How to compare before & after video in Premiere Pro

How to Compare Before and After in Adobe Premiere Pro

When you are grading footage, it is very easy to keep adjusting until you have no idea whether you have actually improved it. Comparison View fixes that. It keeps a before and after reference visible while you experiment, making the decision much clearer.

This is particularly handy when testing Lumetri colour adjustments or trying out different creative looks. Instead of guessing between two options, you can see them next to each other and decide which one works.

First, Select the Right Panel

If you go to View and the Display Mode options are greyed out, do not panic. It is one of those little Premiere Pro tests.

Usually, a greyed-out menu means Premiere Pro does not know which panel you want to affect. Selecting a clip in the timeline might seem like the obvious fix, but in this case it is not enough.

You need to click once inside the Program Monitor, the panel that displays your edited sequence. Then go to View again. The options should spring back to life.

Turn On Comparison View

With the Program Monitor active, choose:

1. View

2. Display Mode

3. Comparison View

The normal setting is Composite Video. That is the regular Program Monitor display most of us use most of the time. Comparison View is something you switch on temporarily while making decisions about an adjustment.

There is also a Comparison View button in newer versions of Premiere Pro. It lives in the Program Monitor controls, so you can click it directly rather than going through the menu.

If you are using an older version and cannot see that button, use the little plus button in the Program Monitor to add it to the button bar. Adobe does enjoy moving these things around from time to time, so the menu route is worth knowing too.

Use Frame Comparison, Not a Random Reference Frame

Once Comparison View is enabled, make sure you are using Frame Comparison. This is the mode you want when assessing a colour grade or effect because it shows the same frame on both sides.

At first, the before and after panels may look identical. That is completely normal. Comparison View has nothing to compare until you make a change. Turn it on first, then adjust your clip.

Compare Two Creative Looks

Here is a practical example. Say you have a clip selected and you are trying to choose between two Lumetri creative looks, such as Bleach HDR and Cross LDR.

Enable Comparison View, then apply or change the look. One side keeps the previous state while the other shows the current adjustment. Suddenly, the choice becomes a lot less vague.

You can use the same approach for more than creative looks. It is useful whenever you are adjusting:

• Exposure and contrast

• White balance

• Saturation and vibrance

• Shadows and highlights

• Curves and colour wheels

• Any effect where a subtle change is hard to judge from memory

Choose a Comparison Layout That Helps You Decide

Premiere Pro lets you change the way the two versions are displayed. A full side-by-side layout is great when you want to compare the overall image. You can also use a split layout, with a dividing line running through the image.

The split can be arranged vertically or horizontally. It is one of those words that can make your brain briefly stop working, so do not worry about the label too much. Pick the orientation that makes the change easiest to see.

For example, a vertical split is often useful for judging colour across a face, skin tones, or an entire scene. A horizontal split can be useful when comparing bright skies, foreground detail, or exposure changes from top to bottom.

You can drag the divider through the image to inspect different areas. Move it over the subject, the background, bright highlights, or dark shadow areas. This gives you a much more confident read on whether the adjustment is helping.

Keep It On While You Work

The real value of Comparison View is that you do not have to keep turning an effect on and off. Leave the comparison active while you work through your changes and glance between the before and after as you go.

That is especially helpful with strong looks. A warm orange-and-gold treatment might look interesting in isolation, but the comparison can quickly tell you whether it has pushed the footage too far. If the previous look, such as Bleach HDR, works better for the shot, switch back and carry on.

Return to the Normal Program Monitor

When you have made your decision, turn Comparison View off by clicking the Comparison View button in the Program Monitor. Alternatively, go back to:

1. View

2. Display Mode

3. Composite Video

That returns the Program Monitor to its usual single-image display. Comparison View is not something you need on permanently, but it is a brilliant little tool whenever you are making creative or technical grading decisions.

FAQs

Why is Comparison View greyed out in Premiere Pro?

The Program Monitor is probably not selected. Click inside the Program Monitor, then open View and Display Mode again.

What does Frame Comparison do in Premiere Pro?

Frame Comparison displays the same frame before and after an adjustment. It is ideal for comparing colour grades, creative looks, and other visual effects.

Can I move the dividing line in Premiere Pro Comparison View?

Yes. In split comparison layouts, drag the centre divider to inspect different parts of the image and compare the adjustment more precisely.

How do I turn off Comparison View?

Click the Comparison View button in the Program Monitor, or choose View, Display Mode, then Composite Video.