PE 2018: Changes In HD Timeline Rendered Files Format

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements Timeline rendering generates preview files which are automatically saved to a computer hard drive location. That save location is determined by setting under Scratch Disks preference. See Edit Menu/Preferences/Scratch Disks. And, for HD projects only, the format and other properties of those saved Timeline rendered files (video preview files) are dependent on  the preference choice under "Timeline render quality (valid for HD projects)", either  "Draft quality, High speed" or "High quality, Slow speed". See Edit Menu/Preferences/General.

Back in 2015, the Premiere Elements 12/12.1 and 13/13.1 Timeline rendered files (video preview files) format was investigated focusing mainly on those files generated during use of a few of the project presets

• NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD 1080i30

• NTSC/DSLR/1080p/DSLR 1080p30 @ 29.97

See HERE for that background information on the topic and those findings which included Adobe using an AVC format with .mpeg file extension for 13/13.1 Timeline rendered files instead using the MPEG Video format with .mpeg file extension  which is found in 12/12.1 for these files.  

ISSUE

In comparing Timeline rendered files format used by Premiere Elements 2018 and 13/13.1, differences were found. Consequently, it was decided to update the Timeline rendered files formats situation for 14/14.1 and 15 as well as for 2018 to discover what Adobe did with these formats moving forward from 13/13.1.

FINDINGS*

With Project Presets

• NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD 1080i30

• NTSC/DSLR/1080p/DSLR 1080p30 @ 29.97

If Premiere Elements 13/13.1, 14/14.1, or 15, Timeline rendering of jpg or video source file generated a Timeline rendered video file (preview file) which used the AVC format with .mpeg file extension. But if Premiere Elements 2018, Adobe appeared to be reverting back to the MPEG Video (Version 2) format with .mpeg file extension which it used back in Premiere Elements 12/12.1. These findings were based on properties readouts from the MediaInfo program.

Details follow below.

For Premiere Elements 2018, typical MediaInfo properties readouts for the preview file generated by Timeline rendering of the jpg or video source file included

NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD 1080i30 Project***
Draft quality/High speed preference
Format = MPEG Video
Format Version = Version 2
Bitrate = 7687 Kbps
Maximum Bitrate = 7826 Kbps
Width = 960 pixels
Height = 544** pixels
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
Frame Rate = 29.970 fps
Scan Type = Interlaced
Scan Order = Top Field First
Note: In comparison, under the same circumstances, the Premiere Elements 15 Timeline rendered video was Format = AVC, Constant Bitrate Rate = 15.5 Mbps, Width = 960 pixels, Height = 540** pixels, Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9, Frame Rate = 29.970 fps, Scan Type = Progressive.

NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD 1080i Project***
High quality/Slow speed preference
Format = MPEG Video
Format Version = Version 2
Bitrate = 30.8 Mbps
Maximum Bitrate = 31.1 Mbps
Width = 1920 pixels
Height = 1080 pixels
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
Frame Rate = 29.970 fps
Scan Type = Interlaced
Scan Order = Top Field First
Note: In comparison, under the same circumstances, the Premiere Elements 15 Timeline rendered video was Format = AVC, Constant Bitrate Rate = 60.0 Mbps, Width = 1920 pixels, Height = 1080 pixels, Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9, Frame Rate = 29.970 fps, Scan Type = Progressive.

NTSC/DSLR/1080p/DSLR 1080p30 @  29.97***
Draft quality/High speed preference
Format = MPEG Video
Format Version = Version 2
Bitrate = 7686 Kbps
Maximum Bitrate = 7826 Kbps
Width = 960 pixels
Height = 544** pixels
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
Frame Rate = 29.970 fps
Scan Type = Progressive
Note: In comparison, under the same circumstances, the Premiere Elements 15 Timeline rendered video was Format = AVC, Constant Bitrate Rate = 15.5 Mbps, Width = 960 pixels, Height = 540** pixels, Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9, Frame Rate = 29.970 fps, Scan Type = Progressive.


NTSC/DSLR/1080p/DSLR 1080p30 @ 29.97***
High quality/Slow speed preference
Format = MPEG Video
Format Version = Version 2
Bitrate = 30.5 Mbps
Maximum = 31.1 Mbps
Width = 1920 pixels
Height = 1080 pixels
Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9
Frame Rate = 29.970 fps
Scan Type = Progressive
Note: In comparison, under the same circumstances, the Premiere Elements 15 Timeline rendered video was Format = AVC, Constant Bitrate Rate = 60.0 Mbps, Width = 1920 pixels, Height = 1080 pixels, Display Aspect Ratio = 16:9, Frame Rate = 29.970 fps, Scan Type = Progressive.


Note: Preview files using MPEG Video Version 2 format were also found for the Premiere Elements 2018 when using project presets for 720p and 4K (3840 x 2160) projects

• For Premiere Elements 2018 using project preset NTSC/AVCHD/QFHD 16x9 29.97 which offers a 4K (3840 x 2160) export, the preview file generated from Timeline rendering (High quality/Slow  speed) was 1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 progressive fps, MPEG Video format (Version 2) with .mpeg file extension, and VBR maximum bitrate 31.1 Mbps. The preview file generated with Timeline rendering (Draft quality/High speed) was 960 x 544** @ 29.97 progressive fps, MPEG Video format (Version 2) with .mpeg file extension, and VBR maximum bitrate 7826 Kbps.  

