Adobe Premiere Pro Guide

How to work with temporal and spatial keyframe

interpolation
Keyframe interpolation changes the behavior of an effect option value as the clip plays toward or away from a
keyframe.
The two most common types of interpolation are linear and Bezier.
• Linear interpolation: Creates an evenly paced change from one keyframe to another. For example, if you set an
effect option value to 0% at the beginning of a 12-second clip and 100% at the end, the value will be 25% at the
3-second point and 50% at the 6-second point. Changes created with linear interpolation start and stop abruptly.
• Bezier interpolation: More closely mirrors your experience or exaggerates it. The rate of change accelerates or
decelerates based on the shape of a Bezier curve, such as gently or quickly picking up speed at the first keyframe
and then slowly or rapidly decelerating into the second.
Switching from linear interpolation to a Bezier interpolation preset takes only two mouse clicks. Becoming adept at
adjusting Bezier curve characteristics takes a little practice.

Using automatic adjustments

When you apply keyframes to virtually all effects, you are changing how those effects behave over time. That’s
called temporal interpolation. The default temporal interpolation in Adobe Premiere Pro is linear: constant velocity
between keyframes. You can change that to Bezier temporal interpolation and adjust its curve characteristics in the
Effect Controls panel Value and Velocity graphs. You can also access Bezier interpolation presets in a clip’s
keyframe graph line in the Timeline panel.
Two effects—Motion and Lightning—have a different type of interpolation. For these two effects, you can use
position parameters to set their physical locations in and around the video frame. You control how those positions
change by using spatial interpolation. You adjust spatial interpolation in the Program Monitor screen. The default
spatial interpolation is a Bezier curve. The final task in this guide covers that topic.
We recommend you complete the “How to apply and adjust video effects” guide and the “How to use the Motion
effect” guide before completing the tasks in this guide. Those guides cover effect properties and keyframes, which are
used extensively in this guide. In addition we recommend that you complete the following text-creation guides:
“How to build text and objects in the Titler,” and “How to add text effects.” Those guides explain how to create the
text object you work with in this guide.
You do not need any video clips or other assets to complete this guide.

To apply and adjust Bezier curve presets:

1. Start Adobe Premiere Pro and start a new project.
2. Select File > New > Title.
The New Title dialog box appears.
3. Name the title Arrow and click OK.
The Titler appears.

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4. In the Titler, make an arrow by doing the following:

a. Use the Rectangle tool to create the shaft. Make it
almost fill the height of the Safe Title margin
(Figure 1).
b. Give it a dark, solid color fill by using the Properties
panel (Figure 2).
c. Add a white outer stroke with a size of about 3.
d. Use the Wedge tool to make the point (you will need
to rotate it to place it on top of the shaft)
Figure 1 Titler main panel showing the arrow
5. Close the Titler.
6. In the Project panel, drag the Arrow clip to the sequence.
7. In the Effects panel, expand the Video Effects bin,
expand the Stylize bin, and drag Alpha Glow to the arrow
clip.
8. In the Effect Controls panel, expand the Alpha Glow
options and click the Glow option Toggle Animation
button to switch on keyframes.
9. Set following keyframes (Figure 3):
• Clip in point: Glow = 0
• Clip midpoint: Glow = 100
• Clip end point: Glow = 0
Note: When you add keyframes to an effect, that displays Figure 2 Properties panel
the effect’s Value and Velocity graphs directly below the
keyframes. The Value graph displays the selected
option’s value at any point in time. The Velocity graph Value graph Velocity graph
shows the rate of change between keyframes. Spatial
effect options (Position in the Motion and Transform
effects for example) do not have Value graphs.
10. Play the clip.
The glow expands with constant velocity to its maximum
value and then immediately starts shrinking at a constant
velocity (Figure 4). Figure 3 Alpha Glow effect and Value and
Velocity graphs in the Effect Controls panel

