Instagram has become a powerhouse for sharing video content, and getting your videos formatted correctly for this platform is crucial. If you’ve edited your footage in Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll want to ensure that your export settings are optimized for Instagram, whether it’s for a Reel, Story, or a square post. In this guide, we’ll dive into the specific steps you need to take to export your videos properly.
Getting Started with Premiere Pro
When you’re ready to export your video for Instagram, the first thing to keep in mind is the format. Most smartphones handle the settings for you when you shoot and upload directly, but when you bring your footage into Adobe Premiere, you have to set things up manually. Let’s explore how to do this effectively.
Creating a Vertical Sequence for Reels
Let’s start with a video that’s already in the vertical format. This is the type of video you’ll want for Instagram Reels. You can drag the video into a new sequence setting, and Premiere will automatically match the vertical format.
This setup is ideal for Reels, Stories, and similar formats. Premiere creates the sequence based on the video’s information, ensuring everything is in the correct format.
Utilizing the Vertical Workspace
Adobe has introduced a vertical workspace that makes editing vertical videos much easier. By selecting this option, your panels reorganize to focus on the vertical format, providing a better visual experience. Adjustments can still be made to suit your needs.
Adjusting Sequence Settings
Next, right-click on the sequence and navigate to sequence settings. Make sure you switch to ‘custom’ to modify the frame size. Set your frame rate to 30 frames per second and the frame size to 1080 by 1920 for vertical videos. If you want to keep it vertical but in a slightly different format, consider using 1080 by 1350, which gives you a 4:5 aspect ratio.
After adjusting, click ‘OK’. Premiere will notify you about changing the preview files, which is what you want. If you need to make further adjustments, you can do so in the motion settings.
Preparing for Square Posts
What if your video is in a wide format and you want to create a square post instead? No problem! You can create a new sequence before importing your video. Go to ‘New Item’ and select ‘New Sequence’. In the presets, you’ll find options for social media formats.
Select the square (1:1) option and name it “Square Post.” This sets you up for success right from the start.
Importing Wide Format Videos
Once you have your square sequence ready, bring in your wide-format video. You’ll be prompted to either convert it to the sequence settings or keep the existing settings. Choose to keep the existing settings. This allows you to adjust the video to fill the frame.
Now, you can go into motion settings and adjust how you want the video to appear in the square format. You might want to zoom in a bit to fill the frame better.
Exporting Your Video
Once your video is properly formatted, it’s time to export. Click on ‘Export’ and select H.264 as your format. Under presets, choose ‘Custom’. You can set the name and destination where you want to save the file.
Make sure to check that the frame size is set correctly, which should already be in line with your sequence settings. Adjusting the bitrate settings can also be beneficial. A good target bitrate for Instagram is around 2.5 Mbps.
Finalizing the Export
After setting everything up, you can either export directly in Premiere or send it to Adobe Encoder if you have multiple videos to render. Once the export finishes, you’ll have a video that’s perfectly optimized for Instagram.
Conclusion
Exporting videos for Instagram from Adobe Premiere Pro doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these steps, you can ensure that your videos are properly formatted and ready for posting. Whether you’re creating Reels, Stories, or square posts, these settings will help you achieve the best quality for your audience.
Remember to experiment and adjust as needed for the specific content you’re creating. Happy editing!