• For Premiere Elements 2018 using project preset NTSC/AVCHD/AVCHD LITE 720p, the preview file generated from Timeline rendering (High quality/Slow speed) was 1280 x 720 @ 29.97 progressive fps, MPEG Video format with .mpeg file extension, and VBR maximum bitrate 13.8 Mbps. The preview file generated with Timeline rendering (Draft quality/High speed) was 640 x 360 @ 29.970 progressive fps, MPEG Video format (Version 2) with .mpeg file extension, and VBR maximum bitrate 3453 Kbps.

In comparison, under the same circumstances, preview files using AVC format were found for Premiere Elements 15 when using project presets for 720p and 4K (3840 x 2160) projects

• For Premiere Elements 15 using the project preset NTSC/AVCHD/QFHD 16x 9 29.97 which offers a 4K (3840 x 2160) export, the preview file generated from Timeline rendering (High quality/Slow speed) was 1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 progressive fps, AVC format with .mpeg file extension, and Constant Bitrate 60.0 Mbps. The preview file generated with Timeline rendering (Draft quality/High speed) was 969 x 940** @ 29.97 progressive fps, AVC format with .mpeg file extension, and Constant Bitrate 15.5 Mbps. 

• For Premiere Elements 15 using the project preset NTSC/AVCHD/AVCHD LITE 720p30, the preview file generated from the Timeline rendering (High quality/Slow speed) was 1280 x 720 @ 29.97 progressive fps, AVC format with .mpeg file extension, and Constant Bitrate 27.6 Mbps. The preview file generated with Timeline rendering (Draft quality/High speed) was 640 x 360 @ 29.970 progressive fps, AVC format with .mpeg file extension, and Constant Bitrate 6905 Kbps.

COMMENTARY

When all is said and done, the basic question is probably what file format with its associated properties gives the best preview file in a given Premiere Elements version. Is the Timeline rendered file format MPEG Video in conjunction with the significantly lower bitrate and file size going to give same, better, or worse quality preview file compared to the Timeline rendered file format AVC in conjunction with that file's higher bitrate and file size? Compare 

Premiere Elements 15
Project Preset = NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD 1080i30
The following is the Timeline rendered file (preview file) generated from Timeline rendering (High quality/Slow speed). Its format and its properties include
1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 progressive fps, AVC format with .mpeg file extension, and Constant Bitrate 60.0 Mbps. File Size is 50.0 MB.

Premiere Elements 2018
Project Preset = NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD 1080i30
The following is the Timeline rendered file (preview file) generated from Timeline rendering (High quality/Slow speed). Its format and its properties include
1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 progressive fps, MPEG Video format with .mpeg file extension, and VBR 30.6 Mbps. File Size is 26.6 MB.

Work in progress.

My first impression when viewing these videos full screen in the published blog was that playback of the Premiere Elements 15 preview file presented sharper than the playback of the Premiere Elements 2018 preview file. Need to think about this some more, including variables for playback of file imported into blog versus playback and use of file within the Premiere Elements project.
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*Work on using Premiere Elements on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.
**This 960 x 544 resolution was displayed only in the MediaInfo data for Premiere Elements 2018. MediaInfo data for Premiere Elements 13/13.1, 14/14.1, 15, and even 12/12.1, displayed the counterpart resolution as 960 x 540.
***At its computer hard drive save location, the saved Timeline rendered file was represented by thumbnail with image from file when Premiere Elements 2018 and 12/12.1; whereas, generic MPEG  type thumbnail represented the saved Timeline rendered file when Premiere Elements 13/13.1, 14/14.1, and 15.

ATR

PE 2018: Edit Menu/Preferences

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements 2018 Editor preferences can be found under the Edit Menu/Preferences in the Expert and Quick workspaces; and, the Element Organizer preferences can be found under the Edit Menu/Preferences in either its Media, People, Places, or Events workspaces. See Adobe's document titled "Preferences" and dated July 27, 2017.

Preference categories found in the Editor 2018 Expert and Quick workspaces are:
General
Audio
Audio Hardware
Audio Output Mapping
Auto Analyzer
Auto Save
Capture
Media
Scratch Disks
Titler
Update
Web Sharing
Country/Region Selection

Preference categories found in the Elements Organizer 2018 workspaces are:
General
Files
Camera or Card Reader
Scanner
Keyword Tags and Albums
Email
Adobe Partner Services
Media-Analysis
Application Updates
Country/Region Selection

There is no restore defaults button in Editor 2018 Edit Menu/Preferences. Instead, see deletion of the Adobe Premiere Elements Prefs file located in the Windows  64 bit path of:
Local Disk (C:)/Users/Owner/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Premiere Elements/16.0
On the other hand, Elements Organizer 2018 Edit Menu/Preferences does have a button for restoring Elements Organizer preferences to default settings. 