Figure 4 Arrow with Alpha Glow effect

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11. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the

first keyframe in the time ruler to display the keyframe
menu (Figure 5).
It has seven keyframe interpolation options:
• Linear: The default behavior. Creates a uniform rate
of change between keyframes.
• Bezier: You can manually adjust the shape of the
graph (the rate of change) on either side of a
keyframe. Use this method to create very smooth
changes or sudden acceleration into or out of a
keyframe.
• Auto Bezier: Creates a smooth rate of change
through a keyframe. If you change a keyframe’s
value, the Auto Bezier direction handles change to
maintain a smooth transition between keyframes. If
you adjust a handle, the interpolation changes to
Continuous Bezier.
• Continuous Bezier: Creates a smooth rate of change
through a keyframe. However, unlike Auto Bezier,
Continuous Bezier lets you adjust handles manually. Figure 5 Keyframe menu
As you drag a handle (changing the shape of the
curve) on one side of a keyframe, the shape on the
other side of the keyframe changes in a
complementary fashion to maintain a smooth
transition.
• Hold: Changes a property value without gradual
transition (sudden effect changes). The graph
following a keyframe with the Hold interpolation
applied appears as a horizontal straight line.
• Ease In: Gradually decelerates the value changes
entering a keyframe.
• Ease Out: Gradually accelerates the value changes
leaving a keyframe.
Note: Although interpolation methods can vary the rate
at which an option value changes between keyframes,
they cannot change the duration between keyframes.
Duration is determined by the time (or distance in the
time ruler) between keyframes.

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12. In the keyframe menu, select Ease Out.

Keyframe with
Ease Out
Three things happen (Figure 6): keyframe
interpolation
• The keyframe becomes an hourglass.
Value Graph line
• The left side of the Value graph line becomes a
Bezier curve, and a Bezier handle appears on the first Bezier handle
keyframe square in the graph. The Value graph
shows how the Glow value changes over time. Velocity graph line

• The Velocity graph line becomes a Bezier curve, and

two Bezier handles appear, one on the first keyframe
and the other on the second keyframe. The Velocity Figure 6 Effect Controls time ruler with Ease In
graph shows the velocity change over time: its applied
acceleration.
Note: We explain how to work with Bezier curves and
handles in the Value and Velocity graphs in the next two Keyframe with
tasks in this guide. Ease In keyframe
interpolation
applied
13. Play the clip.
The glow now appears more gradually.
14. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the
third keyframe (at the end of the clip) and select Ease In.
The same three things happen again, only this time a Figure 7 Value graph with Ease In and Ease Out
curve appears on the right side of the Value graph applied
(Figure 7).
15. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the Keyframe with
center keyframe and select Auto Bezier. Auto Bezier
keyframe
The keyframe changes to a circle, and two Bezier handles interpolation
applied
appear on the Value graph (Figure 8).
16. Move the CTI to the center keyframe by clicking the Go
To Previous Keyframe or Go To Next Keyframe button.
17. Change the center keyframe Glow value to about 80
(drag the Glow slider or type a new value). Figure 8 Value graph line and three keyframes
The peak of the Value graph drops but retains the smooth with (left to right) Ease Out, Auto Bezier, and Ease
Auto Bezier curve. In applied

18. Play the arrow clip to see the effect of those changes.

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Adjusting Bezier curves and handles

Adding a keyframe to an effect displays the Value graph and the Velocity graph. Changing the keyframe interpolation
to a form of Bezier curve changes the straight graph lines to curves and adds Bezier handles to the keyframes in those
two graphs. You use those Bezier curves and handles to fine-tune how the effect behaves over time—its temporal
keyframe interpolation.

To adjust Bezier curves and handles:

1. Continue where you left off in the previous task. Value Graph keyframe
2. In the Value graph, drag the center (square) keyframe
down (Figure 9).
The Glow option value decreases and the Glow option
slider moves to the left. This is another way to change an
option value at a keyframe.
Note: You cannot drag a Value graph keyframe left or Figure 9 Alpha Glow effect in the Effect Controls
right, so there is no chance you will change a keyframe panel
location in the clip when dragging a keyframe in the
Velocity graph.
Keyframe with Continuous Bezier keyframe
3. Drag the left handle on the center keyframe in the Value interpolation applied
graph to lengthen it and move it up or down.
Two things happen (Figure 10):
• The main keyframe, above the Value graph, changes
to an hourglass (dragging a handle of an Auto Bezier
keyframe changes that keyframe to a Continuous
Bezier keyframe). Figure 10 Value graph in the Effect Controls panel
• The slope and shape of the Value graph change (a
steep slope indicates a faster change over time).
Note: Moving the handle up accelerates the changes and
moving the handle down decelerates the changes. To
adjust the range of the curve’s influence, drag the Bezier
handle to the left or right.
4. Play the arrow clip to see the effect of those changes.
5. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the
center keyframe and select Bezier.
There is no immediate, visible change.

