Premiere Look Effects
Discover capabilities from the host and test a look on one representative clip before batching it.
Required server profile
Start or restart the MCP server with MCP_TOOL_PROFILE=effects for the smallest dedicated surface. The default standard profile also contains this skill's verified discovery, attachment, parameter-update, and readback tools.
Workflow
- Inspect the project, timeline, installed effects, and current clip effect chain. Resolve the active sequence index, call
premiere_duplicate_sequence, verify exactly one new copy, and activate it withpremiere_set_active_sequence. Leave the source sequence untouched as the recovery boundary. - Record the current chain with
premiere_get_clip_effectsand the sequence hash. Usepremiere_snapshot_timelineorpremiere_save_sequence_versiononly as optional audit records; neither restores a whole sequence. - Build a minimal ordered recipe using only display names returned by
premiere_get_installed_effects. - Apply one effect at a time with
premiere_apply_video_effect. Require a public-DOM component-count increase and the attached component name. - Set only properties actually exposed by that component with
premiere_set_effect_parameter; read the chain and values back before continuing. - Test the recipe on one representative clip. If application or parameter readback fails, stop, reactivate the untouched source sequence, and report the failed duplicate for inspection; do not attempt an unverified component removal or undo. After approval, repeat the same verified steps on additional clips and stop on the first mismatch.
Guardrails
- Never assume an effect display name exists; confirm it with
premiere_get_installed_effects. - Avoid destructive baking. Keep changes parameterized and reversible.
- Do not use legacy effect-enable or named grain, glow, vignette, drop-shadow, stroke, and cinematic-bar helpers in this verified workflow; they either lack portable component-state readback or can return instructions/requested values instead of a verified mutation. Use the generic verified effect path.
- Do not claim visual quality from parameter success alone; request a frame review when appearance matters.