PE 13/13.1: 2.7 K Video Stabilization With Shake Stabilizer

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements 13/13.1 offers the video stabilizer using its new Shake Stabilizer which is described HERE by Adobe.

ISSUE

The Shake Stabilizer will not work if the properties of the video being stabilized do not match the project's project preset. In the case of 2.7 K video (2704 x 1524), there is no matching project preset.
So, 2.7 K video cannot be stabilized with Shake Stabilizer.

SOLUTION

A project preset (new sqpreset file) for 2.7 K resolution was created by modifying an existing sqpreset file. In this feasibility study, the AVCHD 1080p60 sqpreset file was edited to produce the AVCHD 1524p60 sqpreset.

When this project preset for AVCHD 1524p60 was established for a project, a 2.7 K (2704 x 1524 @ 60 progressive frames per second) was video stabilized successfully by the Shake Stabilizer.

The AVCHD 1524p60 project preset could be established automatically by the project based "first video drag to Timeline" or by the user manually using File Menu/New/Project.

HOW TO

STEP 1
Finding the AVCHD 1080p60 to Edit to AVCHD 1524p60
Local Disk C
Program Files
Adobe Premiere Elements 13
Settings
Sequence Presets
NTSC
AVCHD
and in the AVCHD Folder is found the AVCHD 1080p60.sqpreset

Make a copy and edit the copy. Right click the AVCHD 1080p60.sqpreset, select Open With, followed by Notepad.

STEP 2
Editing the Notepad Document of AVCHD 1080p60.sqpreset  to obtain the AVCHD 1524p60.sqpreset

Change 1*

At the bottom of the document where is shows
</Names>
        <VideoFieldType>0</VideoFieldType>
        <AudioTimeDisplay>200</AudioTimeDisplay>
        <VideoTimeDisplay>106</VideoTimeDisplay>
        <AudioChannelType>1</AudioChannelType>
        <AudioFrameRate>5292000</AudioFrameRate>
        <VideoFrameSize>0,0,1920,1080</VideoFrameSize>
        <VideoFrameRate>4237833600</VideoFrameRate>
    </SequencePreset>
</PremiereData>
 
Change the line

From


<VideoFrameSize>0,0,1920,1080</VideoFrameSize>

To

<VideoFrameSize>0,0,2704,1524</VideoFrameSize>

Change 2

 In the section <Descriptions Version="1"> where the document shows the description for the user language (here US was selected)

</DescriptionItem>
            <DescriptionItem Version="1" Index="0">
                <Second>For editing AVCHD Formats recorded in 1920x1080 square pixels (non-anamorphic).&#13;16:9 progressive-scan 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second.&#13;48kHz audio.</Second>

Change the description

From

1920 x 1080 and 1080p HD

To

2704 x 1524 and 1524p HD

Change 3*

In the section </Descriptions>
        <Names Version="1"> below that described in Change 2 

</NameItem>
            <NameItem Version="1" Index="0">
                <Second>AVCHD 1080p60</Second>
                <First>en_US</First>

Change the description

From

1080p60 

To

1524p60

STEP 3

When all of the changes are made the Notepad document created for AVCHD 1524p60, the Notepad document is saved (File Menu/Save) and placed in the AVCHD Folder with the rest of the sqpreset files of its class. See STEP 1 for path to the AVCHD Folder involved in this particular example.

STEP 4

In the Premiere Elements 13/13.1 list of project presets (File Menu/New/Project and Change Settings, now can be found the AVCHD 1524p60 project preset ready for use. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 13/13.1 Project Presets Now Including User Created NTSC/AVCHD/AVCHD 1524p60,

And, once the AVCHD 1524p60 is established as the project preset for the project, then Edit Menu/Project Settings/General should display as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Project Settings For Project Using Project Preset NTSC/AVCHD/AVCHD 1524p60.

COMMENTARY

Although the changes in video values for the 1080p60 project preset produced a project preset which could be used for its project's video stabilization of the 2.7 K 60p file with the Shake Stabilizer, there was an Editing Mode description that was not changed in Project Settings (Edit Menu/Project Settings/General). Nonetheless, that particular description does not appear to affect the actual values set in place and in effect.