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6. In the Value graph, drag the left keyframe handle of the

Keyframe with
center keyframe down slightly. Bezier keyframe
Bezier handle
interpolation applied
The right handle does not change (Figure 11).
Bezier handles (as opposed to Continuous Bezier or Auto
Bezier handles) operate independently, which can lead to
abrupt acceleration on one side of the keyframe. In the
example (Figure 11), the glow builds very slowly at first,
quickly expands near the keyframe, and then gradually
Figure 11 Changes applied to the Value graph
diminishes after the keyframe.
7. In the Velocity graph (below the Value graph), drag the
left Bezier handle of the center keyframe down. Value Graph Toggle Automatic Range
peak value Rescaling button
Three things happen (Figure 12):
• The Value graph curve quickly climbs to its peak
value (100) and then holds that position until the
Velocity Graph
center keyframe. Bezier handle

• The Velocity graph curve between the first and

second keyframes becomes more pronounced.
• The Velocity graph peak values (both positive and
negative) increase. Those values, in this case,
represent the change per second in Glow size units.
Figure 12 Value (top) and Velocity graphs in the
Note: The Toggle Automatic Range Rescaling feature Effect Controls panel
keeps peaks and valleys of the Value and Velocity graph
curves within their viewing areas. You can deselect that
feature by clicking the Toggle Automatic Range
Rescaling button (Figure 12). But if you later heighten
the graph farther, the peaks will run outside the viewing
area. If that happens, you can drag down on the bottom of
the viewing area to expand it.
8. Play the arrow clip to see the effect of those changes.

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Applying and adjusting temporal keyframe interpolation in the Timeline panel

You work with temporal keyframe interpolation in a clip in the Timeline panel much the same way you work with
interpolation in the Effect Controls panel. The one missing element is velocity. You can change velocity only in the
Effect Controls panel Velocity graph. Here is a brief overview:

To adjust temporal keyframe interpolation in the Timeline panel:

1. Drag another instance of the arrow clip to the sequence.
2. Make sure the video track is expanded and that Show
Keyframes is selected in the Show Keyframes menu.
3. Apply Alpha Glow to the clip. Figure 13 Clip keyframes in the Timeline panel

4. In the Effect Controls panel, expand the Alpha Glow

options and click the Glow option Toggle Animation
button to switch on keyframes.
5. In the Timeline panel, position the CTI at the beginning Figure 14 Clip keyframes with Bezier
of the clip. interpolation
6. In the Timeline for Track 1 (not in the Effects panel),
click the Add-Remove Keyframe button to add a
keyframe. Position the CTI about 1 second into the clip
and add another keyframe. Position the CTI about 2
seconds into the clip and add a third keyframe.
Note: It may help to display clip names only in the
Timeline panel.
7. Drag to position the keyframes as shown in the example
(Figure 13).
8. Apply Bezier interpolation as follows:
• Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS)
the first keyframe and select Ease Out.
• Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS)
the center keyframe and select Continuous Bezier.
• Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS)
the third keyframe and select Ease In.
Bezier curves are added to the keyframes (Figure 14).
9. Drag the Bezier handles of any keyframe to change the
shape of the curve.

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Adjusting spatial and temporal keyframe interpolation in the Motion effect

Two effects in Adobe Premiere Pro—Motion and Lightning—use an additional type of keyframe interpolation:
spatial.
You use the Motion effect Position option to move a clip within and around the viewing screen. Add keyframes and
you create a motion path. You use the Lightning Start Point and End Point options with keyframes to move the
Lightning effect in the screen.
In both cases, you can use Bezier curve spatial interpolation on the two effects’ position keyframes to change the
behavior of their motion. The focus for this task is the Motion effect’s Position option. You will likely use its Bezier
curve spatial and temporal interpolation options time and again.

