B-roll can show a process, explain a detail or provide coverage for a cut. Choose it because it helps the viewer follow the subject, rather than because a fixed number of seconds has passed.
Start with the job of the shot
When someone describes a screen action, a recording of that action may be clearer than a generic office shot. When they discuss a physical object, a detail of the actual object may be more useful than an unrelated stock image.
Not every sentence needs a new visual. A face or a continuous demonstration can hold attention when the material is clear. Avoid universal rules about cutting every eight seconds or limiting every B-roll shot to three seconds.
Match the picture to the claim
Use actual footage, diagrams or verified source images when they support the explanation. Do not illustrate a specific event with unrelated imagery in a way that implies the image is evidence of that event.
Stock footage can be useful for a broader concept. Check that you have the rights required for the intended delivery, and distinguish an illustrative shot from documentary evidence when that matters to the story.
Hold the shot long enough to read
A simple object detail and a dense chart need different durations. Play the section at normal speed and check whether someone can absorb the information. Motion or a subtle reframing can help, but should not make text harder to read.
Check the transition back to the main camera. The shot should support the spoken explanation without obscuring an important demonstration or expression.
Use Find B-roll as a planning cue
Studio Pro’s Find B-roll works from a transcript and suggests placements and shot ideas. It does not independently inspect every visual frame or supply the footage. Verify the source time and the reason for each suggestion in your editor.
The suggested range can move after you shorten the spoken edit. Keep it as a note, then place the chosen picture against the final dialogue. See the Studio overview for the available cloud tools.
Review picture and sound together
Check whether the shot helps explain the spoken idea, whether its duration fits and whether the cut interrupts something the viewer needs to see. Review any music or sound effect at the same time; see sound-effect placement.
For downloaded SVG diagrams or logos, use the Assets workflow to create a PNG still for Premiere. Keep the source design and review the image at the final display size.