How to Use Vector Motion Controls in Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2019

If you have ever scaled up a graphic or text element in Premiere Pro and noticed it get blurry or pixelated, Vector Motion is the solution. Vector graphics are stored as mathematical equations rather than pixels, which means they can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Premiere Pro added Vector Motion controls specifically for graphics layers, so text, shapes, and imported vector files stay crisp no matter how much you transform them.

Today I am going to show you how to use Vector Motion controls in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

Vector Motion vs Regular Motion

Every clip in Premiere Pro has a Motion section in Effect Controls that handles position, scale, rotation, and opacity. For standard video clips, this is fine. But for graphics layers (text, shapes, imported SVGs), the regular Motion controls rasterize the graphic before scaling it. This means if you scale a text element up to 200%, it renders the text at its original size first, then stretches those pixels, resulting in a blurry, pixelated look.

Vector Motion renders the graphic at the target size, so a 200% scale actually redraws the text at 200% size. The result is perfectly sharp at any scale.

How to Use Vector Motion in Premiere Pro

1. Open or create a sequence.
2. Create a graphics layer using the Type Tool (T) for text or one of the shape tools for shapes. You can also import a vector file (SVG, AI, or EPS) and place it on the timeline.
3. Click on the graphics layer in the timeline, then go to Effect Controls.
4. You will see two sets of motion controls:
   • Motion at the top (the standard controls)
   • Vector Motion further down (specific to graphics layers)
5. Use the Vector Motion controls instead of the regular Motion controls for all your transformations. This includes Position, Scale, Rotation, and Anchor Point.
6. Make your adjustments. Scale up, rotate, reposition. The graphic will remain perfectly crisp at any setting.

When It Matters

The difference between Motion and Vector Motion is most noticeable when:

• Scaling up. Text at 100% looks the same either way. Text at 300% looks blurry with Motion and sharp with Vector Motion.
• Animating scale. If you are animating a title growing from small to large, Vector Motion keeps it sharp throughout the entire animation.
• Working at high resolutions. In a 4K sequence, graphics need to be large. Vector Motion ensures they hold up at full resolution.

Tips

• Vector Motion only appears on graphics layers. You won’t see it on regular video clips or adjustment layers. It is exclusive to text, shapes, and vector imports.
• Use Vector Motion for text reveals and rolling text. Since text animations often involve position and scale changes, using Vector Motion ensures your text stays sharp throughout the animation.
• Don’t mix Motion and Vector Motion. If you use both on the same layer, the results can be unpredictable. Pick Vector Motion for graphics and stick with it.
• The Transform effect does not use vector rendering. If you apply the Transform effect for motion blur, be aware that it rasterizes the layer. For motion blur on graphics, consider using After Effects instead.

That is how you use Vector Motion in Premiere Pro. It is a simple switch from the regular Motion controls, but it makes a big difference in the quality of your graphics. Any time you are working with text or shapes, use Vector Motion.