To adjust keyframe interpolation in the Motion effect:

1. Drag another instance of the arrow clip to the sequence.
2. Click that clip to display it in the Effect Controls panel.
3. Display the Motion effect options and click the
4. Reduce the Motion Scale value so the arrow shrinks to
about half-screen height. Figure 15 Motion effect in the Effect Controls
panel
This gives you room to move the arrow.
5. Give the arrow clip four position keyframes as follows:
• In point: Upper left quadrant of the screen
• About one-fourth of the way into the clip: Lower
center of the screen
• About one-half of the way into the clip: Upper-right
quadrant
• About three-fourths of the way into the clip: Center
Your Effect Controls time ruler (Figure 15) and Program
Monitor motion path (Figure 16) should look like the
examples. If you don’t see the path in the Program
Monitor, click Motion in the Effects panel. Figure 16 Motion effect path and keyframes in the
Program Monitor
Note: The motion path (the spatial interpolation) in the
Program Monitor is a Bezier curve by default. The little
four-point stars on the path are keyframes and the tiny
dots near those keyframes (but off the path) are Bezier
handles (Figure 16).
Each keyframe has Auto Bezier spatial interpolation
applied to it by default, which means the clip motion
behaves the same on both sides of the keyframe. You can
change Auto Bezier to Continuous Bezier or Bezier. Both
have different characteristics (as explained in the first
task).

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6. Play that clip.

If your keyframes are spaced more or less equally in the
Effect Controls time ruler, the clip velocity is constant. It
has linear temporal interpolation. You change that to
Bezier temporal interpolation later in this task.
7. Position the CTI in the middle of the clip. In the Program
Monitor, drag one of the Bezier handles on the second
keyframe (Figure 17).
You changed the shape of the curve, which adjusts how
the arrow moves through the screen. That’s its spatial
interpolation.
By dragging an Auto Bezier handle, you also changed the Figure 17 Adjusting the Motion effect
selected keyframe to Continuous Bezier (as explained in
the first task).
8. In the Effect Controls panel, right-click (Windows) or
Control-click (Mac OS) the second Position value
keyframe.
The context menu includes two options: Temporal
Interpolation and Spatial Interpolation (Figure 18).
9. Select Spatial Interpolation (its current setting is
Continuous Bezier), and select Bezier.
Note: In step 7, in the Program Monitor, you changed an
Auto Bezier spatial interpolation keyframe to Continuous
Bezier simply by dragging a Bezier handle. But the only Figure 18 Position option Keyframe menu
place where you can change a spatial interpolation
keyframe to Bezier or back to Auto Bezier is in the Effect
Controls time ruler keyframe menu.
10. In the Program Monitor, on the second keyframe, drag
the same handle you moved in step 7.
Note: This time the other Bezier handle does not move.
As noted in the temporal interpolation discussion in the
previous task, Bezier handles behave independently.

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11. In the Effect Controls panel, set different types of

temporal interpolations for each of the four Position
keyframes by right-clicking (Windows) or Control-
clicking (Mac OS) each one in turn, selecting Temporal
Interpolation, and then making the following selections
(Figure 19):
• first keyframe: Ease Out
• second keyframe: Continuous Bezier
Figure 19 Velocity graph in the Effect Controls
• third keyframe: Bezier panel
• fourth keyframe: Ease In
12. Play the arrow clip.
The arrow gradually accelerates at the start and slows
down at the finish. The behavior at the second and third
keyframes does not change, even though you changed
their temporal keyframe interpolation. You need to
Figure 20 Continuous Bezier handle
change their Bezier handles.
13. In the Effect Controls panel, click the second Position
keyframe (the one set to Continuous Bezier).
That activates its temporal interpolation Bezier handles in
the Velocity graph (Figure 20).
14. Drag a handle up and down.
Figure 21 Bezier handle
The shapes of both sides of the curve change in a
complementary fashion.
15. Drag a handle left and right.
That changes the location of the peak of the curve on the
selected side of the keyframe and does not change the
shape of the curve on the other side of the keyframe.
16. Select the third keyframe (the one set to Bezier) and drag
one of its Bezier handles up and down.
Because it has Bezier keyframe interpolation applied to
it, only one handle moves at a time, which can create
sudden velocity changes (Figure 21).
17. Play the arrow clip to see the effects of your changes on
the temporal interpolation.

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