PE12: Archiving Projects With Disc Menus

INTRODUCTION

Recently a Premiere Elements 12 Windows user selected the program's Project Archiver Copy Project option to archive  a project which included a customized Adobe disc menu. The intent was to use the project on another computer which had Premiere Elements 12 Windows installed. When this archived project was opened on the second computer, his project's disc menu was gone. If he selected Tools Menu/Movie Menu in the archived project, what opened was the display of Movie Menu theme choices and not the Movie Menu customization area displaying his customized Adobe disc menu. The answer to this situation was for him to download the Premiere Elements 12 Content for his disc menu theme (which he had not) in the second computer before opening the archived project in Premiere Elements 12 Windows second computer. The dynamics of this incident are the focus of this blog post.

ISSUE

The Project Archiver's Copied Folder and Trimmed Folder contain a copy of the project file (project prel) and an assortment of project items. But how is the disc menu of the archived project represented in these folders?

• The disc menu theme is embedded in the project.prel file.

• Still, audio, or video linked to audio file used as replacement for menu background is found in the Copied and Trimmed Folders as a copy of the individual file . (In the Copied Folder only, audio background replacement file as well as the audio in a video background replacement will present accompanied by conformed audio files.)

• The audio that Adobe built into some of the menu themes is embedded in the disc menu which is embedded in the project.prel and is not found in either the Copied or Trimmed Folders as an individual audio file with its conformed cfa and pek companions.

Although the Project Archiver provides for archiving of the project file and its Project Assets and Timeline media, the feature lends itself to lost disc menus if the archived project is to be used in a second computer with Premiere Elements because of the need to trace back to the disc menu theme folder in the directory/hard drive save location  that existed in the first computer before archiving.

SOLUTION

There are numerous variations to consider including

Scenario 1: If Premiere Elements 12 archived project containing disc menu (Content Download Required Type) is to be opened in Premiere Elements 12 on a second computer
Solution:  In Premiere Elements 12 on second computer (Tools Menu or Tools Tab/Movie Menu/Movie Menu display of choices), assure that the Content download was done for the disc menu theme which is embedded in the archived project.prel file.

Completing the disc menu theme folder with the Context download in the Movie Menu display of choices area in the second computer was an easy enough solution for the user who ran into the "lost disc menu" cited at the beginning of the Introduction. But, what is the Premiere Elements user to do if the disc menu is one created from scratch by the user for use in the first computer and wants to use the project with this menu in Premiere Elements on a second computer?

Scenario 2: If Premiere Elements 12 archived project containing a user created disc menu is to be opened in Premiere Elements 12 on a second computer.
Solution: On the second computer, place a copy of the folder containing the folder with the disc menu theme files in the same directory/hard drive location as existed on the first computer.

If the archived project's disc menu theme named Special Menu traced backed to the save location*
Local Disk C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\DVD Templates\Common\My Special Menus\Vacation Menu in the first computer, then before opening the archived project in the second computer, in the second computer, place a copy of the My Special Menus Folder containing the Vacation Menu Folder with the Vacation Menu disc menu theme files in the Common Folder of the path cited.

Scenario 3: If Premiere Elements 9 archived project containing a user created disc menu is to be opened in Premiere Elements 12 on a second computer.
Solution: Same principles as applied to Scenario 2.

The specifics details would include...
Computer 1, Premiere Elements 9 archived project's user created disc menu (Family History) had been saved in the path Local Disk C\Program Files (x86)\Adobe Premiere Elements 9\DVD Templates\Common\My Special Menus\Family History.
Computer 2. The My Special Menus Folder is copied/pasted to give
Local Disk C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\DVD Templates\Common\My Special Menus\Family History.

COMMENTARY

Copying the disc menu folder containing the folder with the disc menu files and pasting it in Copied or Trimmed Folder was convenient for transfer purposes between computers. But, this copy of the disc menu folder followed by paste in the Copied or Trimmed Folder was not a fix for "lost disc menus".

Also of note, projects created in an earlier program version can often be opened in a later version (no guarantees, but possible). But, once the earlier version project is edited in the later version of the program, it cannot be edited again in the earlier version. The same is holding true for opening an archived project file.

Archiving of a Premiere Elements project which includes disc menu has the potential for lost disc menu in that archived project opened on a second computer. "Immediate future" maneuvers are possible to resolve the issue in the second computer, but are likely to fail as Premiere Elements and its versions and features change with time.