ISSUE

It was decided to look at the default content of some of the Edit Menu/Preferences categories offered in Premiere Elements 2018/Elements Organizer 2018.

CONTENT - FOR SOME PREFERENCE CATEGORIES

Premiere Elements 2018 Editor
Edit Menu/Preferences/

General

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 2018 Editor - Edit Menu/Preferences/General.

Scratch Disks

Figure 2. Premiere Elements 2018 Editor - Edit Menu/Preferences/ScratchDisks.

Elements Organizer 2018
Edit Menu/Preferences/

General

Figure 3. Elements Organizer 2018 - Edit Menu/Preferences/General.

Files

Figure 4. Elements Organizer 2018 - Edit Menu/Preferences/Files

Camera or Card Reader

Figure 5. Elements Organizer 2018 - Edit Menu/Preferences/Camera or Card Reader

Miscellaneous Tip: When setting Country/Region Selection preference in the Editor or Elements Organizer, the computer keyboard up and down arrow keys can be used to scroll to the appropriate Country/Region. This tip is most helpful in the Editor side, since there is a huge number of choices in the Country/Region Selection list. 

COMMENTARY/OVERVIEW

In comparing Premiere Elements 2018/Elements Organizer 2018 Edit Menu/Preferences categories  with those found in some earlier versions, it was noted

15 Editor, same as 2018
15 Elements Organizer, same as 2018

14/14.1 Editor, same as 2018 except Device Control is included in this version
14/14.1 Elements Organizer, same as 2018

13/13.1 Editor, same as 2018 except Device Control is included in this version, but not Auto Analyzer and Country/Region Selection.
13/13.1 Elements Organizer, same as 2018 except Country/Region Selection is not included in this version.

12/12.1 Editor, same as 2018 except Device Control and Stop Motion Capture are included in this version, but not Auto Analyzer, Update, and Country/Region Selection.
12/12.1 Elements Organizer, same as 2018 except Adobe Revel is included in this version, Email is there but named Sharing, and not included are Application Updates and Country/Region Selection.

11 Editor, same as 2018 except Device Control and Stop Motion Capture are included in this version, but not Auto Analyzer, Application Updates and Country/Region Selection.
11 Elements Organizer, same as 2018 except Email is there but named Sharing, and not included are Application Updates and Country/Region Selection.

Note 1: Several times I have gone over the above comparisons of Edit Menu/Preferences 2018 versus earlier versions. At this time, I believe that the information is correct. But, as always, rechecking for any oversights and accuracy of information offered.

Note 2: Resetting the preferences can be effective in troubleshooting cases. If preferences are customized for a particular project, consider the merits of rechecking the existing preference settings before starting a new project. 

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ATR





 

PE 2018: Adding User Custom Clip Arts Accessible Under Project's Graphics Tab

INTRODUCTION

The Adobe "within project"* graphics collection is found under the project's Graphics tab located in the vertical toolbar to the right of the Expert and Quick workspaces of the opened project. Typically, only some of these graphics available in Expert workspace are available in the Quick workspace. 

For Premiere Elements 2018 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit, the path to the program files for these within project Graphics is:
Local Disk (C:)/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 2018/Clip Arts/Common
The Common Folder contains 11 categories of graphics, typically in various resolutions and each using the .png file extensions. The categories are:
Animals Birds and Insects (with 13 items)
Baby (with 21 items)
Costumes (with 39 items)
Food (with 12 items)
Holidays and Special Occasions (with 55 items)
Home Items (with 31 items)
Miscellaneous (with 67 items)
Music (with 6 items)
Nature (with 46 items)
Sports and Hobbies (with 15 items)

ISSUE

Can user created graphics be added to Adobe graphics found under the opened project's Graphics Tab?

SOLUTION

In this exploration, the answer to the ISSUE question was Yes when:

• the graphic was created in Photoshop Elements 2018, and the file Save As = .png**

• a new folder (named Custom) was created in the Common Folder found in path = Local Disk (C:)/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 2018/Clip Arts/Common

• the saved graphic png created in Photoshop Elements 2018 was copied at its hard drive save location and then pasted into the Common Folder in the Program Files....any permission issues were overcome by pressing Continue in any permission dialog that popped up

Three graphics were created with transparent background and saved as .png. One .png showed some daffodils in a ceramic pot. Another .png was my first try at writing the Simplified Chinese character for the word love. The third .png showed the copyright symbol. For the Chinese character, I drew that character in Photoshop Elements 2018 using the brush tool. For the daffodils, I used the Photoshop Elements selection tools and refine edges to cut out the daffodils and its ceramic pot from a garden picture. For the copyright symbol, I used the Photoshop Elements Custom Shape Tool's copyright symbol. After placing a copy of each png file in the Premiere Elements 2018 program files, these three png files were accessible under the Graphics tab in the opened project's Expert workspace; however, none of them were seen under the Graphics tab in the Quick workspace. 

Figure 1. User Custom Graphics Examples In A Premiere Elements 2018 Project Expert Workspace.

Premiere Elements 2018 And Earlier Notes


In this exploration, user custom graphics could be added to Adobe graphics accessible under the Graphics tab in the opened project of Premiere Elements 2018 to 8.0/8.0.1. Detail similarities and differences were noted when comparing Premiere Elements versions and this particular task.

