PE: Default Video Background For Movie Menu Main Menu

INTRODUCTION

Adobe designed a default video background into the main menu page of several of its movie menu themes. Examples* of the Premiere Elements 14/14.1 movie menu main themes that use these Adobe default video backgrounds include:

ENTERTAINMENT - (AV) Broadway.
HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS - (AV) Scary Halloween; (V) Blinking Lights; (V) Christmas.
KID'S CORNER - (AV) Kid's Channel
MOVIE GENRE - (AV) Secret Agent
SLIDESHOWS - (AV) Wedding Doves
SPORTS - (AV) Extreme
TRAVEL - (AV) Cruiseliner; (AV) Outdoor Adventure; (AV) Space Travel
WEDDING - (V) Elegant

ISSUE

How to

• Create a movie menu main menu with your own default video background for use from project to project

as well as

• Replace the Adobe default video background within the opened project's movie menu customization area for use for just within that project

SOLUTION

Create a movie menu main menu with your own default video background for use from project to project 

The major ingredients of the Adobe way to create a default video background for the main menu include

• The video file with specific naming format in the same folder with the theme's .psd file on the computer hard drive.

• A freeze frame of first frame of the video as background layer in the Layers Palette of the main menu's .psd file on the computer hard drive.

The video file and the main menu .psd file are both in the theme folder in the Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 64 bit path
Local Disk C\Program Data\Adobe\Premiere Elements\11.0, 12.0, 13.0, or 14.0\Online\DVD Templates\All_Lang\Category Folder\Theme Folder

 The video file naming format* is
name of theme_pal_s, w, or hd_mm_bg.file extension 

The file extension of this video file could be at least .mpg and .swf.
And, slight variations in the naming of the video file by Adobe can be found.

A freeze frame of the first frame of the video can be .bmp or other.

Replace the Adobe default video background within the opened project's movie menu customization area for use for just within that project

These Adobe default video backgrounds can be replaced by the user's own video in the opened project in the movie menu customization area's Adjustments/Menu Background/Video or Still. In this instance, the video background is replaced for just this one project. It does not become the Adobe default video background which appears when the theme is selected in a new project and used.

Whether Adobe default video background or user's replacement video background, the video background in the main menu presents at playback of the disc as looping 30 seconds (max). And, there is an option in Adjustments/Menu Background/Video or Still for "Apply Default Transition before looping".

COMMENTARY

Work in progress.



___________________________________________________________________________
* Below are some examples of the what Adobe has used for its video file names and formats for the default video backgrounds which it has designed into some of its movie menu main menus. The theme folder will contain 3 versions of the video file. Which one is used in the project will depend on the project preset (s = standard; w = widescreen, and hd = high definition). The file properties of these examples were obtained from the MediaInfo video and audio properties readout program.

ENTERTAINMENT
(AV) Broadway.

broadway_pal_s_mm_bg.mpg
Video part of file
MPEG1.mpg
720 x 576 @ 25 progressive frames per second
Display Aspect = 4:3
VBR 2852 Kbps
Duration = 13.8 seconds
File Size =  4.90 MB
Audio part of file
None

broadway_pal_w_mm_bg.mpg
Video part of file
MPEG1.mpg
720 x 576 @ 25 progressive frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
VBR 2580 Kbps
Duration = 13.8 seconds
File Size =  4.43 MB
Audio part of file
None

broadway_pal_hd_mm_ bg.mpg
Video part of file
MPEG2.mpg
1920 x 1080 @ 25 progressive frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
VBR 37.7 Mbps (Max 57.6 Mbps)
Duration = 13.8 seconds
File Size =  64.6 MB
Audio part of file
None

HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS
(AV) Scary Halloween

halloween_pal_s_mm_bg.mpg
Video part of file
MPEG1.mpg
720 x 576 @ 25 progressive frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 4:3
VBR = 3124 Kbps
Duration = 12.4 seconds
File Size = 4.95 MB