See Footnote** for detailed example of Copied and Trimmed Folders contents when a Premiere Elements 12 project with a variety of assets is archived with the program's Project Archiver, Copy Project and Archive Project (Trimmed) options.


_____________________________________________________________________________
*Preferred save location here for user created disc menu is
Local Disk C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\DVD Templates\Common\
instead of
Local Disk C\Program Data\Adobe\Premiere Elements\12.0\Online
Please refer to:
http://www.atr935.blogspot.com/2013/05/pe11-no-content-disc-content-downloads.html

**Detailed Example of Project Archiver's Copied and Trimmed Folder Contents
Premiere Elements 12/12.1 on Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Project: NTSC AVCHD Full HD1080i30

Expert Workspace Before Archiving and Rendering of the Timeline Content

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 12/12.1 Project. NTSC AVCHD Full HD1080i30. Project Assets And Timeline Content Before Archiving.

All files were imported into the project via Add Media/Files and Folders/Project Assets from where they were dragged to the Timeline. Exceptions included

• IMG_209.JPG and Kalima.mp3 disc menu background replacements were automatically copied to Project Assets when applied to disc menu in the Movie Menu customization area.

• Title and New Item/Color Matte were automatically placed in Project Assets when they were selected for use in the project.

• Maid In the Flaxen Hair.mp3 was imported into Project Assets, but never dragged to the Timeline.

Copied Folder Content For The Archived Project with Disc Menu Seasons/Pink Tulips With Replacement Still Background and Replacement Audio Background

The Copied Folder is expected to contain copies of the media that were imported into the project whether or not they used in the Timeline.

Figure 2. Copied Folder Content For Archived Project With Disc Menu Seasons/Pink Tulips With Replacement Still Background and Replacement Audio Background

The Title, New Item/Color Matte, and Disc Menu are not seen. They are embedded in the project prel file named My New Video Project2.prel. (This also applies to New Item/Bars and Tone, Black Video, and Universal Counting Leader if used in an archived project.)

Only visible presence of Disc Menu in the Copied Folder are the files used as background replacements in the disc menus.

The project audio (standalone or audio linked to video) presented with its conformed audio files.

• CIMG3227.AVI with audio a part of the video/audio file on Video 1,  CIMG3227.AVI 44100.cfa and CIMG3227.AVI 44100.pek

• Maid With The Flaxen Hair.mp3 file (imported into Project Assets but not used in Timeline), Maid With The Flaxen Hair.mp3 44100.cfa and Maid With The Flaxen Hair.mp3 44100.pek

• Kalimba.mp3 file (used in disc menu audio replacement), Kalimba.mp3 44100.cfa and Kalimba.mp3 44100.pek.

• Sleep Away.mp3 file (used in Soundtrack), Sleep Away.mp3 44100_1.cfa and Sleep Away.mp3 44100_1.pek.

• Narration_1.wav file (narration clip created with Premiere Elements 12/12.1 Narration Tool and used in Narration Track), and only the Narration_1.wav 48000.pek.

The copies of the jpg photos on Video 1 presented in the Copied Folder.

And, the Adobe Premiere Elements Preview Files Folder was included in the Copied Folder.

Trimmed Folder Content For The Archived Project with Disc Menu Seasons/Pink Tulips With Replacement Still Background and Replacement Audio Background

The Trimmed Folder is expected to contain copies of just media that were imported into the project and used in the Timeline.

Figure 3. Trimmed Folder Content For Archived Project With Disc Menu Seasons/Pink Tulips With Replacement Still Background And Replacement Audio Background

The Title, New Item Color Matte, and Disc Menu are not seen. They are embedded in the project prel file named My New Video Project2.prel. (This also applies to New Item/Bars and Tone, Black Video, and Universal Counting Leader if used in an archived project.)

CIMG3227.AVI presented but without any conformed audio files for its audio portion.

Maid With The Flaxen Hair.mp3 was not present in the Trimmed Folder since it was never dragged to the Timeline for use. No conformed audio files for this .mp3 seen in the Trimmed Folder.

Kalima.mp3 (used in disc menu audio replacement) was present but without any conformed audio files.

Sleep Away mp3 (used in Soundtrack) was present but without any conformed audio files.

Narration_1.wav (narration clip created with Premiere Elements 12/12.1 Narration tool and used in Narration Track) was present but without any conformed audio files.

