If you have ever watched Dhruv Rathee’s videos, you know how engaging and visually appealing they are. His style of storytelling, use of animations, clean transitions, and professional edits make his videos stand out. In this blog, we will guide you step-by-step on how to edit videos like Dhruv Rathee using Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.
This blog is inspired by the comprehensive tutorial provided in this video. Let’s break it down in easy-to-follow steps so you can start creating amazing videos in no time.
Why Choose Dhruv Rathee’s Style?
Dhruv Rathee’s editing style focuses on clarity, simplicity, and engagement. Here’s why you might want to follow his style:
Clear Visuals: He uses clean and minimalist edits that make information easy to understand.
Professional Transitions: Smooth transitions keep the flow intact.
Effective Use of Animations: Subtle animations grab attention without overwhelming the viewer.
Narrative Style: His edits complement his storytelling, making his points more impactful.
If you’re looking to create content that is informative, visually engaging, and professional, his style is a great benchmark.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Workspace
Before you begin editing, ensure your workspace is ready:
Install the Software: Download and install Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Both tools are essential for this process.
Organize Your Footage: Create folders for raw footage, audio, images, and exported files. This will make the editing process easier.
Import Your Files: Open Premiere Pro and import your video clips, audio files, and any other assets you’ll need.
Step 2: Cutting and Arranging Clips in Premiere Pro
Dhruv Rathee’s videos are well-structured, and the first step to achieving this is organizing your clips.
Create a New Project: Open Premiere Pro and start a new project.
Timeline Setup: Drag and drop your main footage onto the timeline.
Cut Unnecessary Parts: Use the Razor Tool (shortcut: C) to cut parts of your video that you don’t need. Then delete those segments.
Arrange Your Clips: Place the clips in order to match the flow of your script or storyboard.
Basic Transitions: Add transitions between clips for smoother flow. Use simple transitions like Cross Dissolve to maintain professionalism.
Step 3: Adding Text and Lower Thirds
Dhruv Rathee often uses clean and professional-looking text to emphasize key points. Here’s how you can add text to your videos:
Create a Text Layer: Go to the Graphics panel and click on Text Tool (shortcut: T). Type your text.
Customize Text: Adjust the font, size, color, and alignment to match your style. Use clean fonts like Montserrat or Roboto.
Lower Thirds: Use pre-made templates in the Essential Graphics Panel or create your own lower thirds. Add animations to make them visually appealing.
Positioning: Place the text at the bottom of the frame to avoid obstructing important visuals.
Step 4: Adding B-Roll and Images
B-roll and images enhance your video and keep viewers engaged. Dhruv Rathee uses a lot of relevant visuals to support his narrative.
Import B-Roll: Drag and drop additional footage onto a new layer above your main footage.
Match the Audio: Sync the B-roll with the audio to ensure it aligns with the topic being discussed.
Use Images: If you’re using images, use the Scale and Position settings in the Effect Controls panel to adjust them.
Step 5: Color Correction and Grading
To make your videos look professional, you need to color-correct and grade your footage.
Open Lumetri Color Panel: Go to Window > Lumetri Color to open the color panel.
Adjust White Balance: Use the sliders to correct the white balance. Ensure the colors look natural.
Color Grading: Adjust contrast, saturation, and shadows to give your video a cinematic look. Use presets or LUTs (Look-Up Tables) for quick grading.
Match B-Roll Colors: Ensure that the colors of your B-roll and main footage match for consistency.
Step 6: Animations in After Effects
After Effects is a powerful tool for adding animations, such as:
Dynamic Text Animations:
Open After Effects and create a new composition.
Use the Text Tool to create text layers.
Apply animations like Opacity Fade or Position Slide to your text.
Map Animations:
Import your map graphic into After Effects.
Use the Pen Tool to create a path.
Apply the Trim Paths effect to animate the route.
Exporting Animations: Render the animation in After Effects and import it into Premiere Pro for integration with your video.
Step 7: Adding Background Music and Sound Effects
Audio is just as important as visuals. Follow these steps to ensure high-quality audio:
Add Background Music: Import music files and place them on the timeline below your main footage.
Adjust Volume: Use the Audio Gain settings to ensure the background music doesn’t overpower your narration.
Add Sound Effects: Use subtle sound effects to enhance transitions or highlight important moments.
Step 8: Exporting Your Video
Once your editing is complete, it’s time to export your video:
Go to Export Settings: Click on File > Export > Media.
Select Preset: Use the YouTube 1080p preset for best results.
Set Bitrate: Adjust the bitrate to balance quality and file size. A higher bitrate ensures better quality.
Export: Click on Export or use the Queue option to render your video using Adobe Media Encoder.
Bonus Tips for Beginners
Practice Regularly: The more you edit, the better you’ll get.
Watch Tutorials: Keep learning by watching tutorials and experimenting with new techniques.
Use Templates: Speed up your workflow by using pre-made templates for transitions, animations, and lower thirds.
Get Feedback: Share your videos with friends or mentors to get constructive feedback.
Conclusion
Editing videos like Dhruv Rathee requires attention to detail, a good understanding of storytelling, and proficiency in editing tools like Premiere Pro and After Effects. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to create engaging and professional videos that captivate your audience.
Ready to start editing? Watch the full tutorial here and take your video editing skills to the next level!