Audio part of file
MP2
CBR = 224 Kbps
Duration = 12.120 seconds
Channels = 2
Sampling Rate = 48.0 KHz
(not sure what the purpose is for this audio data)

halloween_pal_w_mm_bg.m1v
Video part of file
MPEG1.mpg
720 x 576 @ 25 progressive frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
VBR = 4093 Kbps
Duration = 12.120 seconds
File Size =  6.17 MB
Audio part of file
None

halloween_pal_hd_mm_bg.m2v
Video part of file
MPEG2.mpg
1440 x 1080 @ 29.97 interlaced frames per second (Scan Order = Upper Field First)
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
VBR = 24.4 Mbps (Max 30 Mbps)
Duration = 12.33 seconds
File Size = 36.5 MB
Audio part of file
None

HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS
(V) Blinking Lights

blinking_lights_pal_s_mm_bg.swf
Video part of file
Shockwave.swf
720 x 576 @ 12.000 frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 5:4
VBR = 1105 Kbps
Duration = 4.83 seconds
File Size = 577 KB
Audio part of file
None


blinking_lights_pal_w_mm_bg.swf
Video part of file
Shockwave.swf
720 x 576 @ 12.000 frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 5:4
VBR - 1105 Kbps
Duration = 4.83 seconds
File Size = 577 KB
Audio part of file
None

There no hd video file for this set for Adobe default video file for main menu. Blinking Lights does have an Adobe default video file for scene menu as well as main menu.
blinking_lights_pal_s_sm_bg.swf
and
blinking_lights_pal_w_sm_bg.swf

WEDDING
(V) Elegant
elegant_pal_s_mm_bg.swf
Video part of file
Shockwave.swf
720 x 576 @ 24.000 frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 5.4
VBR = 310 Kbps
Duration = 10.58 seconds
File Size = 427 KB
Audio part of file
None

elegan_pal_w_mm_bg.swf
Video part of file
Shockwave.swf
720 x 576 @ 24.000 frames per second
Display Aspect Ratio = 5.4
VBR = 310 Kbps
Duration = 10.58 seconds
File Size = 427 KB
Audio part of file
None

A hd movie menu theme does not exist for Wedding/Elegant. When a "w" or "hd" project preset is set for the project, the project appears to be using the Wedding/Elegant "w" files. When a "s" project preset is set for the project, the project appears to be using the Wedding/Elegant "s" files.

______________________________________________________________________________

ATR

PE 14: Premiere Elements 14.1 Update Released

INTRODUCTION

Adobe released Premiere Elements 14 and Photoshop Elements 14 on September 24, 2015, replacing Premiere Elements 13/13.1 and Photoshop Elements 13/13.1 as the current version. Please refer to
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/09/premiere-elements-14-first-look-details.html
and
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/09/premiere-elements-14-daily-discoveries_21.html

Today December 14, 2015 we find that Adobe has released a free 14.1 update for 14*. It is available only as a download and install from within the programs under Help Menu/Updates of Premiere Elements 14 Editor, Photoshop Elements 14 Editor, or Elements Organizer 14.

Figure 1. Update Dialog For Premiere Elements 14.1 Update.

More news to follow with more Adobe definition on "bug fixes and performance improvements". The same description in the Updates dialog is given to Photoshop Elements 14.1 and Premiere Elements 14.1.

The free update to .......includes bug fixes and performance improvements.

IMPORTANT FOLLOW UP
Today (December 18, 2015), in the Adobe Premiere Elements Forum, Aurobinda (Adobe Staff) has posted a link giving the details of the Premiere Elements 14.1 Update. Please see
https://blogs.adobe.com/contentcorner/2015/12/18/adobe-premiere-elements-14-1-update/
Thanks, Aurobinda.


_______________________________________________________________________________
*We also have started a Adobe Premiere Elements Forum thread on the 14.1 Update. https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2041984


ATR

PE: 12/12.1 480 x 480p30 Project Preset

INTRODUCTION

Question came up as to how video recorded as 480 x 480 @ 30 progressive frames per second could be imported, edited and exported in Premiere Elements 12/12.1 without black borders.

ISSUE

All the project presets in Premiere Elements are either 4:3 or 16:9. Could a user custom project preset be created for this situation, and what export opportunities exist for a 480 x 480 30p video if a user custom project preset could be created for the video's import into Premiere Elements 12/12.1?

SOLUTION

A project preset for 480 x 480 30p was obtained by editing the Notepad document of the Premiere Elements 12/12.1 "Flip Mino and Ultra 30p.sqpreset" file.