The copies of the jpg photos on Video 1 were present in the Trimmed Folder.

The Adobe Premiere Elements Previews Files Folder was not included in the Trimmed Folder.




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

PE12: Transfers from Project to Project

INTRODUCTION

The classical story is that the Premiere Elements user cannot open a Premiere Elements project file (project.prel) in another Premiere Elements project file (project.prel). And, when users ask "How do I transfer content from one project to another?", the classical answers involve

• ClipMate Copy/Paste Insert in conjunction with Premiere Elements (Windows Only)

     or

• Export of Timeline from first project as a file saved to the computer hard drive in a format compatible with the second project, and then import that export into the second project with the appropriate project settings (Windows and Mac applicable).

But there are other opportunities for content transfer from project to project that are not often focused on. A recent question from a Premiere Elements 12 Windows user asked "In Premiere Elements is there a way to create a template with "everything" (background, text, music, etc) that I could use from project to project?" This blog post will explore the answer to that question.

ISSUE

Maintaining transparency in the creation as it goes from creation to export and to one project to another is the critical issue. How can that be done for titles created in the Titler, for customized Adobe Title Templates, and for non title Timeline content?

SOLUTION

Transparency: Titles Created In the Titler or Customized Adobe Title Templates

After editing the title or title template and with the Titler closed, go to the Project Assets copy of the edited file, and highlight/select it there. Then go to the File Menu/Export/Title which will now be available for use in saving the file as a .prtl to a computer hard drive save location.

The saved .prtl Frame size seems to adjust automatically to the project preset of the project into which it is imported. For example, if the title is created in a NTSC DV Standard project, right clicking its Project Assets thumbnail in that project brings up Properties which shows a Frame Size of 720 x 480. But, after that title is saved as a .prtl file and that .prtl is imported into a NTSC AVCHD Full HD1080i30 project, the Project Assets thumbnail Properties will show a frame size of 1920 x 1080.

The .prtl as well as  the title or title template from which it was derived can be opened in the Titler for further editing. The transparency of the original title created in the Titler or in the original customized Adobe Title Template is maintained in the saved .prtl.

Although there is an opportunity to embed images to accompany text in the saved .prtl files, I see not opportunity to embed music in the .prtl files.

In Sample 1, frames were created in a title in the Titler as per the How To in the August 19, 2013 blog post "PE11: Titler Shapes For Highlighting".

Sample 1. Frames Created In A Title In The Titler And Save As Prtl File

The title was saved as a .prtl file to the computer hard drive and imported into a new Premiere Elements project. In the new project, .prel file was placed on Video Track 5, photo for frame 3 on Video Track 4 and scaled to fit into frame 3, photo for frame 2 on Video Track 3 and scaled to fit into frame 2, photo for frame 1 on Video Track 2 and scaled to fit into frame 1, and background image on Video Track 1. Sample 2 shows the application result.

Sample 2. Prtl File Used In New Project And Photos And Background Added

Sample 2 could be opened in the new project for additional edits to the .prtl file.


Transparency: Non Title Timeline Content

Timeline content with transparency components intact after export in the Publish+Share area of the program succeeds when the export is QuickTime, Animation video codec, with 32 bit depth and check mark next to Render at Maximum Bit Depth. This works in Premiere Elements 12/12.1 as well as Premiere Elements 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, 10, and 11. The following is an excerpt from what I wrote on the subject back in December 2011 as an entry into my Premiere Elements 10 Daily Discoveries Thread

Premiere Elements: Maintaining Timeline Transparency In Export

---

The following applies to at least Premiere Elements version 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, and 10. 

Back in the days of Premiere Elements 7, a sure way to maintain Timeline transparency in an export was as an .avi file via the route of File Menu/Export/Movie, Microsoft AVI with Compressor None and Color Depth = Millions + of colors (the Color Depth setting appeared to be the key to achieving the goal). The Premiere Elements 7 alternative Share/Personal Computer/QuickTime using the Apple Animation.mov file just did not work for this purpose (with either of the two options Bit Depth = 24 bit or Millions +).

