How do I reset saturation changes to see the original in Premiere Pro?

March 14, 2026 · caitlin

Want to know how to reset saturation changes in Premiere Pro? It’s a common need for video editors. You can easily revert saturation adjustments to their original state using the Lumetri Color panel, either for specific clips or the entire project.

Resetting Saturation in Premiere Pro: A Quick Guide

Premiere Pro offers robust color correction tools. Sometimes, you might overdo saturation adjustments or simply want to compare your changes to the original footage. Fortunately, resetting these specific color effects is straightforward and can be done in a few different ways. This guide will walk you through the most effective methods.

Understanding Saturation Adjustments

Saturation refers to the intensity of colors in your video. Increasing saturation makes colors more vibrant, while decreasing it makes them appear more muted or grayscale. When editing, you might use the Lumetri Color panel to fine-tune saturation levels.

However, it’s easy to go too far or decide that the original look was better. Knowing how to reset these changes is crucial for efficient editing and achieving the desired aesthetic.

Method 1: Resetting Specific Saturation Sliders

The most direct way to reset saturation is by targeting the specific sliders within the Lumetri Color panel. This method allows for precise control over which adjustments are undone.

Using the Lumetri Color Panel

Select your clip: In your Premiere Pro timeline, click on the video clip you want to adjust.
Open the Lumetri Color panel: Go to Window > Lumetri Color.
Locate the Basic Correction tab: Within the Lumetri Color panel, find the "Basic Correction" section.
Identify the Saturation slider: You’ll see a slider labeled "Saturation."
Reset the slider: To reset only the saturation slider, double-click directly on the word "Saturation" or the slider’s numerical value. This will instantly return the saturation to its default setting (0).

This is incredibly useful if you’ve made other adjustments in the Basic Correction tab and only want to revert the saturation. You can also reset individual sliders for Vibrance and Tint in the same manner.

Resetting All Basic Correction Adjustments

If you’ve made multiple changes within the "Basic Correction" tab and want to revert them all at once, you can reset the entire section.

Select your clip and ensure the Lumetri Color panel is open.
Right-click anywhere within the "Basic Correction" section header.
Choose "Reset" from the context menu.

This action will revert all parameters within the Basic Correction tab, including saturation, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks, back to their original values.

Method 2: Resetting Lumetri Color Effects Entirely

Sometimes, you might have applied multiple Lumetri Color effects or made significant changes across different tabs. In such cases, you might want to reset the entire Lumetri Color effect applied to a clip.

Removing the Lumetri Color Effect

Select your clip in the timeline.
Go to the Effect Controls panel (Window > Effect Controls).
Find the "Lumetri Color" effect listed under "Video Effects."
Right-click on the "Lumetri Color" effect name.
Select "Delete" or press the Delete key on your keyboard.

This will completely remove the Lumetri Color effect from the clip, reverting all color and exposure adjustments made through that effect to the original footage. This is a more drastic step but effective if you want a clean slate.

Using the "Undo" Function

For immediate resets, Premiere Pro’s undo function is your best friend.

Make your saturation adjustment.
If you immediately decide you don’t like it, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac).
You can repeatedly press Undo to step back through multiple changes.

While not a permanent reset for later use, Undo is invaluable for correcting mistakes as you make them.

Method 3: Comparing with the Original Footage

Premiere Pro offers built-in tools to help you compare your color-graded footage with the original. This is a fantastic way to see exactly how much you’ve altered the saturation and other color properties.

Using the "Comparison View" in Lumetri Scopes

The Lumetri Scopes panel provides powerful visual feedback.

Open the Lumetri Scopes panel (Window > Lumetri Scopes).
In the Lumetri Color panel, ensure your clip is selected.
Look for the "Comparison View" icon at the bottom of the Lumetri Color panel. It often looks like two overlapping rectangles.
Clicking this icon will split your program monitor into two views: one showing the original footage and the other showing your edited footage.

This allows for a direct side-by-side comparison, making it easy to judge if your saturation changes are an improvement or if you should reset them. You can toggle this view on and off as needed.

Using the "Before/After" Toggle

Within the Lumetri Color panel itself, there’s a simple toggle.

At the top of the Lumetri Color panel, you’ll see an "fx" icon with a small "Before/After" toggle next to it.
Clicking this toggle will switch your program monitor between the original, unedited clip and the clip with the Lumetri Color effect applied.

This is a quick way to see the overall impact of your Lumetri Color adjustments, including saturation, without needing to open the Scopes panel.

Practical Examples and Tips

Subtle Saturation Boost: You might increase saturation slightly to make colors pop more naturally, especially in outdoor scenes. If you go too far, a quick double-click on the saturation slider will bring it back.
Creative Desaturation: For a dramatic or moody effect, you might significantly decrease saturation. If you want to revert this, resetting the slider is easy.
Color Grading Workflow: Many editors use the "Before/After" toggle frequently to ensure their color grading enhances, rather than detracts from, the original image.
Using Keyframes: If you’ve animated saturation changes using keyframes, resetting the keyframes will be necessary. You can do this by selecting the keyframes in the Effect Controls panel and deleting them, or by resetting the entire parameter if it has keyframes applied.