PE: Maximum Still Image Size

INTRODUCTION

The Limit

Adobe documentation as late as for Premiere Elements 12 (current version) cites 4096 x 4096 pixels as the maximum size for a still image import into the project. And, there are some who mistakenly believe that means "The limit is 4096 pixels in the largest dimension". Rather this maximum limit is in the total number of pixels, 16777216, obtained by multiplying the still image width 4096 in pixels by its height 4096 in pixels. In support of my interpretation of this still image import maximum dimensions, a while back I wrote

I believe the Adobe Premiere Elements Help PDF claims support for stills up to 4096 x 4096 pixels. But, 4096 is not the largest dimension since, if you try it, you will see that the determining factor is the total number of pixels 4096 x 4096 = 16777216, not 4096 as the largest dimension.

For example, 5000 x 3750 (4:3) would not work because 5000 x 3750 = 18750000. And, with Premiere Elements 7 or 8 Get Media/Files and Folders, you would get a message File video dimensions (width/height) too large. But, 4600 x 3450 (4:3) would import successfully since 4600 x 3450 = 15870000. There are all sorts of math possibilities. Key is not to exceed 16777216.

As you said, typically you would choke the system with images with these sizes, and the highest export resolution is 1920 x 1080. That Help PDF max file support size plus "Premiere Elements will automatically resize photos for you" need more explanation than that which is provided in Adobe description. So, why do they give that high a limit? I saw one conjecture that it had to set a limit somewhere so users would not crash their PCs????

 The Adobe Enforcement of the Limit

In Premiere Elements 4 through 9 (all only 32 bits applications),  the import of a still image greater than this maximum limit is not possible and is blocked from being imported by the program with "File Dimensions (width/height) too large"Add Media Failure message.

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 9.0/9.0.1 Add Media Failure Message When Still Image Total Pixels Exceeds 16777216 Pixels.

Figure 2. Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1 Add Media Failure Message When Still Image Total Pixels Exceeds 16777216 Pixels.

However, although Premiere Elements 10, 11, and 12 documentation contain the same "4096 x 4096" still image dimensions limit, it was found that still images with pixel dimensions of at least 10000 x 7500 pixels (total pixels = 75000000) could be imported into each of these programs without this Add Media Failure message popping up.

ISSUE

How is the "4096 x 4096" still image dimensions limit published by Adobe consistent with the fact that Premiere Elements 10, 11, and 12 permit the import of still images with pixel dimensions of at least as large as  10000 x 7500 pixels?

SOLUTION

Premiere Elements 10, 11, or 12 can be a 32 or 64 bit application depending on the computer operating system on which it is running. Premiere Elements 4 through 9 can only be a 32 bit application whether they are run on a 32 or 64 bit computer. It appears that it is Premiere Elements 32 bit application that has the still image dimensions limit enforced by Adobe to the point where the still image fails to import with the error message cited in the INTRODUCTION. In Premiere Elements 64 bit application, the Adobe enforcement of a maximum still image dimension is non-existent. This situation can be seen in the comparison Premiere Elements 10 on Windows XP Professional SP3 32 bit where the 10000 x 7500 image fails to import and the Add Media Failure message presents; whereas, the Premiere Elements 10 on Windows 7 Professional SP2 64 bit allows the import of the 10000 x 7500 without the Add Media Failure message or other issue.

Is it OK to take advantage of this Premiere Elements 10, 11, or 12 64 bit perk which allows for the import of images which are grossly oversized for the project settings? Just because the user can import still images into Premiere Elements 10, 11, or 12 when the still image dimensions reflect total pixels greater than 16777216, does not mean the user should. The answer goes to a large extent to computer resources. If Premiere Elements 10, 11, or 12 is run on Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 64 bit, it is a 64 bit application which benefits from the 64 bit resources; whereas otherwise Premiere Elements is a 32 bit application which is limited by the limitations of 32 bit system characterized by its maximum supported installed RAM = 4 GB of which typically 3.2 to 3.0 GB of that are available.

As for Premiere Elements 4 through 9 (32 bit application), there is no solution to make one of these programs allow the import of a still image whose total pixels count is greater than 16777216 pixels. As for Premiere Elements 10, 11, or 12, the solution to get these still images whose total pixels are greater than 16777216 to import successfully into a project is to use the 64 bit version of the program and have enough computer resource support.

It is assumed that these considerations would apply to Premiere Elements Mac as well as Premiere Elements Windows, but no Premiere Elements Mac testing on this has been done. Keep in mind that 

• The first version of Premiere Elements to offer a Mac version was Premiere Elements 9.0. Both the Premiere Elements 9 Windows and Mac versions are only 32 bit applications.    
• The first Premiere Elements Windows version to offer a 64 bit application is verison 10; whereas a 64 bit application for Premiere Elements Mac was not available until Premiere Elements 11.