After version 7, the File Menu/Export/Movie route was gone, with its .avi for this purpose, and the QuickTime route still appeared not to work, leaving no avenue for the export, maintaining the Timeline transparency. And, probably more than once, it was lamented that such an option was not available after version 7. I was wrong. It does exist in the QuickTime route after all. The revelation came when I was working out the details for a thread on creating snow for photos and videos. I went looking online for some thing else and ran across the key to all this contributed by Robert Johnston at another forum. The key was to use Depth = 32 bits in the settings (video codec = Animation) under the Advanced Button of the preset. The 32 bit Depth settings works with or without a check mark next to Render at Maximum Depth for Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, and 10. The Bit Depth of 24 bits does not work for this with or without a check mark next to Render at Maximum Depth.

The QuickTime video codec in version 7 (where this does not work) is named Apple Animation; whereas Animation is the name of the codec in later versions (where it now works). I am not sure if the name change is the only change in the video codec...need to do some homework on that.

The capability of the QuickTime Animation.mov export  to maintain the transparency of a Timeline content opens the door to a variety of Timeline creations that can be used from project to project.

HOW TOs

Work With Timeline Transparency 

Part 1. Accompanying Use Of Motion PiPs Presets

An animated photos effect was created in Premiere Elements 12/12.1 with a motion PiPs preset as described for Demo 2 in the July 20, 2014 blog post. Sunny Afternoon.mp3 (from the Elements Organizer Music Folder*) was placed in the Soundtrack

The Timeline content was exported Publish+Share/Computer/QuickTime with Presets = NTSC DV 16:9. Then under the Advanced Button/Video Tab of that preset, the Export Settings were customized to obtain an Animation.mov 1080p30 export. See Advanced Button/Video Tab settings in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Advanced Export Settings for Animation.Mov Export Used To Maintain Transparency Of Animated Photos Effect Template With Music
  

Note that under Bitrate Settings, the option to customize the Bitrate is not found to be available for the Animation codec which is a high Bitrate codec. Consequently a 28 seconds "Animated Photos Effect Template with Music" (Animation.mov) had a Bitrate of 375 Mbps (megabits per second) and a file size of 1.24 GB since there was no opportunity to limit the Bitrate.

After customizing the Export Settings, be sure to type in a new name for the customized preset. Do not accept the Copy of....choice.

"Animated Photos Template with Music" with its transparent area ready for addition of text and background in the new project would display as shown in Sample 3. Numerous template variations are possible depending on what to include or not include in the template creation before export to the Animation.mov file to be used from project to project.

Sample 3. Animated Photos Effect Template

Part 2. Accompanying Use Of Track Matte When Creating The Template

In Expert workspace, Track Matte is found under fx Effects/Keying.

The Timeline content is exported to the Animation.mov as in Part 1.

Part 3. Accompanying Use of Garbage Matte When Creating The Template

In Expert workspace, 3 types of garbage mattes are found under fx Effects/Keying. The are  Four-Point Garbage Matte, Eight-Point Garbage Matte, and Sixteen-Point Garbage Matte. Application of the garbage matte to the clip results in a bounding box with 4, 8, or 16 points in the on screen image, and the points are moved to establish what will be the transparent and non transparent areas of the clip. Whatever area of the image is inside the bounding box is seen, and whatever area of the image is outside the bounding box becomes a transparent area.

The Timeline content is exported to the Animation.mov as in Part 1.

Part 4**. Accompanying Use of Chroma Key, Green Screen Key, or Blue Screen Key When Creating The Template

In Expert workspace, Chroma Key, Green Screen Key, and Blue Screen Key are found under fx Effects/Keying.

In one scenario, the template is created from an image with a solid green background. The colored background is convert to transparency by applying the Choma Key to the Timeline clip and editing it  under Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Chroma Key Panel expanded. Additions to the Timeline content can be made to enhance the template overall design around the transparent areas and to add music. Then the Timeline content is exported to the Animation.mov as in Part 1 to give a template to be used from project to project.

This Animation.mov template plays back in Windows Media Player 12 and QuickTime 7.7.5 with the green background still present. Yet, when that same Animation.mov template is imported into a new Premiere Elements project as intended, it imports with the transparency intact, no signs of the green background that was replaced with transparency in the template's creation.

Part 5. Accompanying Cropping, Downsizing of image so that it does not fill whole frame, etc.

In Expert workspace, Crop is found under fx Effects/Transform.

The Timeline content is exported to the Animation.mov as in Part 1.

COMMENTARY

An alternation solution for wanting to use a Timeline creation in more than one project would be to create what is called a dummy project and work from a copy of the dummy project as the base for the second project.

