How To Stretch Video In Premiere Pro - 3 Quick Methods

Stretching a Video in Premiere Pro

When you film a video on an iPhone camera, the aspect ratio will be different to that of a professional camera.

Premiere Pro, like other video editing software, allows you to adjust the aspect ratio of your videos. If you've filmed a video on your iPhone and you're looking to post it on a platform that prefers a different aspect ratio, like YouTube or Instagram, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to stretch the video to fit the platform's preferred dimensions. Here's where Premiere Pro comes into play.

Unlike simple photo editing, stretching a video requires you to maintain the quality of the video while ensuring it fits into the new aspect ratio. The task might seem daunting, but don't worry, Premiere Pro has a few tools that can make the process easier.

Now, I'd suggest before starting to stretch your video, make sure you have a clear understanding of the final aspect ratio you want to achieve. If you're going for YouTube, that would be 16:9, but for Instagram, you might be looking at 1:1 or 4:5. Knowing your desired outcome will make the entire process smoother and more efficient.

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How To Stretch Video To Fit Screen Premiere Pro

Step 1: Import your video

The first step in the process is importing your video into Premiere Pro. After opening the program, you can drag and drop your video file directly onto the timeline. Easy, right?

Step 2: Open the Effect Controls Panel

Once your video is on the timeline, you can select it and navigate to the Effect Controls panel. Here, you will see several options to adjust your video, including scale and position.

Step 3: Adjust the Scale

Suppose I want to stretch the video. In that case, I will change the scale settings in the Effect Controls panel. This will allow you to stretch your video to match the desired aspect ratio. Be careful not to overstretch the video, as this can distort the quality.

How about we take a pause here? Keep in mind that the key to a good stretch is maintaining a balance between the new size and preserving the video's original quality. Overstretching can cause your video to lose quality and appear pixelated, so make sure you check the video in the preview panel as you adjust the scale.

Shall we proceed? Okay, let's continue.

Step 4: Adjust the Position

After you've stretched your video to the desired size, you may need to adjust the video's position to ensure the important elements are still in view. In the Effect Controls panel, you can adjust the video's position to your liking.

It might be useful to check out how to change resolution in Premiere Pro as well for a deeper understanding of these transformations. Also, while we're here, don't forget to save your work regularly. You might as well, right?

Step 5: Export your video

Once you're happy with how your video looks, it's time to export it. You can do this by going to File > Export > Media. Ensure your export settings match your desired final video format and resolution. Once you've checked everything, click 'Export', and voila! You've successfully stretched your video in Premiere Pro.

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How To Stretch A Video Horizontally In Premiere Pro

To be more specific, I just wanted to write a separate procedure for stretching across the X axis, or as it's commonly referred to, horizontal stretching. This can be especially handy when you've got video content that needs to be expanded wider, without altering its vertical dimensions.

Step 1: Import your Video into Premiere Pro

The first step is to import your video into Premiere Pro. Launch the program, and drag and drop your video file directly into the timeline. It's just as simple as that.

Step 2: Go to the Effect Controls Panel

Next, you want to select your video on the timeline and then head over to the Effect Controls panel. This panel is your control center for video adjustment. It has options to control scale, position, rotation, and a bunch of other parameters.

Step 3: Unlink the Scale Values

Here's where things get a bit specific. In the Effect Controls panel, you'll find a parameter labelled 'Scale'. This has two linked values, which control the video's vertical (Y) and horizontal (X) scaling, respectively. Normally, these values are linked, so when you adjust one, the other changes proportionally to maintain the video's aspect ratio.

To stretch your video horizontally, you'll need to unlink these values. You can do this by clicking the chain icon between them. Once they're unlinked, you'll be able to change the values independently.

Step 4: Adjust the Horizontal Scale Value

Now that the scale values are unlinked, you can adjust the horizontal scale independently of the vertical. I'd suggest you take your time with this part. Gradually increase the horizontal scale value, monitoring the video's appearance in the program monitor. It's all about achieving the right balance - you want to stretch your video, but you also want to avoid distorting it too much.

What if you go too far? Don't panic! You can always revert back and adjust until you get the right fit. That's the beauty of non-linear editing tools like Premiere Pro - you can always undo and redo actions until you're satisfied.

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How To Stretch A Video Vertically In Premiere Pro

Doing it horizontally is the same, but instead of adjusting the X-axis, we'll be focusing on the Y-axis to stretch a video vertically in Premiere Pro. This can come in handy when you want to make your video taller without affecting its width.

Once again, I recommend increasing the vertical scale value slowly while keeping an eye on the program monitor to see the effect on your video. You want to avoid stretching your video too much, as this can lead to distortion and a loss of quality. And remember, if you're not happy with the results, you can always undo your actions and adjust until you get the right balance.