Monday, March 31, 2014

PE: Minimum Duration For Transition

INTRODUCTION

The question was recently asked "For Premiere Elements 12, is less than 1 second possible for a transition duration, and what is the minimum duration for the transition?". The answer to the question is the same for Premiere Elements 4 though 12 whether video or audio transition and can be dependant on transition alignment and where and how the transition duration is set.The can dos include:

Transition with Left Clip (End at Cut) or Right Clip (End at Cut) Transition Alignment
1 frame duration (NTSC 0.0333 second or PAL 0.040 second)

Transition with Betweem Clips (Center at Cut)
2 frames duration (NTSC 0.0667 second or PAL 0.080 second)

Note: Although digital audio uses "sample" rather than "frame", the unit named frame or second can be found being applied by Adobe to audio transition duration.

ISSUE

Where and how is a Premiere Elements transition duration for less than 1 second set, and what is the minimum transition duration?
  • Edit Menu/Preferences/General and fields for Video Transition Default Duration and or Audio Transition Default Duration
  • Transition Adjustments Pop Up/Area associated with placement of the transition
  • Dragging in edge of transition placed on Timeline in order to shorten the duration of the transition

SOLUTION

Details for setting the transition duration for less than 1 second and the minimum transition duration will be given by example using
  • Premiere Elements 12 (representative of version 11 as well as 12) and video transition named Dip to Black and audio transition named Constant Gain.
  • Premiere Elements 10 (representative of versions 4, 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, and 10) and video transition named Dip to Black and audio transition named Constant Gain.
For Premiere Elements 11 and 12, transition duration less than one second cannot be set from within its Transition Adjustment pop up but can be obtained in either of two ways:
  • Edit Menu/Preferences/General and setting "Video Transition Default Duration" and "Audio Transition Default" to lowest accepted value 
  • At the Timeline level, dragging in the edge(s) of the transition which has been placed on the Timeline with the program's defaults in effect for video and audio transition duration
Although both these two routes can be made to lead to a Premiere Elements 11 or 12 transition duration less than 1 second, it is found that it is transition duration adjustment at Timeline level (dragging in on transition edge technique) that will give the minimum transition value.

Unlike Premiere Elements 11 and 12,  Premiere Elements 10 transition duration less than 1 second as well as minimum transition duration can be set within its Transition Adjustment area

The INTRODUCTION, ISSUE, and SOLUTION should provide enough information to answer the basic questions asked in the INTRODUCTION. For those who want greater detail, the longer HOW TO is provided.

HOW TO
                                           
PART 1
PREMIERE ELEMENTS 11 AND 12

Video Transition

Default Situation

Figure 1 shows the Transition Adjustments pop up triggered by the selection and placement of the video transition Dip to Black and displays the program's default Duration 1 second (30 frames in the NTSC setup of 30 frames per second). The Transition Adjustments pop up will read Duration 1 sec (30 frames) whether the video transition alignment is "Left Clip", "Right Clip", or "Between Clips".

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 12 Video Transition Duration. Program's Default Settings As Reflected In Transition Adjustments Pop Up.

In spite of the fact that Duration "sec" cannot be set for less than 1 second in the Transition Adjustments pop up, there are 2 ways to obtain a video transition duration less than 1 second.

Less Than 1 Second Video Transition Duration

Way One - Preferences
Result:  For "Left Clip", "Right Clip", or "Between Clips" transition alignment, Video Transition Duration = 0.0667 seconds (2 frames) which is  duration less than 1 second, but not the lowest video transition duration possible for the transition with "Left Clip" and "Right Clip" alignment.

Details

Edit Menu/Preferences/General and set "Video Transition Default Duration" = 1 frame (lowest possible set there). With that set in effect, the Transition Adjustment pop for Dip to Black transition (alignment "Between Clips") shows Duration 0 sec (2 frames) as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Premiere Elements 12 Video Transition Dip To Black. Preference Set For "Video Transition Default Duration" = 1 Frame But Reflected In Transition Adjustments Pop Up As Duration 0 Sec (2 Frames).

And, the same result Duration 0 sec (2 frames) is seen if the transition alignment is instead "Left Clip" or "Right Clip".


Way Two - Timeline Level Dragging In Edge Of Placed Transition To Shorten Its Duration
Result: With "Left Clip" or "Right Clip" transition alignment for Dip to Black transition, Video Transition Duration = 0.0333 second (1 frame) which is duration less than 1 second as well as the lowest video transition duration possible. With "Between Clips" transition alignment, Video Transition Duration = 0.0667 seconds (2 frames) as is the case Way One approach.

Details
"Left Clip"
Edit Menu/Preferences/General is left at the program's Video Transition Default Duration = 30 frames. With the mouse cursor, the left edge of the transition placed on the Timeline in the "Left Clip" alignment is dragged in 29 frames. A frame readout is seen as the drag in of the transition progresses. Result is video transition with "Left Clip" alignment with a 1 frame (0.0333 seconds) duration.

Figure 3. Premiere Elements 12 Video Transition Duration Change From 30 To 1 Frame (1 Second To 0.0333 Seconds) By Dragging In Of Left Edge Of Video Transition With "Left Clip" Alignment.
"Right Clip"
In a similar manner, the right edge of the transition is dragged in 29 frames, using the frame readout guide. Result is a "Right Clip" aligned transition with a 1 frame (0.0333 seconds) duration.