An AVCHD.mp4 480 x 480 30p file was created from the edited Timeline 480 x 480 30p content after customizing the advanced export settings for Publish+Share/Computer/AVCHD with Presets = MP4 H.264 1920 x 1080p30.

HOW TO 

Creation of User Custom Project Preset 480 x 480 @ 30 progressive Frames Per Second)


1. Locate and copy to the computer desktop the Flip Mino and Ultra 30p.sqpreset file found in the Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 64 bit path
Local Disk C
Program Files
Adobe Premiere Elements 12
Settings
SequencePresets
NTSC
FLIP
and in the FLIP Folder is the Flip Mino and Ultra 30p.sqpreset file.

Rename the Flip Mino and Ultra 30p.sqpreset copy so that the file name is now
480 480 Flip Mino and Ultra 30p.sqpreset

2. At the computer desktop level, right click the .sqpreset file pasted and renamed there, select Open With, and then select Notepad.

3. In the Notepad document there are only two places that need to be changed. All the changes involve 640 x 480 to 480 x 480.....

PLACE ONE
FROM

<Descriptions Version="1">
<DescriptionItem Version="1" Index="0">
                <Second>For editing Flip Mino and Flip Ultra 640 x 480 camcorder videos.&#13;48kHz audio.</Second>
                <First>en_US</First>

TO

<Descriptions Version="1">
<DescriptionItem Version="1" Index="0">
                <Second>For editing Flip Mino and Flip Ultra 480 x 480 camcorder videos.&#13;48kHz audio.</Second>
                <First>en_US</First>

PLACE TWO
FROM
/<VideoFrameSize>0,0,640,480</VideoFrameSize>

TO

/<VideoFrameSize>0,0,480,480</VideoFrameSize>


Then save the edited Notepad document, using specifically File Menu/Save.

4. Go to
Local Disk C
Program Files
Adobe Premiere Elements 12
Settings
SequencePresets
NTSC
FLIP
and, in the FLIP Folder, place the file that you created and named 480 480 Flip Mino and Ultra 30p.sqpreset  

5. Set the Premiere Elements 12/12.1 project preset, by either
a. letting the project set it automatically based on its analysis of the properties of the 480 x 480 30p as the first file dragged to its Timeline
or
b. if problems (which there should not be), then set the project preset manually according to the following scheme

• Open the project to the Expert workspace, and go to File Menu/New Project and Change Settings.

• In Change Settings, set the project preset to the new project preset under NTSC/FLIP. OK out of there.

• In the New Project dialog that opens, rename the project and make sure to have a check mark next to "Force Selected Project Setting on This Project". OK out of there.

• Then import your 480 x 480 30p source video into Premiere Elements 12/12.1 with Premiere Elements 12/12.1's Add Media/Files and Folder/Project Assets from where you drag the video to the Expert workspace Timeline.

6. After edit of the Timeline content, export it using advanced export settings based on Publish+Share/Computer/AVCHD/ with Presets = MP4 H.264 1920 x 1080p30. Customization of the preset is done under the Advanced Button/Video Tab and export settings are set as seen the Figure 1.

Figure 1. Advanced Export Settings For 480 x 480 30p Premiere Elements 12/12.1 Project To Give AVCHD.Mp4 File 480 x 480 30p.

COMMENTARY

This work has been road tested and found to work as described on Premiere Elements 12/12.1 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit. Although experimental, all indications so far are that this works and should be applicable in principle to at least Premiere Elements 11 through 14.

In the export choice used as an example here, the bitrates might be lowered without affecting quality, but that point has not been explored yet.

The Premiere Elements 12/12.1 PAL project presets do not contain the FLIP category as does the NTSC project presets. The suggested PAL counterpart to obtain a 480 x 480 25p project preset would be

• Modify the DSLR 640 x 480p50.sqpreset file found Local Disk C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\Settings\SequencePresets\PAL\DSLR\480p\

• Modifications would include changes in 640 x 480 to 480 x 480 (3 places) and, at the bottom of the document, changing the frame rate code from 5080320000 (for 50) to 10160640000 (for 25).

______________________________________________________________________________
Proofread several times without finding changes needed. Will continue to proofread for accuracy.

ATR