Have you ever filmed a video that was slightly – or completely- off-center? No worries! There are a few quick and easy steps for how to rotate video a video in Premiere. Today, we’ll show you how.
How to Rotate Video Clips from Portrait to Landscape in Adobe Premiere Pro
Step 1
The first step is to open a new project in Adobe Premiere Pro CC. Do this by going up to File and selecting New > Project.
Step 2
Next, you’ll want to import your video using File > Import (Ctrl + I). Now, you can either put the video into a composition (File > New > New Composition). Or, you could automatically create a new composition simply by dragging footage into the timeline.
Step 3
Once you have your clip selected on the timeline, you’ll want to make sure you see the Effects Controls panel. To get there, first, click Editing from the top tabs. Your workspace should now display the effects tab in the upper-left corner. You’re looking for the section that says Motion Properties. If you don’t see that, click the arrow next to Motion to open the dropdown menu.
Step 4
You will find Rotation under the Motion section. The rest is pretty straightforward. You can rotate your footage either by clicking and dragging on the number (which should be set to 0.0). This will rotate your video either clockwise or counterclockwise.
Alternatively, you can also enter the rotation number manually by clicking on the number. Videos can be turned 90° from horizontal to vertical, for example. But if you flip it 180°, it will be upside down. However, you can always rotate it 270° in the other direction or do a 360° so that you’re back at square one!
Alternative Methods for How to Rotate a Video in Premiere
Maybe someone stole your attention during a recording and when you watched it back, you realized that the scenic horizon you were filming was, well, crooked. Don’t worry, a crooked video can also be straightened out using guidelines.
To use this method, click the plus sign (+) for the button editor at the bottom of your screen. There you’ll see a wide range of button icons that you can add to your button layout. To straighten out skewed videos, click to enable show rulers, guides, and safe margin.
If no guides appear, we’ll talk you through how to create and add your own. Simply click on the ruler at the top of your video and drag it down to the video. Repeat the same steps with the vertical ruler on the side (drag it down until it is in the crosshairs of your margins). Now, rotate your video until it lines up with your grid lines.
My Video is Straight – Now What?
You might be thinking, “okay... even though my video is straight, now I have these black gaps in the corners .” No problem. This can be remedied very easily by using the effect controls. All you have to do is select the scale height and scale width to zoom your video in and fill the gaps. Now you should have a perfectly level horizon!
What’s the Difference Between Flipping a Video and Rotating It?
The difference between flipping a video and rotating it is that flipping your video involves moving from upside down to right side up or from left to right. The process of rotating involves leveling out the horizons to make the video straight (or rotating your desired degrees). In some cases, you may just need to flip your video instead of rotating it.
How to Flip Your Video in Premiere
In Adobe Premiere Pro, you can flip an original clip with both horizontal and vertical flips. To flip an entire clip, you’ll want to:
- Choose the Effects menu then click on the Transform tab.
- From the drop-down menu, select Horizontal or Vertical Flip, depending on your needs.
- The image will be instantly reversed in the Programme Monitor as you drag the flip of your choice down onto the clip itself.
Is It Possible to Only Flip a Specific Part of My Video?
Yes! To do so:
- Select the Razor tool with the C key, then click wherever it is in your clip that you want the flip to begin.
- Still selecting the Razor tool, click again where you would like the effect to end.
- To flip horizontally or vertically, go to the Transform tab
- To add the Flip effect, drag the effect in the timeline to that section of the clip.
Pro tip: Make sure to pay attention to the letters and numbers in your video if it contains any text – these will also flip with your video!
What if you don’t have Premiere Pro for video editing? What if you only have Premiere Rush, the “simpler” video editor? We’ll cover how to rotate a video in Premiere Rush, too.
How to Rotate a Video in Premiere: Adobe Premiere Rush
Premiere Rush makes rotating a video a snap. A variety of video formats can be imported. If you upload a video file in .avi or .mov, for example, Premiere Rush will automatically convert them to mp4.
Here we’ll look at the step-by-step process for how to rotate a video in Premiere rush video editing software.
- On the right side of the preview window, click the Transform panel. (If using an iPhone or other mobile device, scroll through the tools at the bottom until you get to Transform.)
- Choose Rotation.
- The video will rotate if you move the slider left or right.
Change the Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of your import video is automatically set by Premiere Rush, but you can always change it to suit your needs. Here’s the best way to change the dimensions of your footage so you don’t lose any footage when rotating it for Instagram or other social media platforms:
After you choose the project and the part which you want to adjust.
- You can choose between landscape, portrait, or square orientations. If you’re on your iPhone or Android, you’ll find this by clicking the overlapping rectangles in the bottom toolbar.
- The video can be positioned within the frame by clicking on it in the preview monitor and dragging it.
- Rotate it and scale from within the frame size.
And that’s all there is for how to rotate a video in Premiere! Of course, smooth editing also depends on having the right tools, if you're looking to upgrade your computer for video editing now might be a good time. Do you have any other tips for rotating video or do you prefer another program to Premiere? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why would you need to rotate a video during post-production?
Rotation helps correct orientation issues from mobile footage or reframe content for different platforms (like vertical for TikTok). For multi-format video creation, check out Levitate’s Short-form & Social Platform.
- Does rotating a video affect its quality or framing?
If not handled carefully, rotation can lead to cropping or resolution loss. Professional editing ensures proper alignment and quality. For advanced edits, explore Levitate’s Motion Graphics Services.
- What are other common edits done alongside rotation in business videos?
Cropping, speed changes, brightness adjustments, and adding overlays are often paired with rotation for a polished result. Learn more in Levitate’s blog on How to Brighten a Video.
- Are there companies using these editing techniques in real-world campaigns?
Yes, SquareTrade worked with Levitate to create adaptable, professional-looking content through strategic editing. See how in the SquareTrade case study.
And as always, if you have questions or need some help creating a high-quality, professional video, feel free to get in touch!
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