"Between Clips"
If this approach is extended to the "Between Clips" alignment, then the user is left with a transition duration of 2 frames (0.0667 seconds), same as obtained in Way One.
With Way Two and "Between Clips" transition alignment, the 30 frames (1 second) transition would have 15 frames to the left of the junction of two clips and 15 frames to the right of that junction. The left edge of the the transition with the"Between Clips" alignment is dragged in 14 frames; the right edge of the transtion with the "Between Clips" alignment is dragged in 14 frames; end result, the video transition with "Between Clips" alignment and having duration of 2 frames (0.0667 seconds).

Audio Transition 

Default situation

The Transition Adjustments pop up is triggered by the selection and placement of the audio transition Constant Gain and uses the program's default Duration 1.00 second  which represents 30 frames in the NTSC setup of 30 frames per second. In this default situation, the Transition Adjustments pop up reads Duration 1 sec (30 frames) whether the audio transition alignment is "Left Clip", "Right Clip", or "Between Clips". Setting of the audio transition alignment has known flaws in Premiere Elements 12, but does not appear to be interfering with the topic of transtion duration less than 1 second.

Again, in spite of the fact that Duration "sec" cannot be set for less than 1 second in the Transition Adjustments pop up, there are 2 ways to obtain an audio transition duration less than 1 second.


Way One - Preferences
Result:  For "Left Clip", "Right Clip", or "Between Clips" Transition Alignment, Audio Transition Duration = 0.10 second (3 frames) which is going to be duration less than 1 second, but not the lowest audio transition duration possible. 

Details

Edit Menu/Preferences/General And Set Audio Transition Default Duration = 0.1 seconds (lowest possible set there). With that set in effect, the Transition Adjustment pop with the Constant Gain transition alignment "Left Clip", "Right Clip", and "Between Clips" shows Duration 0 sec (3 frames).

Way Two - Timeline Level Dragging On Edge Of Placed Transition To Shorten Its Duration
Result: With "Left Clip" or "Right Clip" transition alignment, Audio Transition Duration = 0.0333 seconds (1 frame) which is duration less than 1 second as well as the lowest video transition duration possible. With "Between Clips" transition alignment, Audio Transition Duration = 0.0667 seconds (2 frames) as compared to the Audio Transition Duration = 0.10 second (3 frames) obtained using Way One - Preferences.

Details

"Left Clip"
Edit Menu/Preferences/General is left at the program's Audio Transition Default Duration = 1.00 seconds. With the mouse cursor, the left edge of the transition placed on the Timeline in the "Left Clip" alignment is dragged in 29 frames. A frame readout is seen as the drag in of the transition progresses. Result is an audio transition with "Left Clip" alignment with a 1 frame (0.0333 seconds) duration.

"Right Clip"

Same approach and result for the "Right Clip" aligned transition as for "Left Clip" aligned transition, except, with mouse cursor, the right edge of the transition placed on the Timeline in the "Right Clip" alignment is dragged in 29 frames.

"Between Clips"

If this approach is extended to "Between Clips" aligned transition, then the user is left with audio transition of 2 frames (0.0667 seconds). 
With Way Two and "Between Clips" transition alignment, the 30 frames (1 second) audio transition would have 15 frames to the left of the junction of two clips and 15 frames to the right of that junction. The left edge of the the transition with the"Between Clips" alignment is dragged in 14 frames; the right edge of the transtion with the "Between Clips" alignment is dragged in 14 frames; end result, the audio transition with "Between Clips" alignment and having duration of 2 frames (0.0667 seconds)


PART 2
PREMIERE ELEMENTS 10

Video Transition

Default Situation

Unlike versions 11 and 12, the video transition Dip to Black is placed in the Timeline content  and then double clicked to bring up a Transition Adjustments area which includes a timecode like display for the program's video transition default Duration of 1 second (00;00;01;00). And, this 00;00;01;00 is shown whether the transition alignment is "End at Cut", "Center at Cut", or "Start at Cut" (the 10 counterparts of 11's and 12's "Left Clip", "Between Clips", and "Right Clip" respectively. This type of Transition Adjustment area is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Premiere Elements 10 Video Transition Dip To Black. Preference At Program's Video Transition Default Duration = 00;00;01;00  (Hours; Minutes; Seconds; Frames)
In the Transition Adjustment area, the duration can be taken as low as 1 frame (00;00;00;01) when the transition alignment is "End at Cut" or "Start at Cut". But, if Duration is set at 00;00;00;01 with a "Center at Cut" transition alignment, the transition automatically switches to "Start at Cut". However, if the Duration is set at 00;00;00;02 with "Center at Cut" transition alignment, the transition alignment holds at "Center at Cut"

The perks of the version 10 Transition Adjustment area appear to get to the transition less than 1 second and minimum transition duration value of 1 frame without having to look at Way One (preference) and Way Two (dragging in of transition edges) to get to those goals. Does not look like continuing would yield better results.

Nonetheless, Way One - Preferences and Way Two - Timeline Level Dragging In Edge Of Placed Transition To Shorten Its Duration were looked out.