Still trying to determine if that particular description change can be made without knowing certain codes which are not available to user.

Important Add On....the user who asked about 2.7K video, Shake Stabilizer, and Premiere Elements 13/13.1 reported back that the above how to worked. But, the user also mentioned another problem, that is, that slow or fast motion effects could not be applied to the Shake Stabilized video. It was found that this was not related to the newly created project preset for 2.7K, and that this is inherent in the Premiere Elements 13/13.1 program. Two fundamental findings were:

• Shake Stabilizer and Speed can't be used on same clip...whether Shake Stabilizer was done first and then Time Stretch applied or Time Stretch applied first and then Shake Stabilizer used.

• Shake Stabilizer and Time Remapping can't be used on same clip...whether Shake Stabilizer was done first and then Time Remapping applied or Time Remapping applied first and then Shake Stabilizer used.

If video stabilization plus slow and fast motion effects are needed for a video clip, the suggestion might be made to export the Shake Stabilized video and then import the export into another project to apply slow or fast motion effects.





___________________________________________________________________________

* Have not tried it yet, but it should be possible to convert this 60p version to 30p if

STEP 2/Change 1 has added to it
 From
<VideoFrameRate>4237833600</VideoFrameRate>
T0
 <VideoFrameRate>8475667200</VideoFrameRate>

and

STEP 2/Change 3 changes the description
From
1080p60
To
1524p30, instead of 1524p60



ATR

PE: Some Instant Movie Effects Explained

INTRODUCTION

The Premiere Elements' Instant Movie is a feature designed for the quick creation of a professional looking Timeline content for export of choice. It comes with different themes and built in effects, music, transitions, and more. Its Adobe fuller description can be found HERE.

ISSUE

When the user plays back the completed Instant Movie in the Edit area monitor, the user typically wonders "How did the Instant Movie create this or that effect seen in the Instant Movie?". The answer is not always obvious since the Instant Movie presents on the Timeline in a whole video format. But this whole video version of the Instant Movie can be broken down to view its component parts by right clicking it on the Timeline and selecting Break Apart Instant Movie.

SOLUTION*

The Break Apart Instant Movie option was taken advantage of to do just that to reveal the details of the build of the Instant Movie. And, in this way, many of the "How did they do that?" for these effects could be demystified.

SOME DEMYSTIFIED EFFECTS

Effect: Checker Board


Clip 1 goes from full frame display into a space in a Checker Board matrix as Clip 2 in the matrix space below that of Clip 1 goes from its matrix space to full frame display.

Instant Movie Theme
Slideshow/Pan and Zoom

That is just a matter of the placing of the video transition Checker Board between the two clips

Transition Tab
NewBlue 3D Transitions Elements
Checker Board

In Transition Adjustments pop up: Duration = 2 seconds and Alignment = Between Clips

Figure 1. Instant Movie Theme Pan And Zoom Broken Apart To Reveal Basis For Checker Board Effect.

Effect: Reflection

Clip appears including a partial reflection of itself.

Instant Movie
Slideshow/Pan and Zoom

At first it was thought that this effect was achieved by dragging the fx Effect/Distort/Mirror effect into the clip. But closer inspection revealed that the key to the Adobe way is the Basic 3D effect's Tilt applied to a duplicate of the original clip which the program scales to 75%.. The scaled original (with Basic 3D effect with tilt = 0) is on a Movie Overlay track and the scaled duplicate (with Basic 3D tilt = 180) is on the Movie Overlay track directly below that of the original. The Basic 3D tilt setting in the duplicate turns the duplicate up side down, and the feature drags the up side down duplicate downward so that its current top interfaces with the bottom of the original to create the refection. For accents, the original has applied to it a drop shadow and the duplicate a Gaussian Blur.

Embellishments for original and duplicate can be seen by selecting and inspecting the Applied Effects Tab/Applied Effects Palette's expanded panels for each. Of note is a background layer below the duplicate which takes its origin from black video to which has been applied fx Effects/Generate/Lens Flare.

Figure 2. Instant Movie Theme Pan And Zoom Broken Apart To Reveal Basis For Reflection Effect.