• For the dummy project, create the template and save that project as the project file (project.prel)

• When the template is needed in a second project, open a copy of the dummy project as the base for the second project.

______________________________________________________________________________
*Sunny Afternoon.m3 is found in Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit in Elements Organizer
Music.
Local Disk C/Program Data/Adobe/Elements Organizer/12.0/Music
**Windows Only.



ATR

PE: PiP Presets Animated Photos Effect

INTRODUCTION

Recently a Premiere Elements user asked about creating an animated photos effect in which 32 photos each spun into view every 1 second and became the building block for a rectangular box around some text.

The use of a spin in PiPs for the task was explored and the first draft of the task (using 28 photos) is represented in Demo 1.

 Demo 1. Animated Photos Effect Created In Premiere Elements 12/12.1 Using 28 Photos And Exported To The 1920 x 1080p29.97 WMV Video In Demo 1 Above.

PURPOSE

The "25% LL Spin...Top" PiPs preset will be used to demonstrate basic keyframing principles involved in the use of the Premiere Elements motion PiPs. And, a scheme will be introduced to reduce the task of an animated photos effect to a "by the numbers" workflow.

BACKGROUND

With this particular PiPs preset, a 25% scaled image spins in from off screen (top left) and rotates twice in the path to its final destination (lower left on screen) in 1 second. The Motion Position and Rotation properties were keyframed by Adobe to achieve this effect at a constant image Scale = 25%.

The "action centers" for this animated photos effect are the Motion Panel expanded (Position, Rotation, Scale properties) and the "Show/Hide Keyframe Controls" area.

The Adobe Scale used in this preset is at 25% (no keyframing). Fx Effects/Presets/PiPs offers a variety of PiPs, but only with Scale = 25% or 40%. But, the Adobe set image Scale can be customized as will be described in the How To section. For this demonstration the Adobe image Scale was changed from 25% to 15% in the Motion Panel expanded and its Show/Hide Keyframe Controls area.

For each photo, Position and Rotation are each established with a keyframe at two different points, at the start off screen and at the on screen final destination. Rotation always has the start off screen set = 0.0 and the on screen final destination = 2x0.0 so that the photo rotates twice on its path to the on screen final destination. But, Position keyframing and the wanted perfect alignment of 28 photos can be a time consuming and an inexact process using the mouse cursor and visual placement for each photo's final destination.

"BY THE NUMBERS" WORKFLOW AND PERFECT ALIGNMENT
(Skip this section and go immediately to the How To section if you want to do visual placement of the photos instead of  using "by the numbers" to obtain best possible photo alignment.) 

Principle


1. For each of the 28 photos the only focus here is the keyframes for the "on screen final destination" Position which is defined by two values, first value "left or right" movement and second value "up or down" movement
.
2. After application of the preset to Timeline's Photo 1 followed by the movement of Timeline Indicator to 1 second mark, Photo 1's "on screen final destination" Position is customized visually with the mouse cursor using high monitor magnification. The customized Position values in this example were 236.1 and 942.9. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Position and Rotation Keyframes At "On Screen Final Destination" Photo 1.

3. After application of the preset to Timeline Photo 2 followed by the movement of Timeline Indicator to 2 second mark, Photo 2's "on screen final destination" Position is customized visually to get the best side by side fit of it with Photo 1. After placement customization, Photo 2 first Position value was 398.0. Photo 2 second Position value was set for 942.9 since Photo 1 through 10 were going to be on the same line.

4. Based on the difference (161.9) between the Photo 1 first Position value (236.1) and that of Photo 2 first Position value (398.0) and the second Position value of 942.9, "on screen final destination" Position first and second values were predetermined for the remaining 26 photos and just plugged into the two Position fields in Motion Panel expanded during the workflow to be described in the How To to follow. See Table 1.

Table 1. Motion Position Values Predetermined For Photos 3 to 28.

HOW TO
(for visual placement of photos)

Recap
Premiere Elements 12 Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Project Preset = NTSC AVCHD Full HD1080i30
Expert workspace

fx Effects
Presets
PiPs
25% PiPs
25% LL Spin...Top (this preset has the photo entering from off screen top left, making 2 spins on this path to its on screen final destination in 1 second)

28 jpeg photos 100 x 100 pixels, still image default duration = 5 seconds
Safety Margins on, and photos placed within the Safety Margins' Action Rectangle Limit.
Default Scale to Frame Size option used.

