Deflicker Video with Premiere Pro: A Quick Guide

"I need to remove or reduce the flicker, any ideas on how to do that? I am editing in Premiere Pro." - Reddit user

Are flickering lights ruining your footage? Light flicker is a common issue caused by artificial lighting, shutter speed mismatches, or frame rate inconsistencies. This makes any of your videos look unprofessional.

Fortunately, Adobe Premiere Pro offers tools to deflicker video files and prevent them in future projects. This quick guide will show you simple ways to remove flicker in Premiere Pro and keep your videos smooth. Let’s get started.

Part 1. What Is a Light Flicker?

Light flicker occurs when your camera’s shutter speed isn’t synced with the light source’s frequency. Most lights pulse based on regional power frequencies (60Hz in the US and 50Hz in the UK). To avoid this, videographers match their shutter speed to the light frequency.

There are also tools like RED Flicker Free to help calculate the ideal shutter speed based on frame rate.

To identify the cause of flickering, check these factors:

• Lighting Conditions: Uneven or artificial lighting (like LEDs or fluorescent bulbs) can cause flicker.
• Slow-Mo or Time-Lapse: Different frame rates in slow-motion or time-lapse videos can create flickering if lighting or settings are inconsistent.
• Camera Settings: Incorrect shutter speed or exposure can lead to flicker.
• Corrupted Video File: File damage during transfer or compression may cause flickering in playback.

Part 2. How to Remove Flicker in Premiere Pro?

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional editing tool with powerful features. It has an Anti-Flicker Filter that helps reduce flickering in videos. This tool removes flickering sharp edges and thin lines, improving video quality.

Adjusting the filter strength based on the flicker level and image sharpness is key. You can also set keyframes to change intensity over time. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Import your footage into Premiere Pro and select it in the timeline.

Step 2: Hit the Effects Control panel.

Step 3: Under Motion Controls, find the Anti-Flicker Filter and enable it.

Step 4: Use the Anti-Flicker slider to adjust the strength until the flicker disappears. Moving it right increases the effect but softens the image.

Step 5: Add keyframes if needed to change the intensity over time.

Step 6: Preview your video by pressing the spacebar and fine-tune the settings.

Tip: Increasing the filter strength removes more flicker but can blur the image. Adjust carefully for sharp, high-contrast scenes.

Although Premiere Pro's de-flickering tool is great for professional results, it can be complicated for beginners. Fixing flicker may involve switching between workspaces or using external plugins, which can disrupt your workflow. Plus, if your computer is slow, the process may take longer to render.

There’s another way to fix a flickering video clip. You can fix flickering without plugins using a simple layering trick. Here’s how:

Step 1: Duplicate your footage and stack it on top.

Step 2: See the Effects Control panel.

Step 3: Set the opacity of the top layer to 50%.

Step 4: In the Timeline, move the top layer one frame forward. That’s it. Flicker gone!

Tip: This works best for still scenes. If there’s motion, it may cause ghosting. Want a stronger fix? Stack a third layer with 67% and 33% opacity.

Part 3. Tips to Prevent Flicker in Future Projects

Avoiding flicker during filming saves time in post-production. Here are some practical tips to prevent flickering in your videos:

1. Match shutter speed to light frequency. Set your shutter speed to match your region’s power frequency (e.g., 1/50 sec for 50Hz, 1/60 sec for 60Hz).
2. LED and fluorescent lights often cause flicker. Choose high-quality and flicker-free lighting when possible.
3. Adjust the frame rate accordingly. Certain frame rates (like 24fps) may not sync well with artificial lights. Experiment with different settings.
4. Avoid auto exposure settings. Manually control shutter speed, ISO, and aperture to prevent sudden brightness changes.
5. Test before filming. Record a short clip and check for flicker before starting your shoot.
6. Battery-powered lights can fluctuate in brightness, increasing flicker risks. So, to avoid this issue use continuous power sources.

Part 4. How to Repair Flickered Premiere Pro Video Files?

Sometimes, even after using the right settings, your video may still flicker due to file corruption. This can happen for several reasons, such as:

• Interrupted file transfers while copying or moving.
• Unexpected system crashes while editing.
• Faulty SD card, hard drive, or USB drives.
• Conversion and compression issues.

The best way to repair a flickering or corrupted video file is by using a dependable video repair tool. Repairit Video Repair can save your video and help you avoid losing valuable footage. This tool fixes issues like flickering, corruption, or damage during editing. Whether the problem occurred during recording, transfer, or conversion, Repairit can fix it quickly and easily.

Key Features:

• This tool does intelligent repairs. It automatically analyzes and repairs flickered Premiere Pro videos for high-quality results.
• Fixes 20+ video formats like MOV, MP4, M2TS, MKV, and more.
• Repairs severely damaged and flickered Premiere Pro videos, even those with missing frames or corruption.
• Repair multiple flickered Premiere Pro video files at once, saving you time and effort.
• You can preview repaired Premiere Pro videos before saving to ensure the fix worked.
• Enhance flickered Premiere Pro video quality with AI-powered stabilization, noise reduction, and HD improvement.

If you’re dealing with severely flickered Premiere Pro video files, try Repairit Video Repair to avoid reshooting. Follow the below simple 3-step directions:

Step 1: Open the Repairit tool. Click +Add button to upload your flickered Adobe Premiere Pro video files.

Step 2: Press Repair after uploading the flickered Premiere Pro video files.

For severely flickered Premiere Pro video files, choose Advanced Repair. Upload a sample Premiere Pro video file (from the same device and format). Repairit will then analyze it and fix the flickered Premiere Pro video files.

Step 3: Once repaired, preview the fixed Premiere Pro video files. If the quality satisfies you, you can now download them. Select your chosen folder and hit Save or Save all. Avoid saving repaired Premiere Pro video files to the original destination path to avoid the same flicker issues.

Conclusion

Removing flicker from Premiere Pro videos is important for clear and professional footage. Premiere Pro’s Anti-Flicker Filter and simple methods like layering footage can help fix flickering. For more severe issues, Repairit Video Repair offers a quick and easy solution. It works with many formats and can repair corrupted videos accurately.