_____________________________________________________________________________
*This particular study was done using Premiere Elements 13 on Windows 7 64 bit, with project preset either NTSC AVCHD Full HD1080i30 or NTSC DSLR 1080p DSLR 1080p30@29.97.


Work In Progress


ATR

PE: BadDrivers.Txt File Locations

INTRODUCTION

Since the days of Premiere Elements 9, the deletion of the BadDrivers.txt file has often been the answer to how to get rid of a project's display card error when the video card/graphics card driver version is up to date.

The rationale for the deletion of the BadDrivers.txt file in these cases was given by Daksha123 in post 10 of the following 2010 Adobe Premiere Elements Forum thread.  
https://forums.adobe.com/message/3177024

This solution has proven a life saver for the Premiere Elements 9 through 13 user facing the display card message in spite of having a computer with an up to date video card/graphics card driver version.

ISSUE

Two major considerations for trying to get this BadDrivers.txt file deletion to get rid of the display card error are

• Making sure that the computer's Folder Option "Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives" is enabled

• Knowing the path to the BadDrivers.txt file for a Premiere Elements on a computer operating system.

SOLUTION

Making Sure That The Computer's Folder Option"Show Hidden Files, Folders, And Drives" Is Enabled

Windows 7 64 bit

• Start

• In Search above Start, type in Folder Options

• Click on Folder Options now displaying at top of left column to bring up Folder Options dialog

• In Folder Options dialog, click on View Tab

• Scroll down to "Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives" and enable it by placing a dot to the left of the option.

Windows 8 or 8.1 64 bit (also applies to Windows 10 64 bit)

• Computer keyboard Windows Key+X to bring up list which includes File Explorer

• Click on File Explorer to open it and select its View Tab

• Click on "Options" in View Tab display to bring up Folders Options dialog

• In the Folder Options dialog, click on View Tab

• Scroll down to "Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives" and enable it by placing a dot to the left of that option.

Windows XP 32 bit

• Start

• Control Panel

• Folder Options

• Click on Folder Options to bring up the Folder Options dialog

• In Folder Options dialog, click on View Tab

• Scroll down to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and enable it by placing a dot to the left of that option.

Knowing The Path To The BadDrivers.txt File For A Premiere Elements Version On A Computer Operating System

Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 64 bit (also applies to Windows 10 64 bit)

Premiere Elements 9, 10, or 11

Local Disk C
Program Data
Adobe
Premiere Elements
9.0 or 10.0 or 11.0
and in the 9.0 Folder, 10.0 Folder, or 11.0 Folder is the BadDrivers.txt file that is to be deleted.

Premiere Elements 12

Local disk C
Program Data
Adobe
Premiere Elements
and in the Premiere Elements Folder is the BadDrivers.txt file that is to be deleted.

Premiere Elements 13

Local Disk C
Program Data
Adobe
Premiere Elements
and in the Premiere Elements Folder is the BadDrivrs.txt file that is to be deleted.

If the user has both Premiere Elements 12 and 13 on the same computer, then they both share** the same BadDrivers.txt file in the path as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. BadDrivers.Txt File Location When Premiere Elements 12 and 13 Are Installed On The Same Computer.

Note that for 12 and 13, the BadDrivers.txt file is in the Premiere Elements Folder and not in a folder in the Premiere Elements Folder in the path shown.


XP 32 bit

Premiere Elements 9, 10, or 11

Local Disk C

Documents and Settings

All Users

Application Data

Adobe

Premiere Elements

9.0, 10.0, or 11.0

and in the 9.0 Folder, 10.0 Folder, or 11.0 Folder is the BadDrivers.txt file that is to be deleted.

 Premiere Elements 12

Local Disk C

Documents and Settings

All Users

Application Data

Adobe

Premiere Elements

and in the Premiere Elements Folder is the BadDrivers.txt file that is to be deleted.


_______________________________________________________________________________
*Premiere Elements 13 does not support Windows XP, Windows Vista, or OSX 10.7.
And, BadDrivers.txt locations on Windows Vista as well as Mac need to be found and verified.
**Please refer to Item 0005 "What Happened To The BadDrivers.txt File In Premiere Elements 13?"in the blog post "Premiere Elements 13 Daily Discovery" blog found HERE.