Less Than 1 Second Video Transition Duration

Way One - Preferences 
With Video Transition Default in Preferences reset from program default 30 frames to 1 frame (lowest accepted set)
Result:  For "Left Clip", "Right Clip", or "Between Clips" Transition Alignment, Video Transition Duration = 00;00;00;02 (2 frames) which is  duration less than 1 second, but not the lowest video transition duration possible for the transition with "Left Clip" and "Right Clip" alignment.

Way Two - Timeline Level Dragging On Edge Of Placed Transition To Shorten Its Duration
With Video Transition Default in Preference left at program default 30 frames
Result: With "Left Clip" or "Right Clip" transition alignment for Dip to Black transition, video transition duration = 0.0333 second (1 frame) which is duration less than 1 second as well as the lowest video transition duration possible. With "Between Clips" transition alignment, video transition duration = 0.0667 seconds (2 frames) as is the case Way One approach.

Consequently, in the case of Premiere Elements 10, its Transition Adjustment area design does not necessitate worksarounds of Way One or Way Two to get to the transition duration less than 1 second and a minimum transition duration. 

Audio Transition

Default Situation

In contrast to versions 11 and 12, the audio transition Constant Gain is placed in the Timeline content  and then double clicked to bring up a Transition Adjustments area which includes a timecode like display for the program's audio transition default Duration of 1 second (00;00;01;00). And, this 00;00;01;00 is shown whether the transition alignment is "End at Cut", "Center at Cut" or "Start at Cut" (the 10 counterparts of 11's and 12's "Left Clip",  "Between Clips", and "Right Clip" respectively. The type of Transition Adjustment area for the audio transition is the same as for the video transition. Figure 4.

In the Transition Adjustment area, the duration can be taken as low as 1 frame (00;00;00;01) when the transition alignment is "End at Cut" or "Start at Cut". But, if Duration is set at 00;00;00;01 with a "Center at Cut" transition alignment, the transition automatically switches to "Start at Cut". However, if the Duration is set at 00;00;00;02 with "Center at Cut" transition alignment, the transition alignment holds at "Center at Cut"

The Way One and Way Two to get to audio duration less than 1 second becomes trivia since these sets are easily made in the Premiere Elements 10 Transition Adjustment area associated with the audio transition to yield the result
  • audio transition with "End at Cut" or "Start at Cut" alignment, to 1 frame (0.0333 seconds) duration
  • audio transition with "Center at Cut" alignment, to 2 frames (0.0667 seconds) duration
But as as point of reference....

Way One - Preferences
Result:  For "End at Cut", "Center at Cut", or "Start at Cut" Transition Alignment, Audio Transition Duration = 0.10 second (3 frames) which is going to be duration less than 1 second, but not the lowest audio transition duration possible.

Details

Edit Menu/Preferences/General And Set Audio Transition Default Duration = 0.1 seconds (lowest possible set there). With that set in effect, the Transition Adjustment area with the Constant Gain transition alignment "End at Cut", "Center at Cut", and "Start at Cut" shows 00;00;00;03 (3 frames 0.1 seconds).

Way Two - Timeline Level Dragging In Edge Of Placed Transition To Shorten Its Duration
Result: With "Left Clip" or "Right Clip" transition alignment, Audio Transition Duration = 0.0333 seconds (1 frame) which is duration less than 1 second as well as the lowest video transition duration possible. With "Between Clips" transition alignment, Audio Transition Duration = 0.0667 seconds (2 frames) as compared to the Audio Transition Duration = 0.10 second (3 frames) obtained using Way One - Preferences.

Details

Details would mirror those cited above for Premiere Elements 11 and 12 Constant Gain audio transition duration and Way Two.

______________________________________________________________________________
 Miscellaneous
  • The duration of the clips involved is always an important consideration when setting the duration of the transition, especially so when seeking the maximum transition duration.
  • Some have sought to use certain transitions as effects, extending a particular transition across the entire length of one video clip.
Prior ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting Blog Posts on Premiere Elements Transitions

PE: Video Transitions Part 1
 http://www.atr935.blogspot.com/2013/06/pe-video-transitions-part-1-slideshow.html

PE: Video Transitions Part 2
http://www.atr935.blogspot.com/2013/06/pe-video-transitions-part-2-how-they.html

PE11: Audio Transitions Problem 
http://www.atr935.blogspot.com/2013/06/pe11-audio-transitions-problem.html


ATR




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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

PE11 & 12: Publish+Share/Sharing To Videotape

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements 11 and 12 Publish+Share do not offer the Sharing to Videotape feature as do versions of Premiere Elements earlier than 11 (for example, version 4, 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, and 10).

This fact can be seen by visual inspection of Premiere Elements 11 and 12 Publish+Share.

Yet, Adobe document "Premiere Elements/Sharing to videotape" is targeted to Premiere Elements 11. And, online excerpt from "Adobe Premiere Elements 12 Classroom in a Book/Sharing and Exporting Videos" supports the idea that Premiere Elements 12 Publish+Share includes the Sharing to Videotape feature when it includes videotape in its exports.

