Adobe Premiere Pro is a remarkable tool for creating amazing video productions. You can edit and use video clips, along with audio and other multimedia. But all of that content can quickly become confusing. How do you keep track of your video clips to work more efficiently?
Learning how to label clips in Premiere is the answer. It’s a quick and easy method for visually categorizing videos and other tracks in Premiere.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to label clips in Premiere. We’ll look at five top tips for labeling. We’ll explore color coding, text labeling, and more. Plus, I’ll walk you through ways to apply labels faster. After all, you’re trying to become more efficient. Let’s learn how to label clips in Premiere!
How to Label Clips in Premiere (5 Quick Tips)
The first rule of labeling in Premiere is this: choose a labeling method and apply it consistently. There’s not a single right or wrong way to do it. Adobe Premiere offers ample options for both color coding and text labeling.
As you work through our tips, think of what works best for your next project. And keep in mind that you may want to use different labeling combinations or styles for different projects. Lastly, if you’re working with collaborators, meet as a team in advance. If everyone is aligned ahead of time, labeling becomes even more useful.
In our tutorial, you’ll see three stock video clips from Envato Elements featured. You can download them here:
- Yosemite Morning Time Lapse
- Beautiful Nature Norway
- Storm Clouds Move Over the Mountains in Montenegro Shot at Sunset
1. Ensure Names and Labels are Visible
By default, you may not always see names and labels visible on your Timeline. This is due to a recent update to Premiere’s default settings. To ensure you can always see your labels, find the Wrench icon in your Timeline controls.
Click on the Wrench. Then, from the list of options, be sure the box for Show Source Clip Name and Label is checked. This way, you’ll always see any labels that you add right on your Timeline.
2. Choose Color Codes for Clips
Labeling in Premiere Pro refers to color-coding clips in your Timeline. When you apply different colors, you can visually distinguish one “category” of clip from another. Labels mean whatever you want them to mean. Again, the key is to choose a labeling scheme that works well for you.
To look at your labeling options in Premiere, click on the Premiere Pro dropdown menu. It’s in the far upper left corner of your screen. Hover over Settings, then choose Labels. You’ll see all of the label color options appear. In total, Premiere Pro offers 16 of them.
For example, imagine that you’re handling a project with many clips. When I finish editing a given clip, I like to label them in green. This way, at a glance, I’ll know that I’ve wrapped up my work on those clips.
Orange clips can be those that need more editing attention. And violet clips might mean those that I want to eventually cut from the project. Blue clips could be those that I’ve edited, but want to move around on the Timeline. You have total freedom in how you apply your color labels.
3. Customize Color Labels for Easy Categorization
Color labels in Premiere are, by default, named for their colors. But once you’ve decided what each label means to you, you can apply custom names. I already mentioned using green as a “Good Edit.” For clarity, you can rename labels to describe what they refer to.
To do that, replace the Green label title with the words Good Edit. Simply click into the box and type Good Edit. Repeat as needed across other labels that you want to describe.
Keep in mind: you don’t have to use every label in every project. Indeed, it’s best to use only a handful. Too many labels and you might get confused.
4. Apply Keyboard Shortcuts for Fast Labeling
To label a clip in your Timeline, you have two options. You can right-click on a clip and hover over Labels. Then, you’ll see a list of the labels that you can choose from.
But if you’re editing a big project, shortcuts are essential. By mapping labels to certain keys on your keyboard, you can instantly apply them with the touch of a button.
Let’s learn how to label clips in Premiere with keyboard shortcuts. To do it, click on the Premiere Pro menu again. This time, choose Keyboard Shortcuts.
When you do, you’ll see a visual map of your keyboard. To add label shortcuts, click on a key that you want to make into a shortcut. I like to use the number keys here, but you can use any key that you want.
In the search box below, type in Label. In the bottom left corner of the menu, you’ll see a list of the Label options (custom names included). Find a label that you want to make a shortcut for. Click and drag it over a key. Here, let’s use the 1 key. Repeat as needed, then click OK.
Now, you can select a clip in your Timeline and label it - just by hitting a single key! It’s a huge speed boost for your editing workflow.
5. Use Text Labels by Renaming Clips
Sometimes, it’s useful to add text labels to clips. You can do this by renaming them. By default, clips in the Timeline show the name of the underlying file. But renaming is easy.
To rename a clip, right-click on it in the Timeline. Then, choose Rename from the listed options. On the menu that appears, type in a new name. Click OK when you’re finished. Premiere Pro will rename the clip, and you can see the name displayed on your Timeline.
That’s it! You’ve just learned how to label clips in Premiere Pro. As you can see, it’s a fast and easy process. All you have to do is decide what label colors mean to you and your project. Then, start adding them today.
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Label Premiere Pro Clips Today and Work Smarter
In this tutorial, you learned how to label clips in Premiere Pro. As you can see, the app offers an array of ways to do this. The key is to choose color labels that correlate with your specific categories of content.
Once you’ve done that, you can easily rename the labels for clear viewing. And you can apply them in a flash, all by setting up keyboard shortcuts. Plus, you can always give clips custom names in the Timeline. Why wait to better organize your Premiere Pro projects? Get started with labeling today!
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