1. Import the 28 jpegs into Project Assets.

2. Drag Photo 1 from Project Assets to the beginning of Video Track 1.

3. Drag the PiP preset from fx Effects into Photo 1 on Video Track 1.

4. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;00;00 to 00;00;01;00.

5. With Photo 1 on Video Track 1 selected, change the Scale from 25% to 15%. To do that, select Photo 1 on Video Track 1, go to Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded and type in 15% to replace 25% for the Scale.

6. Then on screen, with the mouse cursor, move the "15%" Photo 1 into place at the lower left of the screen to start the building of the rectangular box from lower left to lower right, from lower right to upper right, from upper right to upper left, and from upper left to lower left to complete the box.

7. Next drag Photo 2 to Video Track 2 @ 1 second mark.

8. Drag the PiP preset from fx Effects into Photo 2 on Video Track 2.

9. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;01;00 to 00;00;02;00.

10. With Photo 2 selected on Video Track 2, change the Scale from 25% to 15% as in 5.

11. Then on screen, with the mouse cursor, move the "15%" Photo 2 into place side by side with Photo 1.

12. Next drag Photo 3 to Video Track 3 @ 2 second mark.

13. Drag the PiP preset from fx Effects into Photo 3 on Video Track 3.

14. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;02;00 to 00;00;03;00

15. With Photo 3 selected on Video Track 3, change the Scale from 25% to 15% as in 5.

16. Then on screen, with the mouse cursor, move the "15%" Photo 3 into place side by side with Photo 2.

17. Next drag Photo 4 to Video Track 4 @ 3 seconds mark.

18. Drag the PiP preset from fx Effects into Photo 4 on Video Track 4.

19. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;03;00 to 00;00;04;00

20. With Video 4 selected on Video Track 4, change the Scale from 25% to 15% as in 5.

21. Then on screen, with the mouse cursor, move the "15%" Photo 4 into place side by side with Photo 3.

22. Continue in this pattern until all 28 photos are placed. The right edge of each photo file on each video track is dragged out as required so that each of the 28 photo files ended at the same time.

23. Special Instructions.

By The Numbers

If "by the numbers" is to be used instead of the visual placement in the above How To section, starting with Photo 3,

omit the two instructions that read

With Photo 3 selected on Video Track  3, change the Scale from 25% to 15% as in 5.

Then on screen, with the mouse cursor, move the "15%" Photo 3 into place side by side with Photo 2.

and replace the two with the single instruction that reads

Select Photo 3 on Video Track 3, go to Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette/Motion Panel expanded and type in 15% to replace 25% for the Scale and enter the predetermined Photo 3 two Position values for the Photo 3.

repeat the "omit and replace" for subsequent photo instructions specific to Photos 4 to 28.

Increasing Or Decreasing How Fast Each Photo Gets To Its Final Destination

To have the photo arrive at its on screen final destination faster, the "on screen final destination" keyframes are moved closer to the "start off screen" keyframes. And, conversely, to have the photo arrive at its on screen final destination slower, the "on screen final destination" keyframes are moved further away from the "start off screen" keyframes.

In Demo 1, for each photo, a time of 1 second existed between the Position "start off screen upper left" keyframes and the "on screen final destination" keyframes. Demo 2 shows a faster effect obtained when this time was reduced from 1 to 0.5 second.

Demo 2. The Demo 1 With 0.5 Second, Instead Of 1Second, Between Each Photo's Start - End Position Keyframes.

For Demo 2 Faster Effect, change the How to instructions to read....

For steps 4, 9, 14, 19 and proceeding in a like manner for every 5th step thereafter

4. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;00;00 to 00;00;00;15.
9. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;00;015 to 00;00;01;00.
14. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;01;00 to 00;00;01;15.
19. Use the right arrow key to move the Timeline Indicator from 00;00;01;15 to 00;00;02;00.

At the stage where the "on screen final destination" keyframes are placed,
Photo 1 @ 00;00;00;15
Photo 2 @ 00;00;01.00
Photo 3 @ 00;00;01;15
Photo 4 @  00;00;02:00
etc
be sure to enter the two Position keyframes specific to the photo (See Table 1) and Rotation = 2x0.0. Delete the original Adobe "on screen final destination" keyframes by right clicking Adobe's Position keyframe and Rotation keyframe in Show/Hide Keyframe Controls area and selecting Delete. See Figure 2.