Interestingly, right under that Adobe Creative Team statement is a screenshot of the Premiere Elements 12 Publish+Share choices, and Tape is not included there. 

ISSUE

Does Premiere Elements 11 and 12 have the Sharing to Videotape in its Publish+Share section or not?
One thought was that it might be a Publish+Share feature that could be seen only when a firewire connection was made between the miniDV camcorder/computer/Premiere Elements 11 or 12.

SOLUTION

In the absence of a miniDV camcorder....

Adobe Confirmation Premiere Elements 11 And 12 Publish+Share Do Not Have Sharing To Videotape


The answer was sought from an Adobe representative who confirmed that Premiere Elements 11 and 12 Publish+Share do not have the Sharing to Videotape feature as do versions of Premiere Elements earlier than 11 (for example, version 4, 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, and 10) and who said the Adobe was in the process of correcting any of its documentation that might suggest otherwise.

For Reference, Sharing To Videotape For Premiere Elements 4, 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, And 10

Premiere Elements 10. 
Share
Tape
Record to DV Tape

Premiere Elements 9.0/9.0.1
Share
Tape
Record to DV Tape

Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1
Share
Tape   Record to DV or HDV Tape

Premiere Elements 7
Share
Tape   Record to DV or HDV Tape

and

File Menu/Export/Movie
Export to Tape

Premiere Elements 4
Share
Tape   Record to DV or HDV Tape

and

File Menu/Export/Movie
Export to Tape

_________________________________________________________________________________

ATR

Saturday, March 22, 2014

PE11: Full Background Replacement Faux Widescreen Disc Menu


INTRODUCTION

Customization of the disc menus in the Movie Menu section of Premiere Elements 11 includes replacement of the background in the menus. However, often this replacement allows for only partial replacement of the original background.

ISSUE

The specific question that came up was "How do I get a full background replacement for the existing background for the Premiere Elements 11 General/Faux Widescreen disc menu?"

The main menu of the Adobe Faux Widescreen disc theme with its original background displays in the Movie Menu customization area as shown in Figure 1 (view when no scene markers yet added).

Figure 1. Adobe General/Faux Widescreen Main Menu With Original Background. No Scene Markers Applied.

 A full replacement for built in black border plus the gray panel cannot be obtained by using the Adjustments/Menu Background option in the Movie Menu customization of the program. The end result for such an attempt is represented in Figure 2.


Figure 2. Adobe General/Faux Widescreen  Main Menu With Original Background Replaced Within The Project In Movie Menu Adjustments/Menu Background.


However, a full replacement for the built in black borders plus the gray panel can be obtained by going into the .psd file for the main menu and replacing the background in the .psd's Layers Palette. (One new Background Layer is created as the original Background Layer and original Black Bars Layer are deleted in the process)

Photoshop Elements can do this job since opening of the .psd Layers Sets is not involved. When Photoshop Elements 11 was used for the edit of the .psd file, the end result is represented in Figure 3.


Figure 3. Adobe General/Faux Widescreen Main Menu Background Replaced By Replacing Background In The Layers Palette Of The Main Menu's PSD File.
The image used for the replacement background was 1050 x 576 pixels.

Here the .psd editing is being done with Photoshop Elements for reasons stated above. If Photoshop CS or higher is being used instead, editing of the text layers in the subLayer groups can be done at this stage for a more permanent result. With Photoshop Elements as the .psd editor for reasons stated above, then  appropriate text editing (font, font size, font color) is easily be done when the modified menu is opened within the project in Movie Menu section.

SOLUTION

Solution to the ISSUE of Full vs Partial Background Replacement for the Faux Widescreen disc menu template is found by removing the Background Layer and Black Bars Layer in the Layers Palette of the main menu's psd file and adding one Background Layer as the replacement. Appropriate text editing for font, font size, font color can be done when the menu is opened within the project in Movie Menu section (when Photoshop Elements is being used as .psd editor).

Note: Although the mentions are for main menu and Premiere Elements 11, the principles apply also to scene menu and Premiere Elements 4 through 12 where the Faux Widescreen is available. The use of Faux Widescreen theme is indicated for use in NTSC DV Standard or PAL DV Standard projects. There is no set of "w" widescreen or "hd" high definition files for Faux Widescreen as there are for many of the themes.

HOW TO

Premiere Elements 11 Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit NTSC DV Standard Project

STEP 1
Locate the files to be modified.

The files sought are 

faux_widescreen_pal_s_mm.psd
and
faux_widescreen_pal_s_sm.psd

(They are sized by Adobe for a NTSC DV Standard or PAL DV Standard project. There are no "w" widescreen or "hd" counterparts as is the case for many of the other themes)

These files can be located
Local Disk C\Program Data\Adobe\Premiere Elements\11.0\Online\DVD Templates\All_Lang\General\Faux Widescreen.

Figure 4. Faux Widescreen Files In Program Data Directory For Background Replacement.

STEP 2

Prepare the files for modification.

Place copy of each of the two .psd files involved into a new desktop folder named specialfaux.

Change the names of the the .psd files inside the specialfaux folder.

faux_widescreen_pal_s_mm.psd
to
specialfaux_widescreen_pal_s_mm.psd

and

faux_widescreen_pal_s_sm.psd
to
specialfaux_widescreen_pal_s_sm.psd


STEP 3

Edit the main menu .psd file to replace the background.