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PE12: Disc Finalization

INTRODUCTION

Often it is seen that a player's specifications include the need for a finalized disc in order for that disc to be playable on that device. Just what does "finalized disc" mean?

• A disc where there is no free space and therefore no more data can be written to it? 

• Or, a disc where there is existing free space, but, in the burn to disc, a lead out has been written for the last session? 

Definitions for disc finalization found online and in player user guides are confusing in trying to make those fine distinctions between no more data being written to the disc because no free space, free space but last session written with lead out, and whether or not the disc can actually be played on a particular player.

A LG BH12 Blu-ray DVD burner on Windows 7 Professional 64 bit was used in the studies to follow.  If that drive was right clicked to bring up Properties/Recording Tab and its Global Settings, the following options could be seen

BD-RE Drive And Properties/Recording Global Settings (Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit).

And, in spite of those Global Settings for "closed disc", Premiere Elements AVCHD on DVD and Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc will present with free space on the disc, and ImgBurn Read of those discs will show "Empty" for Status and "Incomplete" for State of Last Session for AVCHD DVD and "Incomplete" for Status and "Incomplete" for State of Last Session for Blu-ray disc format on BD-R disc.

ISSUE

What do the disc's properties for Used Spaced, Free Space, and Capacity look like for Premiere Elements burn to DVD-VIDEO on DVD-R disc, AVCHD on DVD-R disc, and Blu-ray disc format on BD-R disc when the same project and Timeline content are used in the comparison?

And, what is a possible how to for "finalizing" a disc so that the end  disc properties present with 0 free space and give a "Complete" in the ImgBurn Read of the disc for Status and State of Last Session?

ISSUE EVALUATION

Comparison of Disc's properties of Used Spaced, Free Space, and Capacity

Premiere Elements 12, Same Project, Same Timeline Content Used In Comparison

The Blank DVD-R disc properties
Used Space = 0 bytes
Free Space = 4.38 GB
Capacity = 4.38 GB

Premiere Elements DVD-VIDEO Widescreen on DVD-R Disc

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Disc
DVD, disc with preset = NTSC_Widescreen_Dolby DVD
Burn Dialog: Space Required = 128.00 MB and Bitrate = 8.00 Mbps

The disc properties result was the same whether burn to was done with or without a check mark next to "Fit Contents to Available Space" in the burn dialog.

Used Space = 93.1 MB
Free Space = 0 bytes
Capacity = 93.1 MB

If the disc was read with ImgBurn

Status = Complete
State of Last Session = Complete

And, if an attempt was made to use this end product disc in another Premiere Elements burn to, the result in the Burn dialog was Status = Incompatible Disc.

There were no problems getting playback of the Premiere Elements DVD-VIDEO on DVD disc using computer players or TV DVD players.

Premiere Elements AVCHD on DVD-R Disc

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Disc
AVCHD, disc with preset =  H.264 1920 x 1080i NTSC Dolby
Burn Dialog: Space Required = 202.00 MB and Bitrate 15.74 Mbps

The disc properties result was the same whether burn to was done with or without a check mark next to "Fit Content to Available Space" in the burn dialog, with the minor exception Used Space = 254 MB when the burn to did not include "Fit Content to Available Space".

Used Space = 255 MB
Free Space = 4.13 GB
Capacity = 4.38 GB

If the disc was read with ImgBurn

Status =Incomplete
State of Last Session =Empty

And, if an attempt was made to use this end product disc in another Premiere Elements burn to, the result in the Burn dialog was Status = Disc is not blank and the Burn button would be grayed out.

There was no problems getting playback of the Premiere Elements AVCHD DVD on the computer using CyberLink PowerDVD 9 as the player.

Premiere Elements Blu-Ray Disc Format on BD-R Disc

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Disc
Blu-ray, with preset = H.264 1920 x 1080i NTSC Dolby
Burn Dialog: Space Required = 308.00 MB and Bitrate 20.19 Mbps

The disc properties result was the same whether burn to was done with or without a check mark next to "Fit Content to Available Space" in the burn dialog. As reported in an earlier blog post, if the Space Required is 23 GB or less and "Fit Content to Available Space" is checked, an Adobe Media Encoder Error "Property Data Invalid" message is likely to pop up before hitting the Burn button in the Burn dialog.

Used Space =  0 bytes
Free Space = 22.4 GB
Capacity = 22.4 GB

If the disc was read with ImgBurn

Status = Incomplete
State of Last Session = Incomplete

And, if an attempt was made to use this end product disc in another Premiere Elements burn to BD-R, the result in the Burn dialog was Status = Disc is not blank and the Burn button would be grayed out.