Figure 2. For Faster Effect Shown In Demo 2,  Position "On Screen Final Destination" Keyframes Detailed At The 17th Photo Stage.

Make sure the Scale remains unkeyframed and at 15% with regard to the work in this blog post.

COMMENTARY

The details of this blog post have been proof read and road tested many time to assure their accuracy.
At this time, all appears in order, and the principles should apply to Premiere Elements 4 to 12. All work done with Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.

Consider the above a work in progress until this sentence is removed from the blog post.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ATR

PE: Iris Heart Video Transition

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements from at least version 4 through 12 includes the same Iris video transitions. They are Box, Cross, Diamond, Points, Round, Shapes, and Star. These Iris video transitions are demo'd in a Premiere Elements 12 project in the following Demo 1 video.

Demo 1. Premiere Elements 12 Iris Video Transitions

Box, Cross, Diamond, Points, Round, Shapes and Star.

ISSUE

A Premiere Elements 12 Windows user recently asked "Where do I get an Iris heart video transition for my Premiere Elements projects?"

SOLUTION

A homemade Iris heart transition* was created in Premiere Elements 12** using a Track Matte (created in Photoshop Elements 12), Track Matte keying, and keframing scale of the heart in the Track Matte. The Iris heart video transition created is demo'd in a Premiere Elements 12 project in the following Demo 2 video.

Demo 2. Premiere Elements 12 Homemade Iris Heart Video Transition

Details for the Iris heart video transition creation are described next.

HOW TO

STEP 1
Preparation of the Track Matte in Photoshop Elements 12
In Photoshop Elements 12, a 1920 x 1080 document with a white heart shape centered on a transparent background was created and saved to computer hard drive as .png file.

STEP 2
Preparing to Setup Timeline Tracks to Display 6 Side by Side Jpeg Photos with Homemade Iris Heart Video Transition Between the Pairs 
All files had 5 second duration.


Timeline Segment 00;00;00;00 to 00;00;04;29

Video Track 3. Track Matte with Heart Shape (Scale keyframed)
The Motion Scale property of the Track Matte heart was keyframed from 0 to 499.6% across its 5 second duration.

and directly below

Video Track 2. Jpeg 1 with Track Matte Key applied.
In Applied Effects/Applied Effects Palette/Track Matte Panel expanded, the settings were

• Matte: Video 3

• Composite Using: Matte Alpha

• Reverse: with check mark next to it

and directly below

Video Track 3. Jpeg 2 as is.

That takes care of the viewing of Jpeg 1 and 2 using the homemade Iris heart video transition, but what about the other 4 and the next four 5 seconds Timeline segments? The focus points for getting the task completed included

• Copying and using the original Track Matte with Heart Shape (Scale keyframed) for subsequent Video 3 segments.

• Applying Track Matte to each Jpegs placed on Video 2 in the subsequent segments.

• In progressing from segment to segment, duplicating Video 1 Jpeg and placing the copy on Video 2 in the very next segment.

See Figure 1 for the details of project assets placement.

Figure 1. Track Set Up for Demo 2 Video.Premiere Elements 12 Displaying 6 Jpeg Photos Displaying With An Iris Heart Video Transition Between The Pairs.

 COMMENTARY

The homemade Iris heart video transition approach is track consuming and introduces file duplication to carry off the effect if more than 2 Jpegs are involved. But the total Timeline duration is 25 seconds with 6 Jpeg photos each with 5 second duration.

If an Iris heart video transition like the Adobe Iris collection were obtained from an online source, then one video track would be involved, but the total Timeline duration is 30 seconds with 6 Jpeg photo each with 5 second duration.

Note and the track set up for Demo 1 which showed the Adobe Iris Video Transitions.

Figure 2. Track Set For Demo 1 Video. Premiere Elements 12 Displaying 8 Jpeg Photos, Each Pair Displaying One Of The Seven Iris Video Transitions That Comes With Premiere Elements.

An Iris heart video transition from online source will be investigated in the near future and reported on in this blog post.




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* The idea for the homemade Iris heart video transition came from a reply in a  2010 thread found online.
**Premiere Elements 12 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit. But, the results are applicable to at least version 4 to 11 Windows as well.

Work in Progress

ATR