From the computer desktop location, open the main menu.psd file in Photoshop Elements, and, in the Layers Palette, delete the Background Layer and the Black Bars Layer.

Figure 5. Photoshop Elements 11 Editing Of PSD Of Faux Widescreen Main Menu.

Then with the bottom Play All Layer Set selected, go to File Menu/Open in order to open the replacement background image. It will appear on screen. In addition, a copy of the file will be in the Photo Bin along with the .psd file. With the mouse cursor drag the image from the screen into the .psd file in the Photo Bin. The .psd file should now reappear with the replacement image in its Layers Palette. If it is not already, drag the replacement image to the bottom of the Layers in the Layers Palette. Important: Rename the replacement image from Layer 1 to Background.

Save the edited file, replacing the original copy with the edited file. Maintain the file name and formatting.

If a replacement background is wanted for the scene menu, then apply the same principles as above.

STEP 4
Place the modified files/folders in the correct directory location

At this point,  the modified .psd files for the Faux Widescreen theme are in the in the specialfaux folder on the computer desktop. Place the specialfaux Folder in a new folder named Simon Specials, and then place the Simon Specials Folder inside the Common Folder in the following path:

Local Disk C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\DVD Templates\Common

Note: For user modified themes, I prefer this directory location cited.


STEP 5
Find the modified Faux Widescreen in the opened project with a NTSC DV Standard project preset.

The modified menu will be found Tools Menu/Movie Menu and, in the dislay of Movie Menu choices, under Simon Specials/specialfaux.


_________________________________________________________________________________


September 03 2014 Add On
Also see blog post
PE: Disc Menu Folders/Files Locations
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/09/pe-disc-menu-foldersfiles-locations.html


ATR





Thursday, March 20, 2014

PE: Rubberband Options Detailed

INTRODUCTION

The rubberband is an orange line that runs through a Timeline's video and audio clip. By default the video clip's rubberband represents Opacity, and the audio clip's rubberband represents Volume. At the Timeline level that rubberband can be a convenient way to change Opacity and/or Volume of the whole clip or to keyframe* the Opacity and/or Volume property so that it varies along the duration of the clip.  The rubberband's defaults of Opacity and Volume were detailed in the June 2013 blog post titled "PE:11 Video and Audio Track Content Rubberband"

It was shown in that blog post that the video rubberband can be moved down or up to change the clip's Opacity from 100 to 0% and back. (The default is 100%.) And, the audio rubberband can be moved up to increase  the clip's Volume from 0.0 dB to 6.02 dB or down to decrease the clip's Volume from 0.0 dB to -infinity symbol. (The default is 0.0 dB.) It was also pointed out that these changes going on at Timeline rubberband are reflected** in  Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Opacity Panel expanded and Adjust Tab/Adjustments Palette/Volume Panel expanded, alternative locations to make the Opacity and Volume changes respectively.

Our focus in what follows will be on the video clip's rubberband and replacing its default Opacity with Motion properties. The relationship of the rubberband settings and Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded settings for these properties will also be explored.

ISSUE

But, the video and audio clip rubberbands can be made to represent other than the default Opacity and Volume respectively. The alternative choice for Opacity is Motion, and Motion has several property options which are:

  • Position
  • Scale
  • Constrain Proportions
  • Rotation
  • Anchor Point
  • Anti-flicker filter

How do these properties behave when each is adjusted at the Timeline rubberband level and at the Applied Effects level?

SOLUTION

The ISSUE's' "How do these properties behave when each is adjusted at the Timeline rubberband level and at the Applied Effects level?" will be explored and detailed.

OBSERVATIONS

Position

When the Timeline video title is changed to include Motion Position instead of Opacity Opacity, the rubberband represents Position and presents with the rubberband running horizontally across the middle of the clip. At this point, it was not found possible to move that rubberband in any way nor change its shape.

It was only after keyframes were added to the clip that the rubberband shape and position could be modified by changing the two Position values and in addition using Bezier handles.
The two Position values can be changed in either of 2 ways
  • with the Timeline Indicator at a particular keyframe (white dot) above the Timeline rubberband, change the position of the image in the screen
  • in Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded/Position - change first value, decrease the value to move image to the left and increase it moves image to right; whereas, second value, decrease the value to move image upward and increase it to move image downward)
Keyframes could be added to the video clip either from Applied Effects Tab area was well as from the Add/Remove Keyframe icon which is located under the name of the Video track. However, these Position keyframes are located above the rubberband and not on the rubberband, like Anchor Point and unlike Scale, Constrain Proportions, Rotation, and Anti-flicker Filter.

Lots more details. More another time.

Scale

When the Timeline video title is changed to include Motion Scale instead of Opacity Opacity, the rubberband represents Scale and moving that rubberband up and down determines the level of scaling to be applied to a clip. The rubberband default displays as 100% (range 0 to 1200%) when the Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded Anti-flicker filter reading shows as 100.0% (range 0.0 to 1200.0%). However, the Scale rubberband readings between the extreme values display with 2 places to the right of the decimal point when the Applied Effects Tab route is displaying with 1 place to the right of the decimal point.

