In this step-by-step Premiere Pro tutorial, discover the easiest way to add zoom in/out effect with motion blur.

Looking for a simple and clean way to zoom in or out of your clips with a natural camera-like motion?

In this quick guide, you’ll learn how to create a zoom effect with motion blur in Adobe Premiere Pro, and save it as a custom preset to reuse in future edits, saving you tons of time.

Why This Effect Works So Well

Zooms with motion blur feel more natural and professional because they simulate how a real camera moves. Instead of a robotic digital zoom, you get that buttery smooth feel that enhances storytelling and keeps your viewers engaged.

Step 1: Use High-Resolution Footage

Before we dive in, here’s one important tip: If you’re editing in a 1080p timeline, it’s better to work with 4K footage. Why? Because zooming into 4K footage keeps your image sharp and avoids pixelation.

Step 2: Use An Adjustment Layer

Next, let’s keep things non-destructive.

  • Create a new Adjustment Layer from the Project panel.
  • Drag it onto the timeline, placing it above the clip where you want the zoom effect.
  • Trim the adjustment layer so it only covers the section where you want the zoom to happen.

Using an adjustment layer means you don’t mess with the original clip. It’s clean, flexible, and reusable.

Step 3: Apply The Transform Effect (Not Scale)

Now here’s the secret sauce…

  • Open the Effects Panel and search for “Transform” (not the default Scale under Motion).
  • Drag and drop the Transform effect onto your adjustment layer.

This gives you access to motion blur, which the regular scale doesn’t support.

Step 4: Animate The Zoom

Time to set the keyframes!

For A Zoom-In:

  • Go to the start of the adjustment layer and set Scale to 100%.
  • Move a few frames forward and increase the scale to 120%.

For A Zoom-Out:

  • Start at 120%, then scale back to 100%.

Smooth Out The Keyframes:

  • Right-click on the first keyframe → Ease Out
  • Right-click on the last keyframe → Ease In

This adds acceleration and deceleration to your zoom, making it look smooth and natural.

Step 5: Add Motion Blur

Here’s the trick to getting that buttery motion blur:

  • In the Transform effect, uncheck “Use Composition’s Shutter Angle.”
  • Manually set the Shutter Angle to 180 or 360.

The higher the shutter angle, the more blur you’ll get. 180 is a good starting point for most cases.

Step 6: Save It As A Preset

Don’t want to do this every time? Let’s save it as a preset.

  • In the Effect Controls Panel, right-click on the word “Transform”.
  • Click Save Preset.
  • Name it something like “Zoom In with Motion Blur”.
  • Set the Type to Anchor to In Point so the animation starts when the layer starts.
  • Hit OK.

Now any time you want this effect, just drag in your adjustment layer, apply the preset, and you’re done.

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