The above details should be applicable to Premiere Elements Windows 15, 14/14.1, 13/13.1, 12/12.1, 11, and 10 as well as applicable to Premiere Elements 2018 Windows. Exception - in Premiere Elements 10 opened project, Adobe within project graphics are under Clip Arts under the Edit tab at the top of the Timeline workspace***, and the added user custom graphics can also be accessed from Edit tab/Clip Arts route in the Sceneline workspace***. 

In Premiere Elements 9.0/9.0.1, the path to these graphics in the program files is:
Local Disk (C:)/Program Files (x86)/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 9/Clip Arts/Common
And, as in 10, the Premiere Elements 9.0/9.0.1 opened project's Adobe within project graphics are under Clip Arts under the Edit tab at the top of the Timeline workspace; and, the added user custom graphics can also be accessed from the Edit tab/Clip Arts route in the Sceneline workspace. 

In Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1, the path to these graphics in the program files is:
Local Disk (C:)/Program Files (x86)/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 8.0/Clip Arts/Common
And, as in 9.0 and 10, the Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1 opened project's Adobe within project graphics are under Clip Arts under the Edit tab at the top of the Timeline workspace; and, the added user custom graphics can also be accessed from the Edit tab/Clip Arts route in the Sceneline workspace.

No specific Adobe graphics access point was found within an opened new project for Premiere Elements 7 or 4. However, the Premiere Elements 7 or 4 program files did contain many .png graphics which could be imported into a project from Premiere Elements 7 or 4 program files found
Local Disk (C:)/Program Files (x86)/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 7.0 or 4.0/Presets/Logos
Note: Preset/Logos offers a source of Adobe .png files for import (Get Media/Add Media) into an opened project for Premiere Elements 2018 and earlier


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*Distinction is made between graphics imported into an opened project and graphics taken to the Timeline from under opened projects Graphic tab.
**The file save as .png was used to maintain the file's transparency in Premiere Elements. A user custom graphic as jpg worked also when transparency consideration was not involved.
***Reminder, Expert workspace (versions 2018 to 11) counterpart in Premiere Elements 10 and earlier is Timeline workspace; Quick workspace (versions 2018 to 11) counterpart in Premiere Elements 10 and earlier is Sceneline workspace.


ATR
 

PE 2018: Elements Organizer "Instant Fix" Opportunties

INTRODUCTION

Note: Premiere Elements* versions 8.0/8.0.1 to 2018 are pointed to in the following.

Premiere Elements (video editor) and Photoshop Elements (photo editor) each comes with an Elements Organizer. When the Premiere Elements version and Photoshop Elements version are the  same and installed on the same computer, they share the same Elements Organizer when Elements Organizer is accessed from either Premiere Elements or Photoshop Elements.

For the person who has only Premiere Elements 2018 Editor with its Elements Organizer 2018 workspace, the Elements Organizer's "Instant Fix" feature gives the Premiere Elements person a  photo editing (FIX) opportunity* for Crop, Red Eye, Effects, Smart Fix, Light, Color, and Clarity. This "Instant Fix" feature works only with Elements Organizer photos**. Elements Organizer photos can come from Elements Organizer Import direct. Also, photo copies are placed automatically in the Elements Organizer whenever the photos are imported into the Premiere Elements project's Expert or Quick workspace using its Add Media. Depending on the "Instant Fix" choice, the photo fix can be for one at a time or batch.

Elements Organizer 2018 and 15 "Instant Fix" feature is the same and differs from that found in versions earlier than 15. Compare:

• In 2018 and 15 versions, those "Instant Fix" choices are named Crop, Red Eye, Effects, Smart Fix, Light, Color, and Clarity, with user custom adjusts for Crop, Effects, Light, Color, and Clarity. 

• On the other hand, Elements Organizer 14/14.1, 13/13.1, 12/12.1, and 11 "Instant Fix" choices are named Crop, Contrast, Red Eye, Color, Sharpen, Levels, and Smart Fix, and only Crop is user custom adjustable; all the rest are auto type. 

• Further, for Elements Organizer 10, 9.0/9.0.1, and 8.0/8.0.1, there are photo fix opportunities, and they are named Auto Smart Fix, Auto Color, Auto Levels, Auto Contrast, Auto Red Eye, and Crop; only Crop is user custom adjustable

 ISSUE

It was decided explore the Elements Organizer 2018 "Instant Fix" feature and gather more details on how it works.

FINDINGS

Elements Organizer 2018 "Instant Fix" Features
(Explored with 3*** jpg photos imported into Elements Organizer 2018 Workspace using its Import tab.)

Crop

User Custom Adjusts

If 3 photos were selected in the Elements Organizer 2018 Media workspace and its "Instant Fix" opened, all 3 photos appeared on screen in the "Instant Fix" workspace which showed a View set by default at "Show All Photos". Crop was not found to work unless the View set was for "Show One Photo". So, this is what was done to get the 3 photos each cropped to 16:9 within one "Instant Fix" Crop session.