Scale is a keyframable properties at the Timeline rubberband level as well as via the Applied Effects Tab route. Also see Constrain Proportions property write up as it relates to Scale property.

Constrain Proportions

When the Timeline video title is changed to include Motion Constrain Proportions instead of Opacity Opacity, the rubberband represents Constrain Proportions which determines whether Scale is going to scale width and height together or just one or the other. The rubberband in this case has only two possible positions

ALL THE WAY TO TOP
(Default, allows Width and Height To be Scaled Together)
  • Enables Constrain Proportions
  • Leaves check mark next to Constrain Proportions in Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded 
  • Offers the choice of Scale (width and height together) when the next step is changing the Timeline video title to include Motion Scale instead of the previously set Motion Constrain Proportions
or

ALL THE WAY TO BOTTOM
(Allows Width and Height To Be Scaled Separately)
  • Disables Constrain Proportions
  • Triggers the removal of the check mark next to Constrain Proportions in Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects/Palette/Motion Panel expanded 
  • Triggers the choices of Scale Height and Scale Width when the next step is changing the Timeline video title to include Motion Scale Height or Scale Width instead of the previously set Motion Constrain Proportions. 
  • Rather than set for Motion Scale Height or Scale Width, there is the opportunity to leave the Motion Constrain Proportions set as is, click on the image in the Edit area monitor to bring up the image's bounding box, and then use the handles on the bounding box to scale the image's height and width separately.
Constrain Proportions appears to be a keyframable property at the Timeline rubberband level as well as via the Applied Effects Tab route.

Lots of variations.

Rotation

When the Timeline video title is changed to include Motion Rotation instead of Opacity Opacity, the rubberband represents Rotation with a default of 0 x 0.0 at the Rubberband level and 0.0 at the Applied Effects Tab area. The Rotation Rubberband can be moved up to rotate the clip to the right and moved down to rotate the clip left. The range is -91x-8.0 to 91x7.0 in the Rotation Rubberband readout at the Timeline level; whereas it is -90x-359.0 to 90 x 359.0. Whatever does all that mean?

When it gets to the keyframing aspects of Rotation, Rotation is apparently set up to allow the rotation from 0 to 360 degrees more than once - judging from the prefix used, probably up to 91 times. Guess-estimate is that the range -90x-359.9 to 90 x 359.0 is the rounded off version of -91x-8.0 to 91x7.0. When keyframing of Rotation is not involved in this scheme of things, consequently 45, 1x45, 2x45, 3x45 and so on through 90x45 is the same 45 degree rotation to the right. And, -45, -1x-45, -2x-45, -3x-45 and so on through -90x-45 is the same 45 degrees rotation to the left.

With all this going on, if the goal is to rotate a cell phone photo to correct its orientation, best right click the video clip and select Rotate 90 Left or Rotate 90 Right.

Rotation appears to be a keyframable property at the Timeline rubberband level as well as via the Applied Effects Tab route.

Anchor Point

The Anchor Point of an image is the image's center point by default. And, if you would go to rotate the image, the image would rotate around the image's center point, the Anchor Point. The values for Position, Scale, and Rotation are calculated from this Anchor Point.

In one SD project with Anchor Points 1632.0 and 1224.0, it was seen
  • if just the first value of the pair was decreased, the Anchor Point moved to the left
  • if just the first value of the pair was increased, the Anchor Point moved to the right
  • if just the second value of the pair was decreased, the Anchor Point moved  up
  • if just the second value of the pair was increased, the Anchor Point moved down
Refer to Position observations as Position and Anchor Point observations mirror one another in many respects.

Anti-flicker Filter

 The Anti-flicker Filter is used to reduce flicker in an image. Blurriness may be a consequence of too high an Anti-flicker Filter setting.

When the Timeline video title is changed to include Motion Anti-flicker Filter instead of Opacity Opacity, the rubberband represents Anti-flicker Filter, and moving that rubberband up and down  determines the level of Anti-flicker to be applied to a clip. The rubberband default displays as 0 (range 0 to 1) when the Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded Anti-flicker filter reading shows as 0.00 (range 0.00 to 1.00). However, the Anti-flicker Filter rubberband readings between the extreme values in both cases display with 2 places to the right of the decimal point.

Anti-flicker Filter is a keyframable properties at the Timeline rubberband level as well as via the Applied Effects Tab route.




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* Keyframes (white dots) for a property, example Opacity, can be set on the rubberband by
  • placing the Timeline Indicator at the location for the keyframe to be generated and then clicking on the Add/Remove Keyframe icon located below the Video Track name
or
  • Holding down the Ctrl key of the computer main keyboard and clicking on the location on the rubberband where the keyframe is to be placed
Refer to Screenshot 1 for overview with just the first keyframe set at 74.85% with rubberband dragged down from 100 to 74.85%.

Screenshot 1. Premiere Elements 12. Overview Keyframing Video Clip Opacity At Timeline Rubberband Level.
But remember, to be able to view the rubberband keyframes (white dots) for a property, right click the video clip, select "Show Clip Keyframes" followed by, in this case, Opacity. Note that the 74.85 Opacity readout seen in screenshot is seen only in the dragging on the rubberband.