ATR

 

PE 13: Adobe Releases Premiere Elements 13.1 Update

INTRODUCTION

Today February 5, 2015, Adobe has updated Premiere Elements 13 to 13.1. The update also takes the Elements Organizer 13 to 13.1. Download and install is done under the Help Menu/Update of an opened project.

The initial dialog is represented in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 13 to 13.1 Update Dialog

The release notes for the 13.1 Update can be found in the Adobe document
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/release-notes-photoshop-13011-update.html

According to the Adobe document, the features of this 13.1 Update include

• Sample text for fonts

• Quick access to Instant movie and video story creation

• Pan and zoom for images in a video story

• Frequently used panel

• ISO Image creation for disc burn failures

Adobe has also updated Photoshop Elements 13 to 13.1. The update also takes the Elements Organizer 13 to 13.1.

For Photoshop Elements 13.1 Update information, please see
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/release-note/update.html 
and
http://barbarabrundage.com/category/photoshop-elements/


PREMIERE ELEMENTS 13.1 NEW FEATURES IN DEPTH

Sample text for fonts

The Font choices in the Text section of the opened Titler are now represented as shown in Figure 2. Before in 13, there was only the Font name and no sample text.

Figure 2. Premiere Elements 13.1 Titler Open To Text Section's Font Field.

Quick access to Instant movie and video story creation

Going from Welcome Screen/Video Editor/New Project, the Premiere Elements 13.1workspace seen has a large panel in the center upper area of the workspace, with choices for "Add Media", "Make your Video Story", "Create an Instant  Movie". The 13 - 13.1 comparison is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3. BEFORE Premiere Elements 13.1, With Additional Routes To Add Media, Make Your Video Story, And Create An Instant Movie.

Figure 4. AFTER Premiere Elements 13.1, With Additional Routes To Add Media, Make Your Video Story, And Create An Instant Movie.

As in 13, Video Story and Instant Movie can be accessed under the Create header to the top right of this new prominent panel addition.

Pan and zoom for images in a video story

Now in 13.1, a pan and zoom effect is applied automatically by the feature to stills and can be seen after going through the "possessing Video story" stage of the Video Story creation. The Adobe document says "You can choose to disable Pan and Zoom for all or some of the images in your video story." It is not yet understood how the Pan and Zoom feature is disabled.

And, this automatic pan and zoom effect applied to the stills  takes place whether the source media for the Video Story is "Use Media from Timeline" or Add Media from

• Elements Organizer

• Videos from Flip or Camera

• Photos from Camera or Devices

• Files and Folders

 Please refer to
"PE 13: Video Story Media Considerations"

http://www.atr935.blogspot.com/2015/01/pe-13-video-story-media-considerations.html


Frequently used panel

In the Expert workspace each of the following tabs now include its own listing for Frequently Used

Transitions
Titles & Text
fx Effects
Audio
Graphics

Initial studies indicate that it take about 3 uses of the asset to trigger its inclusion into the Frequently Used listing under the tab of each category. For clean up of "Frequently Used" within the program, go to
Local Disk C
Users
Owner
AppData
Roaming
Adobe
Premiere Elements
13.0
and in the 13.0 Folder are included

FrequentlyUsedClipArs.dat
FrequentlyUsedFxEffects.dat
FrequentlyUserMusicEffects.dat
FrequentlyUserTextAndTitles.dat
Frequently UserTransitions.dat

Deleting the file corresponding to its program tab, removes all the Frequently Used entries for the particular category. When the program is opened, it generates an empty Frequently Used category within program.


ISO Image creation for disc burn failures

Still in progress is trying to determine what Adobe has done in 13.1 relating to "ISO Image creation for disc burn failures". ISO Image choice in 13 worked, but not when the .iso file to be involved was over about 1.1 GB (as pointed out by Juergen).

Has Adobe corrected the ISO Image file size this issue to make it a viable alternative to burn to disc when the .iso file has a file size greater than about 1.1 GB?

