How to Freeze Frame in Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2023 Guide)

Freeze frames are a popular video editing technique where you show a single frame as a still image, pausing the motion in the video. This effect is great for emphasizing a moment, adding drama or comedy, or showing a before/after. Many iconic shots in films and music videos make use of well-placed freeze frames.

If you use Adobe Premiere Pro for your video editing projects, you‘re in luck. Premiere offers several quick and easy ways to create a freeze frame in just a few clicks. In this article, I‘ll show you three methods for freezing a frame in Premiere, along with tips for getting the best results.

Whether you‘re editing a documentary, music video, YouTube vlog, or social media ad, knowing how to do a freeze frame in Premiere is a skill every video editor should have. Let‘s dive in!

Method 1: Add Frame Hold

The simplest and most common way to freeze frame in Premiere Pro is by using the Add Frame Hold feature. Here‘s how it works:

  1. In your sequence timeline, move the playhead to the exact frame you want to freeze. Use the arrow keys to go frame by frame for precision.

  2. Make sure the clip is selected. Right-click on it and choose "Add Frame Hold" (or go to Clip > Video Options > Add Frame Hold).

  3. The clip will split into two parts at the playhead – the first part will play normally, and the second will be a freeze frame.

  4. Click and drag the right edge of the freeze frame portion to adjust the duration. Hold Shift while dragging to snap to your zoom/grid for more precision.

That‘s it! The Add Frame Hold method is quick and easy, and great for freeze frames you want to quickly add and adjust. A few things to keep in mind:

  • Frame Hold will split your audio too, so you may need to adjust fades or delete the hold section from your audio track to avoid gaps.
  • You can‘t move the Hold frame left or right in the timeline, only extend or shorten it. If you need to change where the freeze starts, remove it and add it again.
  • The frozen frame is not a new file, just a hold section added to your original clip. If you want to apply effects or color grading to only the freeze frame, you‘ll need to nest it (see Method 3).

Method 2: Export Frame as a PNG or JPEG

For more control over your freeze frame, you can export the frame as an image file and re-import it into your project. This is useful if you want to apply effects or color correction to the freeze frame separately from the rest of the clip. Here‘s how:

  1. In the Program monitor, move the playhead to the frame you want to freeze.

  2. Go to File > Export > Media.

  3. In the Export Settings dialog box, choose Format: PNG or JPEG.

  4. Click the "Export Frame" button in the bottom left.

  5. Choose a file name and location and click Save.

  6. Import the exported image file into your project (File > Import or double-click in Project panel).

  7. Drag the image file from the Project panel onto your timeline, positioning it where you want the freeze frame.

  8. Extend the image clip to the desired freeze frame duration.

The main advantage of this method is you have the freeze frame as a separate file you can manipulate independently. Some uses:

  • Apply filters, effects, or color grades to stylize the freeze frame
  • Use the image in other projects
  • Zoom in or reposition the frame
  • Add keyframed effects

The downside is a bit more work exporting and importing the frame. You also end up with an extra file in your project. But for advanced applications, this method is ideal.

Method 3: Nest Sequence

One more quick way to freeze frame in Premiere is by nesting your clip in a sub-sequence. Nesting allows you to treat a sequence like a clip and apply effects to everything inside it. Here‘s the process:

  1. Select the clip in your timeline you want to freeze.

  2. Right-click it and choose "Nest…" (or use the keyboard shortcut Option+C).

  3. Give the nested sequence a name and click OK.

  4. Move the playhead over the frame in the nested sequence you want frozen.

  5. Use the Add Frame Hold method (right-click > Add Frame Hold).

The benefit of this approach is you can easily apply color correction, filters, or keyframed effects to the nested clip to impact both the freeze frame and the rest of the shot. Use this when you want the freeze and moving parts to have cohesive looks.

Tips for the Best Freeze Frames

Whichever method you use, there are some tips to keep in mind to get the most effective freeze frames:

  • Pick a frame that has the action, facial expression, or composition you want to highlight. The pose of people or objects in the frame can make a big difference in the impact.
  • Avoid blurry or awkward in-between frames. Unless you intentionally want a surreal or humorous effect, freeze frames tend to look best when the subject is clear and recognizable, not a blurry mid-motion shot.
  • Carefully choose how long to hold the freeze frame. Too short and the viewer might miss it; too long and it gets boring. 2-3 seconds is often a good starting point, but tailor the length to the pacing and purpose.
  • Stylize the freeze frame to differentiate it from the rest of the footage. Black and white, high contrast, a zoom or rotate animation, or a reframing can add visual interest.
  • Use speed ramps leading up to and/or out of the freeze frame. Premiere makes it easy to add speed ramps by holding Shift while adding keyframes to a clip. A slow motion ramp before a sudden freeze is a popular effect.
  • Consider adding camera shake, wiggle, or zooms to the frozen frame to give it life and energy rather than being completely static.
  • Add sound effects or music cues timed to the freeze frame for extra emphasis. Whooshes, impacts, record scratches, and cymbal crashes are commonly used.
  • Freeze frames don‘t always have to be at the end of a shot. Experiment with freezing in the middle of actions or dialogue for an unexpected beat or punchline.

Creative Ways to Use Freeze Frames

Now that you know how to create freeze frames in Premiere Pro, what are some ways to use them in your video editing projects? Here are a few ideas:

Music Videos: Many classic and modern music videos feature freeze frames for a stylish, punchy effect. Freeze frames can be great for hitting lyrics, matching beats or bass hits, or transitioning between shots. They bring energy and rhythm to the edit. Experiment with zooming or adding effects to frozen frames and timing them precisely to the music.

Documentaries: In documentaries, freeze frames are often used to pause on a significant moment, allowing the viewer to take it in. You can overlay a freeze frame with text to identify a person, date, or location. Freezing on an impactful quote as b-roll plays over it is another popular technique. Stylized freeze frames, like high contrast black and white, can evoke certain moods or eras.

YouTube Vlogs: YouTubers and vloggers often use quick freeze frames as a comedic device or to call attention to reactions or awkward moments. They might freeze on their own surprised face or a humorous background element. Combine this with sound effects for even more impact. Freeze frames can also be used for smoother jump cuts or to extend a shot to fit a voiceover.

Commercials and Ads: In commercials or social media videos, freeze frames can stop the viewer in their scrolling tracks and make them take notice. Experiment with sequences that freeze on several frames in a row for a flipbook or comic strip effect. Combine freeze frames with fast paced cuts, graphics, and sound effects for an engaging "stinger" edit to promote a product, event, or brand.

Films: Many famous film scenes make iconic use of the freeze frame, from the ending shot of Truffaut‘s "The 400 Blows" to the explosive finale of "Thelma and Louise." In a narrative context, freeze frames suspend the action in a poignant or surprising moment, allowing it to linger in the viewer‘s mind. The technique tends to draw attention to itself, so use it sparingly and intentionally!

Wrapping Up

As you can see, Premiere Pro offers several convenient methods for creating freeze frames with a lot of room for creativity. Once you learn the techniques, you‘ll start seeing opportunities to use them all over your video editing projects.

While we focused on Premiere here, most major video editing software has similar freeze frame functionality. In Final Cut Pro, it‘s called a Hold Frame. In DaVinci Resolve, it‘s a Freeze Frame. The basic steps are very similar across platforms.

I hope you found this guide helpful and informative. Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips for making great freeze frames or if you have any questions. Now get out there and start freezing those frames! Don‘t forget to subscribe for more video editing tips and tutorials.

Read More Topics

error: Content is protected !!