** Audio rubberband Volume Volume range is actually 0.0 to 6.02 dB when the Adjust Tab/
Adjustment Palette/Volume Panel expanded shows 0.0 to 6.0 dB. But both show the same range 0.0 to - infinity symbol at the extremes. The rubberband in between readings go out to 2 places to the right of the decimal point, whereas Adjust Tab route to Volume readings go out to 1 place to the right of the decimal point.
Video rubberband Opacity Opacity range is actually 0 to 100% when the Applied Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Opacity Panel shows 0.0 to 100.0%. But, the rubberband in between readings goes out to 2 places to the right of the decimal point; whereas Applied Tab route to Opacity readings goes out to 1 place to the right of the decimal point.



Blog post has been proof read several times, and all looks OK. But, still work in progress.

Friday, March 7, 2014

PE12: 12.1 Update Released

INTRODUCTION

Today March 7, 2014 Adobe released the 12.1 Update for Photoshop Elements 12, Elements Organizer 12, and Premiere Elements 12. The description that came with the download for each was the same and did not give the specifics for the Update. In the case of Premiere Elements 12.1 Update, the message read

This update corrects a number of issues with Premiere Elements regarding stability and performance. It is suggested that all users upgrade.

The Adobe Application Manager is used to download this 12.1 Update.The stages of the Premiere Elements 12.1 Update download and installation are represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The computer operating system in this example is Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.

Figure 1. Initial Stage Of Adobe Premiere Elements 12.1 Update.


Figure 2. Downloading Stage Of Adobe Premiere Elements 12.1 Update

Figure 3. Uploading Stage Of Adobe Premiere Elements 12.1 Update.

At about the 44% mark of the Updating Stage, the updating stops and pops up the message to close Premiere Elements 12 which has remained open to that point.


Figure 4. Updating Stage Message To Close The Still Open Adobe Premiere Elements 12 Before Continuing On With The Adobe Premiere Elements 12.1 Update Installation.


Once Premiere Elements 12 is closed, followed by clicking the Continue button, the updating of Premiere Elements 12 to 12.1 goes to completion successfully.

Once the updating is completed, "12.1" can be found in Premiere Elements
Premiere Elements Workspace: Help Menu/About Adobe Premiere Elements
Elements Organizer Workspace: Help Menu/About Elements Organizer

WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS CORRECTED BY PREMIERE ELEMENTS 12.1 Update

Other than "...corrects a number of stabilility and performance issues...", it is not clear what the Adobe Engineers corrected in this 12.1 Update specific to Premiere Elements Editor. However, the Adobe Photoshop Elements Forum is starting to offer insights into changes in Elements Organizer 12.1.

Premiere Elements 12.1 Text/Styles/Titler

1. March 10, 2014. We noted that the Premiere Elements 12.1 Update has corrected the known Expert workspace text Styles issue which has been preventing the user from editing Styles applied to text in the Titler. The Quick workspace never had the problem. The user to user fix before the 12.1 Update was to toggle between Expert and Quick workspaces to get "the editing Styles applied to text" done in the Titler. Finding was posted in Adobe Premiere Elements Forum today and confirmed by Forum's moderator.
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1424852?tstart=0

Enhancement in Elements 12.1 Update According to Adobe

2. April 2, 2014.
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/updates-elements-121-release.html 


ERRORS WHEN INSTALLING 12.1 UPDATE

Several trying to install the 12.1 Update  have run into errors
U44M1P7 or U44M1P6 (for Mac)
and
U441P2003 (for Windows)

Resolutions to this issue are described by Adobe in the following KB article titled "Help/Update 12.1 installation erros/Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements"
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/elements-12-1-update-error.html


Work In Progress
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ATR









Tuesday, March 4, 2014

PE11 and 12: Camera Raw Plug-In Version

INTRODUCTION

The Adobe Camera Raw plug-in enables editing raw image format in a Photoshop Elements Camera Raw dialog but only allows for importing raw (and .dng) images into Premiere Elements. The requirements for the processes involve
  • Camera Raw version must support the camera that created the raw image format
  • Photoshop Elements/Premiere Elements version must support the version of Camera Raw installed
http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html

The latest available Camera Raw Update version for Photoshop Elements 12/Premiere Elements 12 is 8.3. The last* available Camera Raw Update version for Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11 is  7.4. So, if the user's camera is not supported until a Camera Raw version later than 7.4, the user has two choices
  • Go to a later version of Photoshop Elements/Premiere Elements that supports a version of Camera Raw that supports the camera involved
  • Use the DNG Converter to convert the raw image into .dng (in one example, a Nikon D7100 nef converted to .dng with an Adobe DNG Converter could be edited in Photoshop Elements 7 Camera Raw 5.5 version.)
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/extend.displayTab2.html

The Camera Raw Update supported by a Photoshop Elements/Premiere Elements version is obtained via the opened project's Help Menu/Update. The manual installation of a Camera Raw Update download from Adobe is no longer available and/or rare to come by.

ISSUE

Under the circumstances, can Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11 be pushed to work with a version of Camera Raw later than 7.4, like 8.1, 8.2 or 8.3? And, where to find a Camera Raw 8.1, 8.2, or 8.3 Update download, and, if found, how to install it?

