Learn to remove moving or static objects in Premiere Pro

Masking is a powerful tool in any editor’s kit. It’s also one that can save an otherwise unusable take, so it’s well worth learning. There are many uses for masks, but one of the things that makes them so powerful is their ability to remove unwanted items or subjects from your shots. 

In this tutorial, Motion Array will take you step-by-step through how to remove objects in Premiere Pro with the help of the handy mask effect. Motion Array offers many more Premiere Pro tutorials you may enjoy, too.

Part 1: Quickly remove static objects in Premiere Pro

Removing objects from a shot can help neaten up things you either missed on set or deliberately left in, knowing they’d need to be removed in post. A good example is microphones — you may have the mic in the shot to get the best sound, and remove it from sight in the edit.

As with all post-production effects, try not to over-rely on removing objects from videos in Premiere Pro. The example we just gave is a case where it’s worth the extra effort, but as a rule,  try to keep a clean set and judge your setups before you shoot. Having to mask, tweak, and fix a shot because someone left a water bottle in it (remember that finale-stealing Game of Thrones blooper?) is a lot of effort you could’ve avoided. All it needed was one simple check before you rolled the camera. Here’s how to remove static objects in Premiere Pro:

1. Play your footage on the timeline and edit to your preferred length.
2. Hold Alt and click on the clip, dragging it higher in the stack to create a duplicate.
3. Select the top of the two layers and go to the Effects Controls panel.
4. Alongside Opacity, click the Masking tool and draw a mask around the object you want to remove.
5. Move the mask around the screen to fill it with the most accurate background from elsewhere in the image.
6. In the Mask settings, increase the Feather until you can’t see the object’s outline.
7. Go to the Position properties and move the top layer to sit above the area you want to remove.
8. Finally, go to the Color panel and adjust the grading until the top layer blends seamlessly with the background.

Part 2: Easily remove moving objects in Premiere Pro

Removing a moving object in Premiere Pro is similar to removing static objects, only the movement itself can be tricky to track. You must match the subject’s movements as closely as possible with the mask while avoiding the mask picking up bits of the background at the same time. Premiere Pro must then render the best possible fill across the movement to create a realistic removal.

While changing the mask position across each frame is more complex, it’s possible to remove a moving object with Premiere Pro. It just takes careful editing and a little extra work. If you’re not too sure what to do with masks, this helpful guide will assist:

1. With your clip edited in the timeline, hold Alt and drag it to create a duplicate layer.
2. With the top layer selected, go to the Effect Controls panel.
3. Choose the Mask option alongside the Opacity settings and draw a shape around the object you want to remove.
4. Feather the mask to blend the edges.
5. Create a keyframe alongside the mask path by clicking the stopwatch icon.
6. Move the playhead along the timeline, keeping your object within the mask by adjusting the Mask Path setting.
7. Once you’ve added keyframes to track your object, click Invert in the Mask settings. 
8. Press Y on your keyboard to use the Slip tool.
9. Go to the first layer and, using the Slip tool, drag the footage to a new time when the object is no longer in the shot.
10. If you can still see parts of your object, click on the top layer and adjust the mask path further.

With a little practice, it’ll get easier to remove a moving object in Premiere Pro realistically.

Part 3: Top tips for removing objects in Premiere Pro

When removing objects in Premiere Pro, both the object and the camera must be completely stationary. If your camera’s moving, you can still use the methods described above, but they’ll have varying degrees of success.

You can boost your chances of an effective removal by following our top tips below:

Don’t cross over

A key to successfully removing elements from your scene is to make sure nothing crosses in front or behind them. Remember, this method of object removal needs you to stack up duplicates of the same scene. If your object crosses in front or behind something, you may remove elements you want to keep.

Use a locked camera

As we’ve mentioned, removing elements from a shot is much easier if the camera is entirely static. Sometimes on set, there’ll be a plug or piece of kit that you’d prefer not to be there, but can’t take away. The nature of the video may make it tough to remove it from the active main-camera shot. 

While it’s common to shoot with one camera, using a fixed backup cam you can keep fully static might give you more options. Keep this technique in mind when planning for object removal on set.

Take your time

Keyframing your moving masks can take quite some time, especially if you have a complex shot or movement involved. It’s always best to take a moment to keyframe your masks precisely so you get the best results. As with many post-edits, time and care are the magic ingredients. A tight Premiere Pro workflow helps, too.

Try color and effects

Sometimes, no matter how great your masking technique is, you can still see faint edges around the blend. Try adding other effects and grades to an adjustment layer to help tie the scene together and blur the boundaries further. As generative AI takes off for video editing, tools like the AI Rotobrush will also help you make better matches.

Clone yourself

We’ve looked at masking to remove objects in Premiere Pro, but that’s not all they can do. You’ve now added a new technique to your tool kit, too, as you can also use these same methods to create fantastic effects, such as cloning yourself or a performer across the scene. Not sure how that works? Read this handy step-by-step guide to cloning effects and try it yourself.

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Removing objects in Premiere Pro isn’t as difficult as you might think. Once you’ve mastered the masking technique, you can quickly edit a video that might otherwise be useless. However, remember that the Premiere Pro object-removal method is no replacement for getting it right in the camera when you shoot. A little care setting up shots can save you a lot of post-editing!

If you’re looking for more exciting ways to expand your skills, check out Motion Array’s other post-production tutorials.