1. With the 3 photos selected in the Elements Organizer Media, clicked on "Instant Fix" tab at the bottom of the Elements Organizer workspace.

2. In the "Instant Fix" workspace, clicked on the first jpg and then set View to Show One Photo. Clicked on Crop in the vertical bar to the right of the workspace in order to see the thumbnails for the different crop resolutions. The crop resolution choices were:
Custom
1 x 1
3 x 5
5 x 3
4 x 6
6 x 4
5 x 7
7 x 5
16 x 9
9 x 16
8 x 10
10 x 8
I selected the 16:9 resolution, established the crop for photo 1, confirmed the crop. But, I did not click Done.

3. Next, changed View to Show All Photos, clicked on the second photo, then made sure to change the View to Show One Photo, and followed the path that I used for the crop of the first photo. After confirming the crop for second photo, again I did not click Done.

4. Changed View to Show All Photos, selected the third photo, then made sure to change the View to Show One Photo, and followed the path that I used for the crop of the first and second photos. After establishing/confirming the crop for the third photo, clicked on Done, followed by Save which saved all 3 cropped images.
Tip: There is a Before After tab at the bottom of the "Instant Fix" workspace. It is best used in View = Show One Photo after crop is established/confirmed and before Done is hit. 

Red Eye 

Auto Adjust
Like Crop, the Red Eye fix worked only if View was set at Show One Photo. Consequently, Red Eye details were the same as those for Crop in order to correct the red eye in each of 3 photos within one "Instant Fix" Red Eye session.

Effects

User custom adjusts
With "Instant Fix" workspace View = Show All Photos, the same given effect could be applied to all 3 photos at the same time. Further, each of the photos could be given a different effect in the same "Instant Fix's" Effects session using the toggle between View = Show All Photos and Show One Photo technique detailed for Crop above.

Effect choices presented as thumbnails for the different looks and included:
No Effect
Aged Photo
Antique Light
Bueno
Caramel
Charcoal
Classic
Coral
Crystal
Dreamy
Forest
Frost
Gravel
Kaleidoscope
Lomo
Memories
Moonlight
Olive
Pastel
Pearl
Polar
Radiance
Retro
Sepia
Summertime
Twilight
Vintage
Woods
Yesteryear
Another 3 Elements Organizer jpg photos 4:3 were used here. The outcome from the same Crystal**** effect application to 3 different Elements Organizer photos can be seen in Figure 1 (Before) and Figure 2 (After).

Figure 1. Elements Organizer 2018 "Instant Fix"/Effects/BEFORE Same Crystal Effect Applied To All  3 Photos At The Same Time. View = Show All Photos.

Figure 2. Elements Organizer 2018 "Instant Fix"/Effects/AFTER Same Crystal Effect Applied To All 3 Photos At The Same Time. View = Show All Photos.

Smart Fix

Auto Adjust
With "Instant Fix" workspace View = Show All Photos, the auto adjust Smart Fix could be applied to all 3 photos at the same time. Further, Smart Fix could be applied to 1 or 2 of the 3 photos in the "Instant Fix" workspace by using the toggle between View = Show All Photos and Show One Photo technique as detailed for Crop above. 

Light

User Custom Adjusts
With "Instant Fix" workspace View = Show All Photos, the same given Light effect could be applied to all 3 photos at the same time. Further, each of the photos could be given different lighting in the same "Instant Fix" Light session by using the toggle between View = Show All Photos and Show One Photo technique as detailed for Crop.

The "Instant Fix's" Light presented as a vertical row with 8 thumbnails, each representing a different level of lighting. Slider was moved up to make the image lighter or down to darken the image. No name or number was given to these thumbnails.

Color

User Custom Adjusts
With "Instant Fix" workspace View = Show All Photos, the same given coloring could be applied to all 3 photos at the same time. Further, each of the photos could be given different coloring in the same "Instant Fix" Color session by using the toggle between View = Show All Photos and Show One Photo technique as detailed for Crop.

The "Instant Fix's" Color presented as a vertical row with 8 thumbnails, each representing what appeared to be a different level of saturation. Slider was moved up to make the image look more saturated or down to take the image to desaturated look. No name or number was given to these thumbnails.

 Clarity

User Custom Adjusts
With "Instant Fix" workspace View = Show All Photos, the same given clarity choice could be applied to all 3 photos at the same time. Further, each of the photos could be given a different clarity choice in the same "Instant Fix" Clarity session by using the toggle between View = Show All Photos and Show One Photo technique as detailed for Crop.

The "Instant Fix's" Clarity presented as a vertical row with 8 thumbnails, each representing what appeared to be different levels of clarity. Slider was moved up to try to make the image look sharper or down to take the image to a fuzzy look. No name or number was given to these thumbnails. 

