Category: Workflow / Premiere Pro

We’ve all been there. You want to add a simple "pop" or smooth zoom to a clip. You set your scale keyframes, but the default motion looks robotic and linear.

So, you open the Effect Controls, drop down the arrow, right-click the keyframe, select "Auto Bezier" or "Ease In," and then spend the next 45 seconds dragging tiny handles on a velocity graph until the curve looks just right.

Doing this once is fine. Doing this for every single cut in a 10-minute video is a nightmare.

If you are still manually tweaking velocity graphs for every single scale animation, you are wasting valuable time. Here is how to fix this workflow and automate your smooth motion.

The Problem: Linear vs. Bezier

By default, Premiere Pro thinks in straight lines (Linear). It moves from Point A to Point B at a constant speed. But professional motion feels organic—it starts slow, speeds up, and slows down (Bezier).

Achieving this requires adjusting the Velocity Graph, but you shouldn't have to rebuild that graph from scratch every time.

The Fix: Create "Motion Presets"

The secret to speed isn't moving your mouse faster; it's saving your work. You can save keyframe data as a preset that applies instantly to any clip.

Step 1: Build it Once

1. Create your perfect scale animation on one clip.

2. Open the Effect Controls panel.

3. Tweak your Velocity Graph until the motion is snappy and smooth (the "S" curve).

Step 2: Save the Preset

1. In the Effect Controls panel, select the "Motion" effect (or "Transform" if you are using that effect).

2. Right-click on the effect name.

3. Select Save Preset...

4. Crucial Step: In the dialogue box, choose "Anchor to In Point."

   • Why? This ensures the animation always starts at the beginning of the clip you drop it on.

Step 3: Name and Organize Call it something descriptive like "Scale Up - Smooth Pop - 10 Frames."

Alternative: The "Paste Attributes" Shortcut

If you don't want to make a permanent preset but need to apply the same move to 50 clips in your current timeline:

1. Copy the clip with the perfect animation (Cmd+C / Ctrl+C).

2. Select all the other clips you want to affect.

3. Right-click and select Paste Attributes (Opt+Cmd+V / Ctrl+Alt+V).

4. Check the "Motion" box and hit OK.

Summary

Stop fighting the graph editor for every single cut. Build your library of smooth moves once, save them as presets, and turn a 2-hour polishing session into a 5-minute drag-and-drop job.