating good and professional-looking videos. Knowing how to add shapes in Premiere Pro has a lot of ways to help an editor control a viewer's eye and where their attention can move with the extra help from some shape graphics.
For those seeking efficiency without sacrificing creativity, Filmora offers a streamlined, intuitive way to add and animate shapes quickly, making complex editing accessible and ensuring every video looks professional and captivating.
FAQs About Shapes and Text
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How do I feather a shape in Premiere Pro?
You can feather a shape in Premiere Pro. Choose your shape, then in the Effect Controls Panel, adjust the Mask Feather slider to soften edges. For even more blur, add the Gaussian Blur from the Effects panel. This will smooth out the edges and make it appear naturally blended with your video. -
How do you add a text layer in Premiere Pro?
To create text, open the Essential Graphics Panel and choose "New Layer > Text." You might craft titles, subtitles, or lower-thirds. Motion graphics templates (.mogrt files) offer pre-designed animated type that can be quickly customized on your timeline. -
How Filmora can help you practice your Premiere Pro skills
Filmora is perfect for learning how to use shapes in Premiere Pro. You can add rectangles, circles, and custom shapes, use masks, and implement motion tracking all within an intuitive UI. Keyframes, opacity, and feathering can also be used here. Filmora walkthroughs and tutorials ensure you get everything right before trying out other more complicated software.
