What a keyframe does and where to find it
A keyframe in Premiere Pro is a marker that tells the program "remember this setting at this exact moment in the video." When you set two keyframes with different values — say, one at full volume and one at zero volume — Premiere automatically creates the change between them. Without keyframes, every adjustment you make affects the entire clip the same way.
Keyframes live in the Effect Controls panel, which sits to the left of your timeline by default. If you do not see it, go to Window > Effect Controls. The panel shows every effect or property attached to your selected clip — opacity, position, scale, audio levels, color correction, motion blur, anything you have added or adjusted.
The keyframe button itself is a small diamond icon next to each property name. Clicking it sets a keyframe at the playhead's current position. The diamond fills in solid when a keyframe exists at that exact frame, and stays hollow when it does not.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Effect Controls panel (Window > Effect Controls) and select the clip you want to keyframe.
- Move the playhead to the frame where you want the change to start, then click the diamond icon next to the property you want to animate.
- Move the playhead forward, change the property value, and click the diamond again to create the second keyframe.
- Premiere draws the transition between the two keyframes automatically; you can adjust the curve in the Graph Editor for smoother or sharper motion.
- Delete unwanted keyframes by right-clicking them in the timeline or in the Effect Controls panel and selecting Delete Keyframe.
Setting your first keyframe step by step
Start by clicking the clip in your timeline to select it. The Effect Controls panel will show all the properties you can keyframe — opacity, position, scale, rotation, and any effects you have already added to that clip. If the property you want does not appear, add the effect first (Effects > [category] > [effect name]), then return to Effect Controls.
Drag the playhead to the exact frame where you want the animation to begin. You can click directly in the timeline ruler at the top, or use the arrow keys to move frame by frame. The playhead is the vertical line with a triangle at the top.
Locate the property you want to keyframe — for example, Opacity if you want to fade the clip in or out. Click the diamond icon to the left of the property name. The diamond will fill in solid, and a keyframe marker will appear in the timeline below the clip. This keyframe records the current value of that property at this frame.
Creating the second keyframe and the animation between them
Move the playhead forward in time. How far depends on how long you want the animation to take. If you want a one-second fade, move forward about 30 frames (at 30 frames per second). If you want a three-second fade, move forward about 90 frames.
Change the property value. If you are fading out, drag the Opacity slider all the way to 0. If you are moving the clip, change the Position X or Y value. The clip in the preview window will update in real time as you drag.
Click the diamond icon again. Premiere creates a second keyframe at this new frame with the new value. The program now draws a line between the two keyframes in the timeline, showing that an animation exists. In the preview, you will see the clip fade, move, scale, or change whatever property you set — smoothly from the first keyframe to the second.
Adjusting keyframes after you set them
To move a keyframe to a different frame, click and drag it left or right in the timeline. The animation will stretch or compress to fit the new timing. To change the value at a keyframe without moving it, click the keyframe in the timeline to jump the playhead there, then adjust the property slider in Effect Controls.
To delete a keyframe, right-click it in the timeline and select Delete Keyframe, or click the diamond icon in Effect Controls when the playhead is on that keyframe. Deleting one keyframe stops the animation at that point — the property will hold its value from the nearest remaining keyframe.
To see all your keyframes at once and edit them more precisely, open the Graph Editor. Click the small graph icon next to the property name in Effect Controls. The graph shows the value of the property over time as a curve. Steep curves mean fast changes; flat curves mean slow or no change. You can click and drag points on the curve to adjust both timing and value simultaneously.
Common keyframe tasks: fading, moving, and scaling
To fade a clip in, set Opacity to 0 at the first keyframe and 100 at the second. To fade out, reverse it: 100 at the start, 0 at the end. For a fade that starts partway through the clip, set the first keyframe at frame 1 with Opacity 100, then set a second keyframe a few seconds later with Opacity 0.
To move a clip across the screen, keyframe the Position property. Set the first keyframe with the clip at the left side of the frame (low X value), then move forward and set the second keyframe with the clip at the right side (high X value). Premiere draws the motion path in the preview window as a line showing the clip's travel.
To scale a clip larger or smaller over time, keyframe the Scale property. Set the first keyframe at 50% scale, move forward, and set the second at 100% scale. The clip will grow smoothly between the two keyframes. You can also keyframe Rotation to spin the clip, or combine multiple keyframes on different properties to create complex animations — a clip that fades in while moving and scaling at the same time.
Why your keyframes might not be working
If you click the diamond and nothing happens, check that you have selected the correct clip in the timeline. The Effect Controls panel only shows keyframes for the selected clip. If the panel is empty, click the clip again.
If you set a keyframe but the animation does not appear, make sure you have set two keyframes with different values. One keyframe alone does nothing — Premiere needs a start point and an end point to create motion. If both keyframes have the same value, the property will not change.
If the animation looks jerky or uneven, the keyframes may be too close together or the curve in the Graph Editor may be too sharp. Open the Graph Editor and look for sudden angles in the curve. Right-click the keyframe and select Ease In or Ease Out to smooth the transition, or manually drag the curve handles to create a gentler slope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keyframe effects I have added to a clip?
Yes. Any effect you add to a clip appears in the Effect Controls panel, and almost every parameter can be keyframed. Add the effect first (Effects menu), then use the diamond icon next to each adjustable setting to create keyframes. This works for color correction, blur, distortion, and audio effects.
What is the difference between a keyframe and a marker?
A marker is just a label or note at a specific frame — it does not change anything. A keyframe records a property value and creates animation when you set a second keyframe with a different value. Markers help you organize; keyframes create motion.
How do I make an animation start and stop smoothly instead of suddenly?
Right-click the keyframe in the timeline and select Ease In (to slow down as it approaches) or Ease Out (to speed up as it leaves). For more control, open the Graph Editor and drag the curve handles to create a gentler slope at the start and end of the animation.
Can I copy keyframes from one clip to another?
Yes. Select the clip with the keyframes, copy it (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C), then select the target clip and paste (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V). Premiere will paste the keyframes and their timing. You can also right-click a keyframe and select Copy, then right-click on another clip and Paste.
What happens if I delete a keyframe in the middle of an animation?
The animation will jump directly from the keyframe before it to the keyframe after it. If you delete the second keyframe in a two-keyframe animation, the property stops changing and holds the value from the first keyframe for the rest of the clip.