How to Add Lower Thirds in Premiere Pro (3 Methods Step-by-Step)

Lower thirds are one of the most practical graphics you will ever add to a video, but finding the right method in Premiere Pro is not always obvious. This guide walks through three distinct approaches: using the built-in Essential Graphics panel, importing a .mogrt template, and building a custom lower third from scratch. Choose the method that matches your skill level and the demands of your project.

What Are Lower Thirds and Why Do They Matter?

A lower third is a text graphic placed in the lower portion of the video frame, typically used to display a person’s name, job title, location, or other identifying information. They appear constantly in interviews, documentaries, YouTube videos, and broadcast news. When executed well, a lower third adds professionalism and context without distracting from the footage. The three methods below cover every experience level, from quick-and-done to fully custom branded designs.

Method 1 — Use the Essential Graphics Panel (Fastest Method)

This is the quickest route and the best starting point for most editors. Premiere Pro ships with a library of built-in Motion Graphics Templates, and several are purpose-built lower thirds that you can apply and edit in minutes.

Open the Essential Graphics Panel

1. Go to Window in the top menu bar and select Essential Graphics. The panel will open, usually docking alongside your other panels.

2. For a cleaner workspace, switch to the Graphics and Titles workspace by going to Top Workspace Bar  > Graphics and Titles. This layout brings the Essential Graphics panel and the Program Monitor into a more convenient arrangement for text work.

3. Confirm you see two tabs at the top of the panel: Browse and Edit. You will start in Browse.

Browse and Apply a Built-In Lower Third Template

1. In the Browse tab, type “lower third” into the search field. Premiere Pro will surface all matching templates from its local library.

2. Hover over any result to preview the animation directly in the Program Monitor.

3. When you find one you want to use, drag it from the panel onto your timeline and drop it on a video track directly above your footage. It will land as a standalone graphics clip.

4. Position the clip on the timeline so it aligns with the moment you want the lower third to appear. Trim the clip’s in and out points to control how long it stays on screen.

Edit the Text and Customize the Style

1. Click the graphics clip on your timeline to select it.

2. Switch to the Edit tab in the Essential Graphics panel. You will see text fields, font controls, color swatches, and alignment options.

3. Click into the name or title text field and type your subject’s information.

4. Adjust the font, size, and color using the controls in the Edit tab. To change a color, click the color swatch next to the text or shape layer and use the color picker.

5. Use the Align and Transform section to reposition the graphic if the template’s default placement does not suit your frame.

Pro Tip: If you are editing multiple interviews in the same project, duplicate your customized graphics clip (Alt+drag on Windows or Option+drag on Mac) and update only the name field for each subject. This keeps your design consistent throughout.

Method 2 — Import and Use a .mogrt Template

A .mogrt (Motion Graphics Template) file is a packaged template format that can be imported into Premiere Pro’s Essential Graphics panel. This method is ideal when you want a more polished or brand-specific design than the built-in options provide.

Where to Find .mogrt Lower Third Templates (Free and Paid)

Several reliable sources offer .mogrt lower third files:

• Adobe Stock is integrated directly into Premiere Pro. In the Essential Graphics Browse tab, click the Adobe Stock section to browse and license templates without leaving the app. A selection of free templates is available under a free Adobe account.

• Motion Array offers hundreds of free and premium lower third .mogrt files. A free account unlocks a rotating library of no-cost downloads.

• Envato Elements provides a large library of premium templates under a subscription model, which is cost-effective for editors who work with templates regularly.

How to Install and Apply a .mogrt File

1. Download the .mogrt file to a location on your computer you can find easily.

2. Open the Essential Graphics panel and go to the Browse tab.

3. Click the Graphics and Titles workspace from the top bar to open the text and graphics layou and click Install Motion Graphics Template.  Alternatively, some versions of Premiere Pro show a direct “Install Motion Graphics Template” button at the bottom of the panel.

4. Navigate to your downloaded .mogrt file and click Open. The template installs into your local library and appears in the Browse tab under “My Templates” or your search results.

5. Drag the template from the Browse tab onto your timeline above your video track, just as you would with a built-in template.

Editing Text and Colors Inside the Template

1. Select the graphics clip on the timeline and switch to the Edit tab in the Essential Graphics panel.

2. The editable parameters depend on what the template creator made available. Most well-made .mogrt files expose text input fields, color pickers, and sometimes toggle controls for things like background visibility or animation style.

3. Click into each text field and enter your subject’s name and title.

4. Use the color pickers to match your brand colors. If the template uses a specific font you do not have, Premiere Pro will prompt you to activate it through Adobe Fonts, which is included with a Creative Cloud subscription.

Note: Not every downloaded template will behave the same way. If a parameter looks locked or does not appear in the Edit tab, the template may have restricted edits. In that case, try a different template or use Method 3 to build your own.

Method 3 — Create a Custom Lower Third from Scratch

Building a lower third manually gives you complete control over design, branding, and animation. It requires no additional software and no downloads. This method takes longer but produces a result that is entirely your own.

Add a Rectangle Shape Layer

1. Make sure your playhead is positioned at the point in the timeline where you want the lower third to begin.

2. Select the Rectangle Tool from the toolbar (or press M). Click and drag directly in the Program Monitor to draw a rectangle in the lower third of the frame.