There was no problems getting playback of the Premiere Elements Blu-ray disc format on BD-R disc on the computer uisng CyberLink PowerDVD 9 as the player. 

SOLUTION

If free space on a disc after burn is used as the criteria for a non finalized versus finalized disc, the above would suggest that Premiere Elements finalizes its DVD-VIDEO on DVD disc, but not its AVCHD on DVD disc or Blu-ray disc format on BD-R disc. If that is really the case (no judgment being made on that at this time), the following might be a solution for finalizing these discs in ImgBurn after the burn to in Premiere Elements. To do this, the Premiere Elements AVCHD DVD is copied in ImgBurn to produce a disc image which is then written to a DVD-R in ImgBurn to produce a AVCHD DVD with no free space on the disc as per the properties read.

Taking the example of the Premiere Elements AVCHD on DVD disc detailed above

1. The AVCHD on DVD disc is copied in ImgBurn using "Create Image File from Disc"
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=6379

2. Then the Image File generated in the copy process is written to a DVD-R disc using "Write image file to disc"
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

Before Premiere Elements AVCHD DVD
Used Space = 255 MB
Free Space = 4.13 GB
Capacity = 4.38 GB

After AVCHD DVD
Used Space = 199 MB
Free Space = 0 bytes
Capacity =  199 MB

Interestingly the CyberLink Power Producer software that came with the LG burner produces an AVCHD DVD which like, Premiere Elements's AVCHD DVD, presents with free space in the disc properties.

COMMENTARY

The above generates more questions than answers. Do we put the disc creations through the ImgBurn drill or the like for those disc creations being given to relatives to preempt a disc return? Many more details to explore, so definitely a work in progress.

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PE12: Audio Features

INTRODUCTION

Browsing through Premiere Elements 12* audio features recently, some "I never thought about that before" audio features surfaced. This blog post will highlight some of these.

Audio Clip Rubberband Options

An overall view of the video and audio clip rubberband feature was first written about here in the June 2013 blog post. And, a detailed view of the video clip rubberband associated properties appeared in the March 2014 blog post. So, time for a detailed view of the audio clip rubberband associated properties of Volume:Clip Volume, Volume:Bypass, Balance:Balance, and Balance:Bypass. What are they all about?

The audio clip rubberband is made to represent one of these properties by clicking on the tiny triangle in the Timeline audio clip title. (See Figure 1).

By default the Timeline audio clip rubberband represents Volume:Clip Volume. The default volume for an audio clip is 0.0 dB which is used to represent the original volume level when the clip was recorded. The range for the volume adjustment is 6.02 dB to - ∞ (at the rubberband level) and 6.0 dB to - ∞ (going the route of Adjust Tab/Adjustments Palette/Volume Panel expanded).

And the Volume (loudness) of an audio clip can be set at one level across the duration of the clip at the Timeline rubberband level (dragging the rubberband up or down from 0.00 dB with the mouse cursor or selecting the clip and then using the volume slider in the Adjust Tab/Adjustments Palette/Volume Panel expanded route to increase or decrease the volume above or below 0.0 dB.

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 12. Audio Clip Rubberband Associated Properties And Areas For Volume Keyframe Controls. Here The Audio Clip Rubberband Is Shown Being Set to Volume:Clip Volume.

If the audio clip rubberband is set for the property Volume:Clip Volume and keyframing of the volume is done, only the Volume:Clip Volume keyframes will appear on the rubberband as white dots while that set is in effect.

The Volume:Bypass choice will allow the user to set Volume:Bypass keyframes for those sections of the audio where sound change from the original is not wanted. During that "bypassed" area, the volume will be that at 0 dB (the clip volume at the time of its recording). For the Volume Bypass keyframing to function, the Volume:Clip Volume needs to be set at any level other than 0 dB. The Volume:Clip Volume does not have to be keyframed for Volume:Bypass to work. It just needs to be set at anything other than 0.0 dB. The Volume:Bypass keyframes are either On or Off. If the audio clip rubberband set for Volume:Bypass is dragged all the way to the top of the clip, then Volume:Bypass in On. Conversely, if it is dragged all the way to the bottom of the audio clip, then Volume:Bypass is Off.

In the following example (See Figure 2), the audio clip Volume:Clip Volume is set at - ∞ to mute the sound. No keyframing of Volume:Clip Volume. Three Volume:Bypass keyframes are set so that the sound muted by the - ∞ volume setting is heard for that period of time where the On - Off - On Volume:Bypass keyframes are placed. If it were not for the Volume:Bypass keyframes, there would be no sound for that audio clip because of the - ∞ volume setting.

