To create a solid color background in Premiere Pro, open the Project panel, click New Item > Color Matte, set your resolution and frame rate, choose a color, and drag the matte into your timeline like any other clip. It's the cleanest way to build title cards, text screens, or a minimalist backdrop — no images or plugins required.
What is a Color Matte?
A Color Matte is a full-frame, solid-color clip that lives in your Project panel. Once created it behaves exactly like footage: drop it on any track, stack things on top, and it fills the frame with a flat color. It's perfect for title cards, lower-third backgrounds, pause screens, or section breaks.
How to create a solid background
Open the Project panel
If it isn't visible, go to Window > Project. This is where your new matte will appear alongside your other media.
Create a new Color Matte
Click the New Item button (bottom-right of the Project panel) and choose Color Matte. Set the resolution and frame rate to match your sequence, then click OK.
Choose your color
Pick a color with the picker or enter a hex code. Name it something clear like White Background and click OK.
Drop it into your timeline
Drag the matte onto a track like any clip. It now acts as a background layer for anything you build on top.
Add text on top
To layer a title over your background:
- Select the Type Tool (T) and click in the Program Monitor, then type your text.
- Select all (Ctrl+A) and open the Essential Graphics panel.
- Set the font, size, and a contrasting color, then center it in the frame.
That gives you clean, centered text over a solid background — ideal for intros, breaks, and minimalist sections.
Pro tip: need a gradient instead of a flat color? Create the Color Matte, then apply the Ramp effect (Effects > Video > Generate > Ramp) to blend between two colors right on the matte.