SOLUTION

Download for Camera Raw 8.1 was found and installed manually for use in Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11.
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1266134

The installation of the Camera Raw 8.1 Plug-in in Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11 extended the list of camera's whose raw images could be edited successful with Photoshop Elements 11 or could be imported into Premiere Elements for inclusion into a video project.
The same could be done for Camera Raw 8.2, but not for Camera Raw 8.3.

The how to for the manual install of the downloaded Camera Raw 8.1 Plug-in is described below.

IMPORTANT. The downloaded Camera Raw Plug-In 8.1 or 8.2 will be placed in the File Formats Folder in the path Local Disk C\Program (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements 11\File Formats\ Therefore, once the Camera Raw Plug-In is placed in that Common location, it applies to both Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements installed on that computer.


HOW TO 

STEP 1: Find a Camera Raw 8.1 Plug-In To Download And Install For Use In Photoshop Elements 11 And Premiere Elements 11 (Which Now Have Camera Raw 7.4)

In this case, a source for the Camera Raw 8.1 download was found in post  9 of the Adobe Photoshop Elements Forum thread
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1266134

The download puts a setup.zip file on the computer hard drive.

STEP 2: Go From Setup.Zip Folder to Camera Raw.8bi File Ready For Placement Onto Computer Hard Drive

Right click the setup.zip file, select Extract All from the drop down menu to get the setup Folder which includes
  • META-INF Folder
  • payloads Folder
  • AdobePatchInstaller.exe
Double click the payloads Folder to open it, and select its folder specifically named
AdobeCameraRaw7.0All-290513174249

Double click the AdobeCameraRaw7.0All-290513174249 Folder to open it, and look for its
Assets_1.zip Folder.

Right click the Assets_1.zip Folder and select Extract All to get a file named 1003.

Right click the 1003 file, select Rename from the drop down list, and change the name of the file from 1003 to Camera Raw.8bi.

STEP 3: Place The Camera Raw.8bi File In Its Hard Drive Location

Remove the Camera Raw.8bi file (representing Camera Raw 7.4) from the following File Formats Folder and replace it with the Camera Raw.8bi file (representing Camera Raw 8.1).

Local Disk C\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements 11\File Formats

STEP 4: Miscellaenous

If Photoshop Elements 11 is involved, then go to its Full Editor/Help Menu/About Plug-Ins and verify that Camera Raw is listed and listed as Camera Raw 8.1, not 7.4.

If Photoshop Elements 11 is involved, open a raw image in Camera Raw dialog and verify that the Camera Raw dialog opens displaying the raw image and that Camera Raw dialog is named Camera Raw 8.1, not 7.4.

Verify that you can import raw and dng images into Premiere Elements 11 with Premiere Elements 11's Add Media/Files and Folders.

Sources of Camera Raw 8.1 included
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1266134   (already stated as used in this study) 
and
http://swupdl.adobe.com/updates/oobe/aam20/win/PhotoshopCameraRaw7-7.0/8.1.79/setup.zip

Sources of Camera Raw 8.2 included
http://swupdl.adobe.com/updates/oobe/aam20/win/PhotoshopCameraRaw7-7.0/8.2.67/setup.zip

If Camera Raw 8.2, not Camera Raw 8.1, was being substituted for Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11 Camera Raw 7.4, then, in STEP 2, the Folder involved would be named
AdobeCameraRaw7.0All-110913154242 
instead of 
AdobeCameraRaw7.0All-290513174249.

No way was found to replace the Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11 Camera Raw 7.4 with 8.3. Although Camera Raw 8.3 could be made to appear in Photoshop Elements 11 Full Editor Help Menu/About Plug-Ins, attempts to edit the raw image format with this 8.3 subtitute resulted in "incompatibity issue" related to the version of Photoshop Elements.

Also, when the Camera Raw version was taken to a more recent version by the manual means cited in this blog post, it was found that the user could revert back to the earlier version of Camera Raw by these manual means without issue.

 COMMENTARY

Scope of this blog post is narrowed to Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11 as a model for the concept of using later versions of Camera Raw in earlier version of Photoshop Elements/Premiere Elements with a stated Camera Raw version cut off. The scope did not include other Elements versions besides 11 and 12 in consideration and is not attempting to define the relative merits of one version of Camera Raw over another, except that which relates to advantage of having more cameras support available.

Again, work is from the Photoshop Elements /Premiere Elements Windows perpective, Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.
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* According to the following Adobe document
http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/camera-raw-compatible-applications.html

Photoshop Elements 11/Premiere Elements 11
Shipped with Camera Raw Plug-In Version = 7.1
and
Compatible with Camera Raw Plug-In Through Version = 8.0 (we find through version 8.2 instead of 8.0)

Photoshop Elements 12/Premiere Elements 12
Shipped with Camera Raw Plug-In Version = 8.1
and
Compatible with Camera Raw Plug-In Through Version = 8.3

+July 3, 2014 Update
"Photoshop Camera Raw" 8.5 Update is now available as latest update for Photoshop Elements 12 and Premiere Elements via the program's Help Menu/Update. For more information, please visit the Adobe documents
Camera Raw Plug-In I Supported Cameras
http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html
Adobe DNG Converter 8.5