COMMENTARY

In searching Premiere Elements Editor/Elements Organizer for the best editing tools for particular project media, do not overlook those offered in the Premiere Elements Editor itself. For example, in Premiere Elements 2018 Editor:

• Crop (Expert workspace only. fx Effects/Transform/Crop)

• Effects (Expert workspace - Full. Quick workspace - Limited. fx Effects area)

• Smart Fix (Expert and Quick workspaces. In right vertical tool bar, Adjustments/Smart Mix Panel)

• Light (Expert and Quick workspaces. fx Effects and Adjustments areas)

• Color (Expert workspace - Full. Quick workspace - Limited. fx Effects area and, in right vertical tool bar, Adjustments area)

• Clarity (Expert workspace only. fx Effects/Blur & Sharpen/Sharpen)
  

Does the tool work with video as well as photos, and does the tool feature batch as well as one at a time application? What are workarounds to apply the same effect to multiple Timeline files? These are important considerations in Premiere Elements Editor tool selection. More on these questions/answers at another time.

As always, content of blog post continues as a work in progress, checking for accuracy and latest information.

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*Premiere Elements versions were on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.

**Two considerations for moving edited photo from Elements Organizer to Premiere Elements Editor:
In Elements Organizer workspace, right click thumbnail for the "Instant Fix" edited photo and select Edit with Premiere Elements Editor
or
In Premiere Elements Editor, use Add Media/Elements Organizer.

***In one case exploration for "Instant Fix" Effects, 101 instead of 3 Elements Organizer workspace photos were  successfully taken through the process of applying the Sepia effect to all 101 photos at the same time. Of note:

• The selected 101 Elements Organizer workspace photos opened into the "Instant Fix" workspace displaying only the first 8 photos. The remaining 93 could be viewed 8 at a time using the Next button underneath the display of the photos in the "Instant Fix" workspace. (For the 101 photos, there were 12 displays of 8 and 1 display of 5.). 

• With the View = Show All Photos and with any one of the 13 displays in view, "Instant Fix" fx Effects Sepia was applied to all 101 at the same time with one click on the Sepia choice.

• The maximum number of photos that the "Instant Fix" feature would accept was not determined beyond this 101 photos exploration.

****The Crystal effect seem to give a better (sharper) result than the use of Sharpen in the Premiere Elements Editor fx Effects/Video/Blur & Sharpen/Sharpen or Clarity in the Elements Organizer workspace's "Instant Fix".

ATR

PE 2018: The New Candid Moments Feature Explored

INTRODUCTION

Adobe introduced the Candid Moments feature in its latest version, Premiere Elements 2018. Basically, the feature is a "frame capture from video" tool with the perks  of

• Auto analysis of the video to select best possible moments using criteria based on group of people, faces, focus, and interesting lights

• Export to Desktop (as jpg), Create Slideshow (including jpg saves to Elements Organizer), and Export to Timeline (as jpg) choices for the auto or manual selected captures

• According to Adobe new product material, "Wish you could capture those memorable moments in your videos as photos? Now you can automatically extract great photos from your raw video clip."

The Adobe help document for this new feature can be found HERE, 

ISSUE

Premiere Elements 2018 offers the classical freeze Frame for captures as well as this new Candid Moments feature. Why one or the other?

FINDINGS

1. Freeze Frame can do frame captures from Timeline video or photos. Candid Moments can do Timeline frame captures from only Timeline raw video - emphasize raw. For example, the Candid Moments capture did not include any edits to the Timeline video prior to use of Candid Moments tool. Such edits included fx effects, scale changes, opacity changes; it did not work at all with Timeline green screened image. None of these issues existed when using a Freeze Frame capture. See Figures 1 and 2 for the Candid Moments - Freeze Frame comparison related to Timeline frame capture for a green screened image.

Figure 1. Candid Moments (Tools Menu/Candid Moments) Failure When Capture Was For Green Screened Image With Background Replacement.

Figure 2. Freeze Frame Route (Tools Menu/Freeze Frame) Success When Capture Was For Green Screened Image With Background Replacement.

2. Candid Moments offered products which were all jpg for its Export to Desktop, Create Slideshow, and Export to Timeline choices. Freeze Frame dialog's "Insert In Movie" put a bmp image on the Timeline, but the capture from video or photo route of Export & Share/Image/ gave the jpg with several options. Freeze Frame dialog's "Export" choice saves as jpg for the capture from the Timeline to a computer hard drive save location.

3. The quality of the jpg from "capture from video" for Candid Moments (Export to Desktop) versus Freeze Frame (Export) seemed essentially the same. See Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3. Candid Moments Capture From Video. Export To Desktop Choice Gave Jpg. The Jpg Resolution = 1920 x 1080  (As Directed By Project Preset)

Figure 4. Freeze Frame Capture From Video. Freeze Frame Dialog's "Export" Choice Gave Jpg Saved To Desktop. The Jpg Resolution = 1920 x 1080 (As Directed By Project Preset)

COMMENTARY

In order to work Candid Moments needed raw video. Timeline editing of the selected video before use of Candid Moments created problems for the feature. The feature did not appear to embellish the captured image quality in the Candid Moments workspace, although it does offer auto selecting the best of the moments. However, this is made with the assumption that there is some acceptable quality raw video to start with.

Tools menu/Freeze Frame as well as the route Export & Share/Image/Frame or GIF or Custom seem to offer more task options than Tools Menu/Candid Moments. For limited examples -

• Export & Share/Image/Custom with its Advanced Settings offers the option "Export in Sequence" which provides for capture of all the frames in a video.

