The original version of Adobe Premiere was developed by Adobe Systems. It was first launched in 1991. Premiere was one of the first computer non-linear editing systems.^[7] The first version for Mac was released in 1991, and the first version for Microsoft Windows was released in September 1993.^[8] Its final version was released in 2002.

The project began at SuperMac Technology as ReelTime, a QuickTime-based video editor for its VideoSpigot video capture card.^[9] SuperMac engineer Randy Ubillos created a working demo of ReelTime in about 10 weeks while QuickTime was still in beta.^[10] The software project was acquired by Adobe Systems in August 1991 and was renamed Adobe Premiere.^[9] Ubillos also left SuperMac to join Adobe.^[10]

Premiere was the second of many QuickTime-based video editors on the market.^[11] As a result, its ability to import new video formats could also be upgraded by updating to a newer compatible version of QuickTime. However, it was limited to processing video and images that were 1024 pixels wide, or less.^[12]

Premiere included 24 transition effects and a plug-in architecture that was compatible with some Photoshop filters.^[11]

Premiere was based on ReelTime, a product acquired from SuperMac Technologies Inc. and was one of the first computer-based NLEs (non-linear editing system), with its first release on Mac in 1991. Adobe briefly abandoned the Mac platform after version 6 of Premiere. Up until version Premiere Pro 2.0 (CS2), the software packaging featured a galloping horse, in a nod to Eadweard Muybridge‘s work, “Sallie Gardner at a Gallop“.

Adobe Premiere Pro was launched in 2003. It was a re-written version of Premiere. Premiere Pro refers to versions released in 2003 and later, whereas Premiere refers to the earlier releases.