Figure 2. Premiere Elements 12. Audio Clip Rubberband Associated Properties Of Volume:Clip Volume and Volume:Bypass. Here The Rubberband Set Is For Volume:Bypass So The Keyframes Shown Are For Volume:Bypass.

Note: Only one type of property keyframe can be displayed at one time in the Timeline audio clip rubberband. Here the set is Volume:Bypass keyframes. If the user needs to see the Volume:ClipVolume keyframes if they were set, then the user needs to set to Volume:Clip Volume in the audio clip title and then to right click the audio clip, select Show Clip Keyframes, followed by Volume, followed by Clip Volume.

Audio balance relates to the relative volume between the left and right audio channels. The default set is 0.00 (range +100.00 to -100.00) at rubberband level and 0.0 (range +100.0 to -100.0) at the Adjust Tab/Adjustments Palette/Balance Panel expanded. Negative values give greater proportion of the volume to the left channel, and positive values give greater proportion of the volume to the right channel. The same relationship exists between Balance:Balance and Balance:Bypass as was  demonstrated for Volume:Clip Volume and Volume:Bypass.

Note: Balance is not available for projects for 5.1 channel audio.

Audio Meter and Audio Mixer

Audio can consists of separate streams (channels) of audio information, typical examples include 1 channel (mono), 2 channels (stereo), and 6 channels (5.1 channel).  The 5.1 channel presents with 5 normal audio channels (left, center, right, left surround, right surround). The 6th is the subwoofer channel (LFE) carrying extended bass.

If the Premiere Elements 12 project is set for a project preset described for use with 2 channel sound (Stereo) source, then, whether a 2 channel  or 5.1 channel audio clip is dragged to the Expert workspace Timeline Audio Track 1, the same "2 channel" result is obtained at the Timeline, Audio Meter, and Audio Mixer levels. (See Figure 3)

• Timeline: the two wave forms representative of 2 channel, Balance setting available.

• Audio Meter: two vertical bars representative of 2 channel

• Audio Mixer: Audio 1, two vertical bars representative of 2 channel, Balance setting available.

Figure 3. Premiere Elements 12 Stereo Project Expert Workspace. 2 Channel And 5.1 Channel Sources And Timeline, Audio Meter, Audio Mixer Displays.

If the above is repeated with the same 2 channel and 5.1 channel audio sources, but the Premiere Elements 12 project preset is one which is described for use with 5.1 channel audio source, then whether the source is 2 channel or 5.1 channel, the same "5.1 channel" result is obtained at the Timeline, Audio Meter, and Audio Mixer levels. (See Figure 4). Of note, these results are different from what was seen when a 2 channel project preset was in effect. Now seen

• Timeline: 6 wave forms representative of 5.1 channel. Balance setting is not available.

• Audio Meter: six vertical bars representative of 5.1 channel

• Audio Mixer: Audio 1, 6 vertical bars representative of 5.1 channel. Balance Control is gone for Audio tracks. Balance setting is not available elsewhere.

Figure 4. Premiere Elements 12 5.1 Channel Project Expert Workspace. 2 Channel And 5.1 Channel Sources And Timeline, Audio Meter, And Audio Mixer Displays.

   
Is is interesting to note that, even though the 2 channel audio clip can be dragged to a new Audio Track 4 (stereo track) to present with only the 2 channel wave forms instead of 5.1 representation as on Audio Track 1 (5.1 Track), Audio Meter still displays with no Balance Controls.

Figure 3 bring up a possible easy way using Audio Mixer and Audio Meter to present the concept of audio balance (the relative proportion of the volume between left and right channels) and Volume:Bypass. (See Figure 5). The ingredients for such a demo would include:

• Volume:Bypass keyframes set for On and Off for a certain duration of the 2 channel audio clip

• Balance:Balance set at 100 so that the right channel would have the greater proportion of the volume

Figure 5. Premiere Elements 12 2 Channel Project Expert Workspace. Concept Of Volume:Bypass And Balance:Balance. Balance On And Off Keyframes Showing.

At the start, the Balance setting of 100 is shiftying the greater proportion of the 2 channel volume to the right channel. During this time, the Audio Meter and Audio Mixer show activity in the right channel vertical bar. When the Balance:Bypass is On, the Bypass blocks that 100 Balance setting and lets the 0 set (normal balance between left and right channel volume) exist. So, during the period when Balance:Bypass is On, then volume activity is seen in the right and left vertical bars of the Audio Meter and Audio Mixer

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* Premiere Elements 12 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit was used in this work.

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