• Export & Share/Image/Frame offers choices of resolutions: HD 1080 1920 x 1080, HD 1080 1440 x 1080, HD 720 1280 x 720, and SD 480 720 x 480 while other routes will be dictated by the frame size of the project preset.

Premiere Elements 15, 14/14.1, 13/13.1, 12/12.1, 11, 10, 9.0/9.0.1, and 8.0/8.0.1 each has both Freeze Frame in the Timeline as well as the choice for frame capture via export area of the project. Only a Freeze Frame in the Timeline exists for Premiere Elements 7 and 4. See HERE for related details and history on the matter written by me back in 2013 at the time of Premiere Elements 11.

Work continues to be in progress for reviewing the accuracy of the details and updating when indicated.

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ATR

 
 

PE 2018: Experimenting with Titler Gradients

INTRODUCTION

The Premiere Elements Titler has been the subject of several of the blog posts in this ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting series. Some examples of this focus can be found in 

PE: Typewriter Animation Effects For Titler Text

PE11: Titler Shapes For Highlighting

PE: Titler - Part 2 Styles

ISSUE

A title with background color gradients was wanted for a Premiere Elements project, and it was decided to look to the project's Titler/Color Palette/Gradient as a possible way to create these color gradients in the title file without having to go to Photoshop Elements to create the title and then import it into Premiere Elements. In Premiere Elements Titler's Color Palette/Gradient the gradient choices are Linear Gradient, Radial Gradient, and 4 Color Gradient. It was decided to explore each for a project's title with background color gradients.

EXPLORATION APPROACH AND OUTCOMES
(Basic idea is to apply a color gradient to title in project's opened Titler, close Titler, apply Chroma Key to that title on the Timeline in order to convert one of the colors of the color gradient to transparency. Intent is to have a feather like edge for the insert that will go into the transparent area of the title. More details are given for the 4 Color Gradient approach than for Linear Gradient and Radial Gradient; but, basic idea is same for all.)

4 Color Gradient Approach

Figure 1. The Titler's 4 Color Gradient Used To Create The Background And Overall Effect As Seen In Expert Workspace Monitor.

Step 1.
Text Menu/New Text/Default Text/Shape Section of opened Titler/Shape Section's Rectangle Tool.
And, Rectangle Tool used to draw rectangle to fill the entire black area of the Titler displayed in Expert workspace monitor.

Step 2.
Then, Shape Section's Color Palette/Gradient/4 Color Gradient.
4 Color Gradient settings (R-G-B)
upper left, 142-181-110 for light green color
upper right, 39-31-194 for dark blue color
lower left, 199-177-32 for golden color
lower right, 235-138-162 for red color
Titler closed

Step 3
Title created moved to Video Track 2 and Chroma Key applied to the title to convert dark blue color to transparency. Editing of Chroma Key included
Chroma Key's eyedropper to top right corner with dark blue color
Chroma Key's Similarity's slider to right to increase area of transparency created
Chroma Key's Blend to adjust/smooth edge between transparency and color area
Chroma Key's Smoothness = High.

Step 4
Hydrangeas.jpg photo imported and placed on Video Track 1 directly below title on Video Track, and Hydrangeas photo sized and positioned to fill the area of transparency created in the title above. In addition, the final look wanted may include resizing and positioning the 4 Color Gradient title as well as a little adjustments of the Blend option of Chroma Key.
Tip: To assure that correct file is being selected for adjustment, reminder...right click monitor, select Select, followed by the name of the file to be adjusted.

Step 5
Anew, Text Menu/New Text/Default Text to create the Tribute to Mother text for this project. Text Menu/Roll Crawl Options in this opened Titler to create a rolling text effect with custom settings for Start Off Screen and End Off Screen. Refer to following H.264.mp4 export of this title.

Roll Crawl Options dialog's settings: Title Type = Roll, check mark next to Start Off Screen, no check mark next to End Off Screen, Preroll = 0, and Postroll set to 80 frames. Set up with some manual position adjusts. The finished title with the Tribute to Mother text on Video Track 3.

Linear Gradient Approach

Figure 2. The Titler's Linear Gradient Used To Create The Background And Overall Effect As Seen In Expert Workspace Monitor.

For the Linear Gradient approach the title's text was embellished in the Titler by applying the Titler's Animation "Scale In" to the text that read "Mother and us in videos and photos". Refer to the H.264.mp4 export of this title for the effect.

Linear Gradient works from 2 colors. The R-G-B settings were light green 178-232-135 and blue 89-174-240. Green was the color taken to transparency using Chroma Key. Adjusts of the gradient in the opened Titler included Angle setting moved from 0 to 55, and adjustments to position of setting boxes to any direction that would enhance the feather like look between the two colors. Imagination and coordination of positioning of elements (title in opened Titler and title on Timeline when Titler closed) were mayor keys to the outcome.

Radial Gradient Approach

Figure 3. The Titler's Radial Gradient Used To Create The Background And Overall Effect As Seen In Expert Workspace Monitor.

For the Radial Gradient approach the title's text was embellished in the Titler by applying the Titler's Animation "SpinInByLine" to the text that read "Special Family Videos and Photos". Refer to the H.264.mp4 export of this title for the effect.

