After adding a dedicated section for creating short YouTube videos to the Premiere app for iOS last year, Adobe has now announced major updates to its Premiere and After Effects desktop software, featuring new AI-powered tools designed to speed up video editing.
According to Adobe, the latest update to the video editor introduces an “Object Mask” feature that leverages AI to help users easily create masks for complex moving objects. With this tool, users can simply hover their mouse over an object and click to create a mask, rather than manually drawing around it using pen or shape tools.
After selecting a specific area with the new tool, users can “add or remove areas from the object mask using quick editing tools, such as the Free Selection tool and the Rectangular Editing tools, and easily adjust the mask using the Blur and Resize tools.” In short, the Object Mask feature simplifies the masking process while giving users the flexibility to fine-tune the result.
The AI-powered masking feature runs natively in Premiere.
Adobe says this tool uses a new AI-assisted model that was developed internally and runs entirely on-device. This means users can create masks without uploading footage to the cloud, which should improve performance while maintaining project privacy. The company emphasizes that it does not use customer data to train the model, further highlighting its focus on privacy.
The update also enhances the Shape Mask tool, allowing users to create redesigned oval, rectangle, and pen-shaped masks directly from the toolbar. It also improves mask controls, enabling more precise movement and adjustments.
Adobe notes that the updated masks now enable object tracking in videos up to 20 times faster. Furthermore, the update makes it easier for users to import media from Firefly panels, Adobe’s AI-powered digital drawing canvas, and integrates Adobe Stock into Premiere, simplifying access to licensed assets.
The After Effects update adds support for importing SVG files and introduces 3D parametric grids, allowing users to create realistic graphics and objects using customizable shapes such as cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones, rings, and levels. The updates for Premiere and After Effects have already begun rolling out and can be installed via the Creative Cloud app.
