1. Video
  2. Post-Production
  3. Video Editing

How to Quickly Freeze Frame in Premiere Pro

Scroll to top
7 min read

Adobe Premiere Pro is a top option for editing video in 2023 and beyond. With it, you can perform sleek edits with ease. It’s full of features that help you build more creative productions. One key technique is learning how to freeze frame in Premiere Pro. These are still images taken from the scenes shown in your video clips.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to freeze frame in Premiere Pro. You can capture still frames from every clip that you edit! It’s a popular and immensely useful tool. Once you know how to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro, you'll use it often.

Let’s learn how to add freeze frame in Premiere Pro.

How to Do a Freeze Frame in Premiere Pro

Learning how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro is easy. But before we get started, let’s think about how useful this idea can be. Why should you learn how to add freeze frames in Premiere Pro? What can you use this feature for?

Think of freeze frames in Premiere as great ways to:

  • Add emphasis. Want audiences to focus on something specific in your videos? That’s hard when things are in motion. Adding a freeze frame lets you stop the action and keep specific scenes onscreen.
  • Capture stills from videos. With freeze frames in Premiere, you can shoot a video and then grab still images later. High resolution cameras make it crucial to learn how to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro.
  • Control the pace. Need to take a pause in a video to help set the pace? Freeze framing is an ideal option. You can pause motion for as long as you need.

Learning how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro gives you new tools for production. Plus, it's so easy to learn how to freeze frame in Premiere Pro projects that it's really a no brainer. Now, let’s look at how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro, step by step.

1. Add a Clip to the Timeline

With Premiere Pro open, let’s learn how to freeze frame in Premiere. With a Project open, familiarize yourself with the app’s basic layout. The key here is found in the lower center of your screen. This is the Timeline panel. What it does is control the placement of video, audio, and images within your project. 

To capture a freeze frame, you’ll first want to add a video clip to your Timeline. This is very easy. Find a stored video file on your computer. Then, drag and drop it onto the Timeline. 

How to freeze frame in PremiereHow to freeze frame in PremiereHow to freeze frame in Premiere
Drop a video clip onto the Timeline to start learning how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro.

By default, you’ll see it appear on the V1 track. Now, it’s ready to work with. You're well on your way to learn how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro.

2. Choose a Frame to Freeze

Notice the video preview above. This section is called the Program Monitor. What it does is allow you to view individual frames of a video clip. With it, you can choose a frame to capture a freeze frame of. 

Here’s how. Back in the Timeline, notice the vertical blue line. This is called the Playhead. It’s a tool that controls the frame that you’re viewing (and therefore, editing) in Premiere.

How to freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to freeze frame in Premiere Pro
Drag the Playhead in the Timeline to a frame that you want to capture as a still.

To choose a freeze frame, click and drag the Playhead with your cursor. Move it left or right, and keep an eye on the Program Monitor.

When you see a specific scene that you want to freeze, release the Playhead. Remember, you’ll be capturing a still of exactly what you see in the Program Monitor. 

3. Insert a Frame Hold

With your scene chosen, let’s learn how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro. It’s easy. Come up to Clip > Video Options > Insert Frame HoldSegment. Click this option, and watch what happens in the Timeline.

How to do a freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to do a freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro
Go to Clip > Video Options > Insert Frame Hold Segment. This is how to add freeze frame in Premiere Pro.

When you choose Insert Frame Hold Segment, a two-second freeze frame image will be placed in the Timeline.

How to make a freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to make a freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro
A two-second freeze frame will appear between your split video clip in the Timeline.

Your video clip will actually split, with the clip in between the two sections.

4. Work with the Freeze Frame Image

That’s it! You’ve learned how to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro. Now, you can edit the freeze frame itself. You have a couple of options here. First, you can leave it in between the video portions of your track. This is a great idea if you want to use a freeze frame to pause the action.

By default, freeze frames in Premiere Pro are two seconds long. But you can easily make them longer or shorter. To do this, activate the Selection Tool in the upper left. Then, click and drag on the right edge of the freeze frame.

Moving left shortens the frame, while moving right lengthens it. You may need to drag the right-hand video clip out of the way if you’re extending your freeze.

How to add freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to add freeze frame in Premiere ProHow to add freeze frame in Premiere Pro
Pull on the right edge of your Premiere Pro freeze frame to adjust its length.

You can also move the freeze frame to a separate video track. This is great if you want to use it by itself at a different point in your video. To do this, simply click and drag the freeze frame to the V2 track in the Timeline. Move it to a different timestamp, then drop it into place. 

how to freeze frame in Premiere easilyhow to freeze frame in Premiere easilyhow to freeze frame in Premiere easily
You can move your freeze frame onto a different track to show it elsewhere in your video.

If you choose this option, simply drag the two split video clips back together. The video motion will continue seamlessly! Now, you can use the freeze frame anywhere in your project that you like. It’s that simple. 

The Top Source for the Very Best Adobe Premiere Pro Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)

For any video creator, premium Adobe Premiere Pro templates are your best friend. The best source for these is Envato Elements. With thousands of premium designs to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect design for your next project.

Elements how to freeze frame in Premiere ProElements how to freeze frame in Premiere ProElements how to freeze frame in Premiere Pro
Envato Elements: millions of digital assets, unlimited downloads.

The Elements offer is powerful: unlimited downloads. For a flat monthly rate, you can download and use as many Premiere Pro templates as you want! And that’s not all. Elements includes millions of other digital assets, like fonts and stock videos. All are included in the unlimited-downloads offer.

Elements how to make a freeze frame in Premiere ProElements how to make a freeze frame in Premiere ProElements how to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro
Elements offers thousands of stunning Premiere Pro video templates.

Choose a premium Envato Elements template, and you’ll stand out from the crowd with:

  • Bold styling. These premium templates aren’t the dull, basic designs you might find for free online. Instead, they’re built by video production experts with your needs in mind.
  • Easier productions. Tired of spending hours putting videos together? Premiere Pro templates are your best friend. They do the hard work of design for you. You just have to drop in your content, and you’re all set.
  • Sleek, cinematic effects. With animations and transitions, videos you produce will take on a studio-grade look that audiences will love. 

As you can see, Envato Elements is the ultimate resource for creatives in 2023 and beyond. Join today and start exploring the vast library! You can’t afford to miss out.

You Just Learned How to Freeze Frame in Premiere Pro

In a few quick steps, you’ve learned how to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro. Knowing how to add freeze frame in Premiere Pro is helpful when you need to emphasize a particular moment.

So, what are you waiting for? You’ve learned how to do a freeze frame in Premiere Pro. Use it to capture a key moment in time. Test out your new skill of how to make a freeze frame in Premiere Pro now!