Contents

Part 1. Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro
Part 2. Advanced Features to Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro
Part 3. Unblur a Video in Premiere Pro with Third-Party Plugins
Part 4. Best Premiere Pro Alternative to Sharpen Videos Using AI
Part 5. FAQs on How to Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro

3 Efficient Ways to Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro

January 05, 2026Lucas Hayes

If you are a total beginner and want to sharpen a video in Premiere Pro, you are at the right place.

Whether you are dealing with low-resolution footage, correcting out-of-focus issues, or improving the clarity of blurry videos, Adobe Premiere Pro provides essential tools to enhance visual definition. You can learn several ways to make pixel videos sharper in Premiere Pro, from basic built-in Sharpen effects to advanced third-party plugins and AI-powered solutions.

Part 1. How to Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro Basically

Premiere Pro is equipped with built-in sharpening tools to deal with various common video issues. When you need to quickly improve image clarity, you can use its Sharpen effect first. This straightforward tool is ideal for immediate results without complex parameter adjustments.

Step 1.

Launch Premiere Pro and import your blurry, pixelated, or lower-resolution video into it. Click the video you wish to enhance with sharpening and drag it from the “Project” panel to the “Timeline” for later editing.

Step 2.

Go to the Effects panel and type “Sharpen” in the search field to locate the effect. You can also find it under “Video Effects” > “Blur & Sharpen” > “Sharpen.”

Step 3.

To apply the Sharpen effect, drag and drop it onto your video clip in the timeline. After that, select the clip and open the Effect Controls panel to adjust related parameters. Drag the slider to increase the value gradually and intensify the sharpening effect.

Apply Sharpen Effect to a Video in Premiere Pro

Part 2. How Do You Fix a Blurry Video in Premiere Pro Advancedly

In addition to the dedicated Sharpen effect, Premiere Pro offers advanced tools to fix blurry footage. Its Unsharp Mask and Lumetri Color provide greater control over the sharpening process. You can better handle specific issues in your video.

Make a Pixel Video Sharper in Premiere Pro Using Unsharp Mask

Step 1.

Add your video to Premiere Pro and place it on the timeline using the steps above. Compared with the basic Sharpen effect, Unsharp Mask allows more precise controls. Search for “Unsharp Mask” in the Effects panel and then apply it to your video.

Step 2.

Unsharp Mask provides three key parameters to sharpen a video: Amount, Radius, and Threshold. You can drag and adjust them to optimize the sharpening effect.

Make Pixel Video Sharper in Premiere Pro Unsharp Mask

Unblur and Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro via Lumetri Color

Step 1.

Locate the Lumetri Color section under the Effect Controls panel or directly search for it. Drag to apply this effect to your video clip.

Step 2.

Expand the Basic Correction tab and choose Sharpness. Increase the Sharpness value to increase the image clarity. Compared to dedicated sharpening effects in Premiere Pro, the Lumetri Color tool often produces more natural results.

Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro Using Lumetri Color

Part 3. How to Unblur a Video in Premiere Pro with Third-Party Plugins

Besides built-in video sharpening tools in Premiere Pro, you can rely on some third-party plugins to increase clarity and enhance quality. Samurai Sharpen is a dedicated sharpening plugin that uses advanced algorithms to improve video details. It is compatible with both Premiere Pro and After Effects. Better than built-in sharpening, Samurai Sharpen often produces higher-quality results.

Step 1.

Download and install the Samurai Sharpen plugin from the official website. Ensure you get the correct version that is compatible with your Premiere Pro. Then, add the plugin to Premiere Pro.

Step 2.

Search for Samurai Sharpen in the Effect Controls panel and then apply it to your video. Similarly, you can adjust the values to optimize the sharpening result.

Part 4. Best Premiere Pro Alternative to Sharpen Videos Using AI

Neither Premiere Pro nor the Samurai Sharpen plugin is available for free. If you don’t want to purchase the expensive Adobe program or prefer a powerful alternative, AI-powered tools can be a strong contender. These specialized AI enhancers use advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze source footage and intelligently sharpen it. They can reconstruct image details and deliver remarkable sharpening results.

Aiseesoft VidHex is a popular choice for most casual users who need quick, high-quality video sharpening, upscaling, and enhancement results. It represents the next generation of video enhancement tools. As an alternative to Premiere Pro, it uses AI to intelligently sharpen footage while fixing various related issues like noise, compression artifacts, low resolution, and more.

Free DownloadFor Windows

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Free DownloadFor Windows

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Step 1.

Download and launch VidHex on your computer and add your video(s) for later sharpening and enhancement. You can directly import your blurred videos without any format, file size, or codec limits.

Step 2.

Select the appropriate AI model based on your content type and enhancement needs. You can start with its General Enhancement Model. Click to choose the model and apply related enhancement operations to your footage.

Step 3.

Use the preview function to compare the sharpening result before final processing. You can apply other suitable AI models to test their enhancement capabilities. After that, export the sharpened video to your desired format and resolution.

Part 5. FAQs on How to Sharpen a Video in Premiere Pro

Question 1. Can Premiere Pro sharpen a blurry video?

Yes, as mentioned above, Premiere Pro provides several ways to sharpen a blurry video, ranging from simple built-in effects to more advanced plugins. You can select a preferred method to make your blurry video look sharper and clearer.

Question 2. What is the easiest way to sharpen a video?

When you need to sharpen a video, you’d better start with the built-in editing tools on your device, especially on a smartphone. It is often the best and easiest way to perform some basic edits, including sharpening. It is free and requires no new apps. If you prefer professional editing results and more controls, turn to Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or another powerful video editor. If you are dealing with blurry, low-resolution videos, a dedicated AI enhancer may be a better option. It can help you make the entire video look sharper and clearer with higher quality.

Question 3. Does Premiere Pro have an AI sharpen tool?

Premiere Pro has integrated several AI-powered features that can enhance videos. However, it currently does not have a dedicated AI sharpen tool. It requires powerful third-party plugins to deliver the AI enhancements.

Conclusion

You can learn to sharpen a video in Premiere Pro through this comprehensive guide. Adobe software offers multiple ways to improve video clarity. If you already have Premiere Pro installed on your computer, use its Sharpen effect, Unsharp Mask, or Lumetri Color to perform quick fixes and make your footage clearer. If you are unhappy with the sharpening results, AI-powered solutions like Aiseesoft VidHex offer a better way to improve quality.