The Interview: Adding a Logo “Bug” & Animating Images in Premiere Pro

Topics Covered in This Premiere Pro Tutorial:

Adding Images, Animating Motion Effects, Adding Transitions

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

In this exercise, you'll master essential graphics integration techniques that separate amateur video projects from professional productions. You'll learn to seamlessly incorporate logos, photographs, and other visual elements into your video footage, animate them with professional-grade motion effects, and create smooth transitions that maintain viewer engagement. These skills are fundamental for modern video production, whether you're creating corporate content, marketing materials, or documentary-style interviews.

Getting Started

To ensure we're all working from the same baseline, we'll begin with a project file that includes all the b-roll footage from the previous exercise. This approach mirrors real-world production workflows where projects are often passed between team members at different stages.

1. In Premiere Pro, if you have a project open, choose File > Close All Projects.

2. Choose File > Open Project or hit Cmd–O (Mac) or CTRL–O (Windows).

3. Navigate to Desktop > Class Files > Premiere Pro Class > The Interview > Finished Projects.

4. Double–click on The Interview—Ready for Graphics.prproj to open it.

   NOTE: If you see a dialog about Converting Project (from a prior version) refer to Fixing Version Compatibility Issues section in Exercise 1A. If the Link Media dialog opens refer to Locating Missing Media in Exercise 1A.

5. Once the project is open, go to File > Save As and:

   • Name it Your Name—The Interview version 2
   • Save it into Desktop > Class Files > Premiere Pro Class > The Interview

Adding a Logo

Professional video content often includes persistent branding elements known as "bugs"—typically company logos or identifying graphics positioned strategically in a corner of the frame. This technique maintains brand visibility throughout the content without interfering with the primary visual narrative. Television networks, streaming platforms, and corporate videos rely heavily on this approach for consistent brand reinforcement.

1. In the Tools panel, click on the Selection tool .

2. In the Project panel, locate 03—Images > Noble Logo.ai and drag it onto the Video 3 track in the Timeline so it starts at the beginning (far left).

3. Drag the end of the clip so it matches the length of the interview clips on Video 1.

4. Click on the Noble Logo clip on the timeline to select it.

5. In the Program panel, near the bottom right click on the Settings wrench and choose Safe Margins to enable the Action and Title safe margins.

   NOTE: Safe Margins originated in broadcast television to ensure text and graphics wouldn't be cut off on consumer televisions due to overscan. While modern displays have largely eliminated this issue, Safe Margins remain a valuable guide for maintaining proper visual hierarchy and ensuring your graphics don't crowd the frame edges—a principle that applies across all distribution platforms, from social media to streaming services.

6. Click on the Effect Controls panel (at the top left, next to the Source panel's tab). If you can't find it, choose Window > Effect Controls.

7. If necessary, click the arrow next to Motion to reveal its properties.

8. Change Scale to 30

9. Change Position to 1755 960

   This positioning places the logo at the bottom right corner within the Safe Margins, following industry conventions that keep branding elements visible but unobtrusive.

   TIP: For more intuitive positioning, click on the word Motion in the Effect Controls panel to enable direct manipulation—you can then drag the graphic around in the Program panel for real-time visual feedback.

10. Click on the Settings wrench and choose Safe Margins to turn them off.

11. In the Timeline panel, click the lock button to the left of the Video 3 track to prevent accidental modifications.

Adding Images & Animating Motion Effects

Static images in video projects can create visual dead zones that lose viewer attention. Professional editors transform still images into dynamic visual elements through strategic animation. This technique, widely used in documentaries, corporate videos, and news broadcasts, maintains visual momentum and creates a more polished, engaging viewing experience. The key is subtle movement that enhances rather than distracts from your content.

1. In the Timeline, move the playhead to 45:05

2. In the Project panel, locate 03—Images > Dan with Software.jpg

3. Drag Dan with Software.jpg to Video 2 track on the Timeline, lining the beginning of the clip with the playhead.

4. Click on the clip in the Timeline to select it.

5. In the Effect Controls panel, change Position to 560 645

6. On the right side of the Effect Controls panel is a mini–timeline view for this clip. The playhead should be the beginning (left), but if it isn't, move it there now.

7. To the left of Position, click on the Toggle Animation stopwatch to create the first keyframe of our animation.

8. In the Timeline, move the playhead to 49:03

   Notice this also moved the playhead in the Effect Controls panel's mini–timeline, maintaining sync between your timeline position and effect parameters.

9. Change Position to 1865,000

   This creates the second keyframe of our animation, establishing a smooth horizontal pan across the image.

10. In the Effect Controls panel's mini–timeline, CTRL–click (Mac) or Right–click (Windows) on the first keyframe and choose Temporal Interpolation > Ease Out.

    This creates a professional acceleration curve that starts the animation slowly and gradually increases speed—mimicking natural motion and avoiding the mechanical feel of linear animation.

11. CTRL–click (Mac) or Right–click (Windows) on the second keyframe and choose Temporal Interpolation > Ease In.

    This deceleration at the animation's end prevents abrupt stops, creating the smooth, polished motion characteristic of professional video production.

12. Play the sequence over this photo clip to see the final animation.
13. Position the playhead at the end of the photo clip you just added.
14. Press the + (plus) key twice to zoom closer in on that part of the Timeline for precise editing.
15. Let's add one more photo. In the Project panel, locate 03—Images > Dan with Work.jpg.
16. Drag Dan with Work.jpg onto the Video 2 track, snapping it to right after Dan with Software.jpg.
17. Move the playhead so it snaps to the beginning of the new image (so it's between the 2 images).
18. Click on the new image in the Timeline to select it.
19. In the Effect Controls panel, confirm that Scale is 100
20. To the left of Scale, click on the Toggle Animation stopwatch .
21. In the Timeline, move the playhead to 53:17
22. In the Effect Controls panel, change Scale to 50

23. Play the sequence over the 2 photos to see both animations working in harmony.

Adding Transitions

Abrupt cuts between images can create jarring visual experiences that disrupt viewer engagement. Professional editors use transitions strategically to guide the audience's attention and create seamless visual flow. The Cross Dissolve transition, while simple, remains one of the most versatile and widely-used effects in professional video production, providing elegant solutions for everything from photo montages to scene changes.

1. Open the Effects panel by choosing Window > Effects.
2. In the Effects panel's search field type cross

3. Under Video Transitions you should see Cross Dissolve.

   Drag the Cross Dissolve transition onto the edit line where the Dan with Software and Dan with Work clips join.

   

4. In the Timeline, hover over the beginning of the first photo (Dan with Software) and when you see the right facing bracket CTRL–click (Mac) or Right–click (Windows) and choose Apply Default Transitions.

5. Hover over the end of the second photo (Dan with Work) and when you see the left facing bracket CTRL–click (Mac) or Right–click (Windows) and choose Apply Default Transitions.

6. Double–click on the transition between the two clips to open the settings.

7. For Duration type 200

   NOTE: In Timecode that's 2:00 which is 2 seconds and 00 frames—a duration that provides smooth blending without feeling sluggish.

8. Click OK.
9. Play the sequence over the 2 photos to see the complete integration of photos, animations, and transitions working together.
10. Hit the \ (backslash) key to zoom out to see everything in the Timeline.

11. Choose File > Save or hit Cmd–S (Mac) or CTRL–S (Windows).

    Keep the project open because you'll use it in the next exercise as we continue building your professional video editing skills.