Tests so far indicate that the 13.1 Update has not corrected this 13 situation described in detail in. 
http://www.atr935.blogspot.com/2015/01/pe-13-iso-image-file-size-issue.html


13.1 FIXED AND NOT FIXED YET CHRONICLE

Early reports indicate no improvement in Motion Tracking feature in 13.1 Update.
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1699623
In my initial look at Motion Tracking in 13.1, it is working overall - questionable better, not worse. More looks on this needed.

Improvement in Wacom pen and tablet device in 13.1
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1591346

Just what the Adobe 13.1 feature "ISO Image creation for disc burn failures" is all about is not yet understood. The ISO Image file size issue was not found to be corrected in 13.1 Update.

User report just posted says that Premiere Elements 13 and Elements Organizer 13 large fonts issue under the following condition is not resolved in 13.1
24 in 1920 x 1200 monitor with Control Panel 125% viewing set
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1586286


The AVCHD.mts No Sound in Elements Organizer 13 issue may have been corrected in Elements Organizer 13.1. We have found in Window 8.1 64 bit -
AVCHD.mts Dolby digital 2 channel or 5.1 channel, no sound in Elements Organizer 13 player.

AVCHD.mts Dolby digital 2 channel or 5.1 channel, now sound in Elements Organizer 13.1 player.

No Disc error in 13 has not been fixed in 13.1. That information has just been posted and confirmed by PRE_help today. The fix for the No Disc error remains as suggested by PRE_help as deleting or disabling the OldFilm.AEX file.

Domain account and Keyframe h 142 issues have been resolved by Adobe in 13.1 as reported by PRE_help today . 

A document explaining the 13.1 features in fuller detail than Adobe's initial document on 13.1 seems to have been published on February 13, 2015 after this blog post was published on February 5, 2015. Of particular interest was the description of what Adobe is doing with its ISO Image feature in 13.1. According to this document

ISO image for disc burn failures: A disc burn failure can be frustrating considering that it is a time-consuming operation. The Premiere Elements update creates and saves an ISO image on your computer, in the event that a hardware issue causes a disc burn operation to fail. You can then choose to burn the ISO image to a disc, as per your convenience. While the option to explicitly Burn to ISO image continues to be available, this enhancement saves you a lot of time in case of an inadvertent disc burn failure. Also see Disc burning guidelines and Common causes of disc burn failures.

The authors of this February 13, 2015 document describe themselves as
"team of writers that maintains Help and user-assistance content for Adobe products across multiple domains, including Creative Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Acrobat, the Elements family of products, Technical Communication Suite, mobile apps, and more". 

In addition this document shows a screenshot of the disable pan and zoom in the Video Story. I have not found this disable pan and zoom option. I will take another look. 

I have just found the disable pan and zoom options in Video Story and am posting them in the blog as well as in the Adobe Premiere Elements Forum thread

There is a disable pan and zoom option for the new Video Story feature after all. Although the dialog showing its existence was shown in the document cited in the previous post, the route to get there was not.

Here is what I found...After opening Video Story feature and selecting a theme and feature assets, I will subsequently get to the section Story Assets where I drag the assets into individual Chapter spaces. After that is done, I click Next which results in "Processing". After the "Processing" is completed, I get a view for "Detail View". I needed to switch from "Detail View" to "Overview" to see a layout of all the Chapters, each Chapter having options which included Edit Chapter.

a. In the Overall view, I went to the Chapter of interest and clicked on the "Edit Chapter" button at the bottom of that Chapter display.
b. The first screenshot displays what I saw after hitting "Edit Chapter". When I brought the mouse cursor in contact with the picture of interest, the blue icon pointed to in the first screenshot appeared. And, when I double clicked that blue icon,

I am presented with the display where I can change the pan and zoom options for one or all.

Please see second screenshot below.

COMMENTARY

At this point, it would appear that we now have the essential information for the 13.1 Update new features. Also, it would appear that Adobe documents on 13.1 are addressing 13.1 features and not the fixes which were or were not included in 13.1. That we will continue to follow and report on as 13.1 users post of their experiences  with 13.1. Of note, Adobe's PRE_help team has come forward in the Adobe Premiere Elements Forum to offer some information on the fixed and not fixed by 13.1. Thanks Adobe PRE_help team. Please refer to the content of this blog for those instances.


Work in Progress

ATR