How To Upscale Video In Premiere Pro In JUST 5 Steps!

How to Upscale Footage to 4K In Adobe Premiere Pro

Understanding the mechanics of video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro can be daunting for beginners. With terms like 'interpolation', 'upscaling' and 'canvas', it may seem overwhelming. However, we'll simplify this complex process into a detailed step-by-step guide. In our case, we'll discuss how to upscale footage from 1920x1080 to 4K in Adobe Premiere Pro using After Effects.

Prepare Your Project in Adobe Premiere Pro

To start, launch Adobe Premiere Pro and create a new project. When creating a new project, you'll need to specify the project settings, which includes the format (in our case, 4K). Import the footage you want to upscale by navigating to 'File', then 'Import', and select the desired clips. Add these clips to your timeline by dragging and dropping them in the sequence you prefer. If your footage is in 1080p, it will appear with black borders when placed on a 4K canvas. You might want to look at this detailed tutorial on [how to change the resolution in Premiere Pro](www.freevisuals.net/post/how-to-change-resolution-in-premiere-pro-5-easy-steps) to get a better understanding.

Sending Footage to After Effects from Premiere Pro

Now that your 1080p clips are in your 4K timeline, you'll need to send them to After Effects for upscaling. To do this, select the clip in your timeline, right-click, and choose 'Replace With After Effects Composition'. This opens the selected clip in After Effects for editing without creating multiple files.

Getting Familiar with After Effects Interface

Once you're in After Effects, you'll see a different layout compared to Premiere Pro. The main areas are Project panel, Composition panel (similar to Premiere's Program Monitor), and Timeline panel. At this point, the software will prompt you to save the project. Name the project and choose where you want to save it.

Adding the Upscaling Effect in After Effects

On the After Effects canvas, it's time to add the upscaling effect. Navigate to the 'Effects & Presets' panel and type in 'Detail-preserving Upscale' in the search bar. Double-click on this effect to apply it to your active clip. The next steps will be handled in the 'Effect Controls' panel. Here, you'll find an option called 'Fit to Comp Width'. Clicking this will automatically scale your footage to match the width of the canvas. You can also adjust the 'Detail' setting to improve the appearance of your upscaled footage.

Review Your Changes and Send Back to Premiere

Before sending your clip back to Premiere, review the changes you've made. Make sure that your upscaled footage looks as desired. If it does, go ahead and save your After Effects project. Now, you can switch back to Premiere Pro. You'll notice that the clip on your timeline has been updated to reflect the modifications you made in After Effects.

Plugins For Upscaling

In the domain of video editing, plugins are additional software components that integrate into your primary editing software (in this case, Premiere Pro) to offer expanded capabilities. Some renowned software manufacturers claim to have developed plugins with advanced algorithms that can upscale footage in a manner superior to the default methods available in Premiere Pro. They might argue that their particular technique or approach (often proprietary) incorporates certain unique elements or processes, which they might describe as their "secret sauce", ensuring better clarity and fewer artifacts (unwanted distortions or abnormalities in the upscaled video). For those seeking to enhance their editing toolkit, there's a comprehensive list of Adobe Premiere Pro plugins to explore.

Selecting the Right Plugin‍

Just as with any software, not all plugins are created equal. There's a possibility that some plugins may indeed offer superior upscaling due to advanced techniques they employ. However, as a beginner, it's essential to understand that there might be a learning curve associated with each plugin. Furthermore, compatibility is key. Ensure that the plugin you're considering is up to date and compatible with your version of Premiere Pro and the operating system of your device. Just as it's crucial to keep software like After Effects updated, especially when using functionalities like Dynamic Linking (a feature that lets Adobe software apps communicate and share data seamlessly), the same applies to Premiere Pro and its associated plugins.

Hardware Considerations‍

While plugins play a pivotal role in the upscaling process, the hardware of the device you're using for editing is equally significant. Adobe Premiere Pro, especially when augmented with additional plugins, can be resource-intensive. This means it requires a certain level of Memory/RAM (Random Access Memory: the primary storage area where the device retrieves data) to operate efficiently. If your computer does not meet the required specifications or is at the borderline, you might experience lags, especially when working on larger projects or employing high-resolution upscaling plugins. Always cross-check your device's hardware capabilities before incorporating new plugins or embarking on complex editing tasks.