How GPU processing helps
Background removal analyzes the video frame by frame to separate the subject from the background. A supported GPU can do this AI processing locally. You do not need to upload the clip to a cloud service.
The extension also needs time to read frames from Premiere, prepare them, save the result, and apply it to the timeline. Total processing time therefore depends on the clip, Subject and Quality settings, and your computer. Faster AI processing is only one part of that total.
GPU acceleration is included in the current Premiere extension, which requires Premiere Pro 25.6.5 or later. If you use an older Adobe release, see the version comparison.
Choose Auto, GPU only, or CPU
Open Advanced Settings and find Processing. Leave it on Auto · GPU preferred for normal use.
- Auto · GPU preferred: tries the GPU and can fall back to the CPU when needed.
- GPU only: requires a supported GPU. Choose this if you specifically need GPU processing.
- CPU: runs locally on the CPU and can help when GPU processing is unavailable.
Keep Subject and Quality unchanged if you compare the processing options. Otherwise, the time difference may come from those settings as well.
Click Preview first frame to check that a frame processes correctly. Then apply a short clip to check the complete job, including the result in Premiere.
Reduce processing time
Trim unused footage before applying the effect. There is no need to process a full recording when the edit only uses a few seconds.
Choose Portrait for close-up people or People for wider shots and full bodies. Leave Model on From preset. Use General foreground · High quality (slow) for animals, products, objects, and mixed subjects; this preset takes longer.
Quality gives you another choice: Low · Faster, Medium · Balanced, or High · More detail. Compare a short section at the size you will use in the finished video. A small presenter window may need less detail than a full-screen close-up.
Lower quality reduces the working image size, although General foreground may save only a small amount of time. Check your own clip on your computer before estimating how long a larger job will take.
Change applied effects without processing again
After applying a result, use the Applied effects controls to adjust its supported feather and background blur settings. Click Update Applied Effects to make those changes without running the AI again.
Changing Subject, Quality, or mask-analysis settings requires another pass, so settle those choices before processing longer footage. For a blur adjustment, use the applied controls for the result you just created.
The handbook explains the controls in order. For examples, available modes, and Adobe Exchange links, visit the AI Background Remover page.
Ready to use it on your footage?
Explore AI Background Remover