3. A new graphics clip appears on your timeline automatically.

4. With the shape selected, go to the Edit tab in the Essential Graphics panel. Under the Appearance section, click the Fill color swatch and choose your background color. You can also reduce the Opacity slider to create a semi-transparent bar that works well over varied backgrounds.

5. Use the Align and Transform section to set the exact size and position. For standard lower thirds, placing the bar roughly 10–15% up from the bottom of the frame keeps the text inside the title-safe zone.

Add a Text Layer on Top

1. Select the Type Tool from the toolbar (shortcut: T).

2. Click directly on the Program Monitor, above your rectangle, and type the subject’s name. Press Enter for a second line and add a title or role.

3. In the Edit tab, set your font, size, and color. Keep name text larger and bolder, and use a lighter weight or smaller size for the title beneath it.

4. In the Essential Graphics panel’s layer stack, make sure the text layer sits above the rectangle layer. Drag layers up or down in the stack to reorder them if needed.

5. Use the Align and Transform controls to position the text precisely over the rectangle.

Note: Select both layers in the Essential Graphics panel (Shift+click) and right-click to Group them. A grouped clip makes it easier to animate everything as a single unit.

Animate the Entry and Exit with Keyframes

1. Select your graphics clip on the timeline and open the Effect Controls panel.

2. Expand the Vector Motion or Position property. Move your playhead to the first frame of the clip.

3. Click the stopwatch icon next to Position to set a keyframe. Move the graphic off-screen to the left (or below the frame) by dragging it in the Program Monitor or by typing a value in the X/Y position fields.

4. Move the playhead forward by approximately 15–20 frames (adjust for your preferred animation speed). The graphic should now be in its final, resting position. Premiere Pro automatically creates a second keyframe at the playhead position. Drag the graphic into its correct on-screen position if it has shifted.

5. Right-click each keyframe and apply Ease Out to the first keyframe and Ease In to the second for smoother motion.

6. Repeat the same process in reverse at the end of the clip to animate the exit.

Save Your Custom Lower Third as a Reusable Template

1. With the graphics clip selected on the timeline, go to the Essential Graphics panel and click the Export as Motion Graphics Template button (the icon with an upward arrow, usually at the bottom of the Edit tab).

2. Name your template, add descriptive keywords, and choose a destination: Local Drive saves the .mogrt to your computer, while Creative Cloud Libraries makes it accessible across machines.

3. Click OK. Your custom lower third now appears in the Essential Graphics Browse tab and can be dragged into any future project.

Tips for Polished Lower Thirds

Getting the mechanics right is only half the job. These practical design guidelines will make your lower thirds look intentional and professional:

• Stay inside the title-safe zone. Keep all text and graphics within the inner 80% of the frame. Elements too close to the edge get cut off on televisions and some streaming platforms.

• Keep them on screen for 3–5 seconds. Less than three seconds is too fast for viewers to read comfortably. More than five seconds starts to feel like a visual overstay unless the shot itself is long.

• Limit yourself to two fonts maximum. Use one for the name (bold, readable) and one for the subtitle (lighter or smaller). Mixing more than two fonts looks unfinished.

• Avoid thin fonts at small sizes. Compressed video codecs (H.264, H.265) smear fine details. Light-weight fonts can bleed or become hard to read. Test your lower third by exporting a short sample clip before committing.

• Use a semi-transparent background shape on busy footage. A solid or 60–70% opacity rectangle behind your text ensures legibility regardless of what is happening in the shot behind it.

• Reuse the same template for every subject in a project. Consistency signals professionalism. Once you build or install a template you like, drag the same clip for each interview subject and update only the text fields.

FAQ

Can I add lower thirds in Premiere Pro for free?

Yes. The built-in Essential Graphics templates that ship with Premiere Pro cost nothing to use. Beyond that, Adobe Stock includes a selection of free .mogrt files accessible directly from the Browse tab, and Motion Array offers a rotating library of free downloads with a no-cost account. You do not need any paid add-ons to produce clean, professional lower thirds.

How do I animate a lower third to slide in and out in Premiere Pro?

Use Position keyframes on the graphics clip in the Effect Controls panel. Set a keyframe with the graphic positioned off-screen at the first frame, then add a second keyframe 15–20 frames later with the graphic in its on-screen position. Apply Ease Out on the first keyframe and Ease In on the second for smooth motion. Reverse the process near the end of the clip to create the exit animation.

Can I save a custom lower third to reuse in other Premiere Pro projects?

Yes. Select the graphics clip, go to the Essential Graphics panel, and click Export as Motion Graphics Template. Save the resulting .mogrt file to your local drive or Creative Cloud Libraries. The template will then appear in your Essential Graphics Browse tab and can be dragged into any future project without rebuilding it.

Why can’t I edit the text in my .mogrt lower third template?

Some .mogrt files lock certain parameters to protect the design or because the creator did not expose them as editable fields. If a text box does not appear in the Edit tab, that parameter is restricted by the template. Try downloading a different free template that clearly lists “editable text” in its description, or use Method 3 in this guide to build a fully customizable lower third from scratch.

Conclusion

For most editors, the Essential Graphics panel with a built-in template is the fastest path to a finished lower third. When you need a more polished look, a downloaded .mogrt file adds design quality with minimal extra effort. For full brand control, building from scratch and saving the result as a .mogrt is the most efficient long-term workflow. Whatever method you use, save your finished design immediately as a template so you are never rebuilding it from zero. From here, consider exploring animated titles and end cards in the Essential Graphics panel to round out your project’s visual identity.