How to Create a Split Screen in Premiere Pro

A workflow taught by Adobe Certified Instructors at Adobe Video World.

A split screen shows two or more videos side by side at once — perfect for comparisons, conversations, reactions, and stylish montages. Premiere Pro builds split screens by layering and cropping clips, and once you know the technique you can create any layout you like. This guide walks through two-up, three-up, and grid split screens.

What a Split Screen Is For

A split screen divides the frame into sections, each showing a different video. It’s a powerful storytelling device — comparing a before and after, showing both sides of a phone conversation, or displaying multiple reactions to the same moment.

Because it presents several things at once, a split screen is also a stylish design choice for montages and music videos. Built cleanly, it looks polished and intentional rather than like a mistake, and the technique is simpler than it appears.

Stack Your Clips on Separate Tracks

Every split screen starts with layering. Place each video you want to show on its own video track, stacked vertically in the timeline. Premiere displays higher tracks on top, so initially the topmost clip covers everything beneath it.

Line the clips up in time so the moments you want to show together play simultaneously. With your clips stacked and synced, you’re ready to crop or scale each one so they share the frame instead of overlapping.

Build a Two-Up Split with Cropping

The simplest split screen divides the frame down the middle. Apply the Crop effect to your top clip and crop it to one half — say, crop the right side by 50% so only the left half shows, revealing the clip beneath on the other side.

Crop the lower clip’s opposite edge if needed, and the two videos sit cleanly side by side. This cropping method, drawn from our crop and resize guide, keeps each clip at full size within its half of the frame.

Build a Split with Scaling and Position

An alternative approach scales each clip down and positions it. Reduce each clip’s Scale to about 50% and use Position to place them side by side, which shows the full width of each shot rather than cropping into it.

This method suits footage where you don’t want to lose any of the image, like comparing two full scenes. The trade-off is that each clip appears smaller, so choose between cropping and scaling based on whether framing or completeness matters more for your shots.

Add a Divider Line

A thin line between the two halves gives a split screen a clean, finished look. Add a narrow shape or graphic down the center, or a small gap of black, to separate the two videos clearly.

A divider helps the eye read the split as a deliberate design rather than two clips bleeding into each other. Keep it subtle — a thin line in a neutral or brand color usually looks more professional than a thick, heavy border.

Create a Three-Up or Grid Layout

The same principle scales to more sections. For three vertical strips, crop or scale three clips to one-third of the width each and position them across the frame. For a four-way grid, scale four clips to a quarter and place one in each corner.

Grids are great for showing multiple reactions, a team on a call, or a montage of related shots. Keep the spacing even and the dividers consistent so the layout looks orderly rather than haphazard, no matter how many cells you use.

Animate the Split

Split screens feel dynamic when they animate. Keyframe each clip’s Position so the halves slide in from opposite edges to form the split, or animate a divider wiping across the frame to reveal the second video.

These entrance animations, eased with the techniques from our transitions guide, turn a static layout into a polished reveal. A split that animates into place reads as far more professional than one that simply appears.

Handle Audio in a Split Screen

With multiple clips playing at once, you have multiple audio tracks competing. Decide which clip carries the sound, or mix them deliberately, and mute or lower the others so the audio stays clear rather than becoming a muddle.

For a conversation split screen where each side speaks in turn, you might keep both audio tracks but ride their levels. Clean, intentional audio is just as important as the visual layout in making a split screen feel professional.

Split Screen Best Practices

• Stack each clip on its own track and sync them in time.
• Crop to keep clips full-size, or scale to show the whole frame.
• Add a subtle divider for a clean, deliberate look.
• Choose one audio source or mix the tracks intentionally.

Common Split Screen Mistakes

• Misaligned crops leaving gaps or overlaps between clips.
• Heavy, distracting dividers that overpower the footage.
• All audio tracks playing at once, creating a muddle.
• Uneven spacing in a grid, making it look haphazard.

Match Color Across Split Clips

When two clips sit side by side, any difference in exposure or color becomes obvious because the eye compares them directly. Balance the clips so their brightness and white balance match, or the split will look mismatched and amateurish. A quick grade to harmonize the two halves makes the layout read as one cohesive image.

This matters most when the clips come from different cameras or lighting conditions. Using the techniques from our color grading guide to unify the look across both sides is often the difference between a split screen that feels designed and one that feels accidental.

Creative Split Screen Ideas

Beyond simple comparisons, split screens unlock storytelling. Show a character in two places at once for a ‘clone’ effect, reveal cause and effect in adjacent panels, or build a comic-book-style grid that pieces a scene together. The technique is a creative canvas, not just a utility.

You can also animate panels appearing one by one to build a montage rhythmically, or have action in one panel trigger a change in another. Treating the split as a deliberate design element, rather than a way to cram in footage, is what turns the technique into a signature style.

Key Takeaways

• Stack clips on separate tracks and sync them.
• Crop or scale each clip to share the frame.
• Add a subtle divider and animate the split for polish.
• Manage audio so one source stays clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a split screen in Premiere Pro?

Stack each clip on its own video track, then apply the Crop effect to show only part of each clip — for a two-up split, crop the top clip to one half so the clip beneath shows on the other side.

Should I crop or scale clips for a split screen?

Crop to keep each clip at full size within its half of the frame, or scale down and reposition to show the complete shot. Crop when framing matters; scale when you can’t lose any of the image.

How do I handle audio in a split screen?

Multiple clips mean multiple audio tracks. Choose one clip to carry the sound and mute or lower the others, or mix them deliberately so the audio stays clear instead of becoming muddled.

Sources: Wikipedia’s article on split screen in video.