Stop Using The Default Adobe Premiere Layout

No two Premiere Pro layouts should ever look the same; customize the windows to fit your project’s needs.

It’s very easy to get caught up in old habits. For a while, it was said that it only took 21 days to break a habit and form a new one. That came from a 1960 book written by a plastic surgeon who believed his patients took 21 days to get used to the work he’d done for them. However, a 2021 study from the University of London found that it takes much closer to 66 days to form new habits.

As video editors and videographers, we all have habits that structure the way we work. Some of these can be highly effective and the reasons that we’ve found success in this industry. Others, on the other hand, might be hindering your speed, efficiency and achievement on creative projects.

I have been working in Adobe Premiere Pro since 2012 and I’ve seen a multitude of program updates, platform changes, and visual improvements over the last decade. One thing that’s always been on Adobe’s side compared to its competitors like Final Cut and Davinci Resolve is the ability to fully customize the workspace.

And I already know that the everyday users of Final Cut and Resolve are rolling their eyes at that last statement. Yes, I get that those interfaces are also customizable. But what the other NLE’s don’t have is the ability to undock, rearrange, redock, and pop-out windows with a simple click and drag. Additionally, Premiere features a huge amount of detailed windows that its counterparts just can’t match.

The only thing I will give in on is Resolve’s extensive color correction workflow, which is so good I have even exported finished edits and reimported them into Resolve for coloring.

So with all this in-depth window customization available, what are you supposed to do with it? The answer: everything. Have different windows for each stage of the editing process. Premiere already does this for you, but tailor it to what you like. For example, the image above is how I arrange my Premiere layout for basic, everyday editing. I was tired of the toolbar (which I never even use thanks to hotkeys) being right in between my timeline and project panel. So I’ve moved it to the corner where I can still reach it if I need the rate stretch or remix tools.

I also love to keep my timeline as wide and tall as I possibly can because for intricate timelines, it can be very tedious to keep zooming in and expanding each audio and video track. Therefore, I’ve moved the effects panel and essential graphics panel up in between my source and program monitors. This gives me optimal space for my timeline and still allows easy editing access for text and graphics or to apply any effects.

The point I’m trying to make is there is an unlimited number of ways to customize these windows. Premiere will even let you save them and name them so you can refer back to them later. It’s important for your workflow to find a way that works for you and stick to it. While it may take up to 66 days to get used to it and break the old habit of Premiere’s not-so-good default layout, it will be well worth it in the long run when your output speed nearly doubles.