Radial Gradient works from 2 colors. The R-G-B settings were green 104-179-43 and purple/blue 124-78-222. Reverse and Repeat options are available but were not used here. Use of Repeat option can produce concentric circles pattern for which I have not yet found an application.

COMMENTARY

In over-viewing the project, probably explore, experiment, and create are thought to be the major ingredients for the finished creation rather than one fixed recipe.

Work was done with Premiere Elements 2018 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit, but should be applicable to other versions of Premiere Elements on their supported operating systems.

Best wishes with your results.

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ATR

PE 7: On Windows 10 64 bit

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements as well as computer operating systems have evolved since Premiere Elements 7 was released years ago.

Premiere Elements 7, 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, 10, 11, 12/12.1, 13/13.1, 14/14.1, 15, and current version 2018
Windows XP, Vista, 8, 10

The System Requirements for Premiere Elements 7 displayed on the installation disc's box include operating systems Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows Media Center, or Windows Vista. The labeling on the disc in the box displays operating system Windows XP|Windows Vista. The Premiere Elements 7 Help PDF can still be found online HERE. A QuickTime requirement is invoked, and the now non existent photoshop.com was involved with Premiere Elements 7.

ISSUE

Does Premiere Elements 7 install and function on Windows 10 64 bit system? This blog post will explore the outcome of attempting to install Premiere Elements 7 with an installation disc* when the computer operating system was Windows 10 Home 64 bit.

FINDINGS

1. Premiere Elements 7 installed without issues on my Windows 10 Home 64 bit computer which already had installed on it QuickTime 7.7.9. The Premiere Elements 7 installation was done using installation disc purchased when Premiere Elements 7 was released in approximately October 2008. Premiere Elements 7 has a QuickTime system requirement which is essential for the appearance of QuickTime presets in the Premiere Elements 7 project Share/Personal Computer/QuickTime. For starter, consider HERE.

2. Photoshop.com no longer exists; nonetheless, each time the program is opened, the user is greeted with the following "Update Required" message which wants an Update or Cancel selection. The User needs to select Cancel to continue successfully. Important - Do not click Update to that message which reads:
"Photoshop.com services require an update to Premiere Elements. Please update using the Adobe Update Manager or by checking at the Adobe Website at http://www.adobe.com."

3. Unlock code/MPEG2 Activation code issue presented when first trying to render** the Premiere Elements 7 Timeline content. This error message in the project asked for an Unlock code which was supposed to be obtained by going to a website whose link was given in the error message. That link in the error message did not work. The working link was found thanks to online ID EAEC, who provided the working route to the Unlock code/MPEG2 Activation code. Refer to EAEC's April 2017 solution which worked for me today May 9, 2018.
https://www.adobe.com/motion/mpegactivation.html

4. Import/Export seemed to be OK. A very limited exploration of import and export did not reveal any issues after MPEG2 Activation was done.
Import. 620 x 480 29.97 fps video from my Casio camera (video format MPEG-4 Visual/Codec ID M4S2, audio format ADPCM/Codec 11, and file extension .avi. Also 1920 x 1080 29.97 fps video from online (video format AVC/Codec ID avc1, audio format PCM/Codec ID sowt, and file extension .mov.
Export. Each of the above using Share/Personal Computer/QuickTime for the H.264.mov exports.

Premiere Elements 7/5.1 channel audio behavior/issue remains the same whether the program is on Windows 10 or earlier. Following is an excerpt from another blog post here.

Premiere Elements 7
Video clip with 5.1 channel audio would appear on an upper video track unless the project preset was one that included description for use with a clip with 5.1 channel audio.
Solution is, for video with 5.1 channel audio, use a project preset which includes for use with a video containing 5.1 channel audio.


Note: User can create project presets with 5.1 channel audio description. Refer to following blog posts How To in the ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting series. See

PE11: Exporting a 1080p50 or 1080p60 file with 5.1
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/04/pe11-exporting-1080p50-or-1080p60-file.html 


PE11: Exporting a 1080p25 or 1080p30 file with 5.1 Channel Audio
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/04/pe11-exporting-1080p50-or-1080p60-file.html

PE12: Exporting a 720p50 or 720p60 file with 5.1 Channel
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/10/pe12-exporting-720p50-or-720p60-file.html


COMMENTARY

The findings did not point to any Premiere Elements 7 issues being specific to its install on Windows 10 Home 64 bit. That matter of Premiere Elements (any version) and its stated or unstated system requirement for QuickTime needs attention. The Premiere Elements 7 system requirement for QuickTime is spelled out in that version's Adobe System Requirements document. Without the companion QuickTime install, Premiere Elements 7 does not have QuickTime presets in its Share/Personal Computer/QuickTime. On the other hand, Premiere Elements 2018 and 15 System Requirements no longer list QuickTime under its system requirements. What does that mean? For example, Premiere Elements 2018 or 15 on Windows 10 Home 64 bit with no companion QuickTime installed does run into at least two serious QuickTime export*** issues

Export & Share/Devices/Computer/HD 1080 1920 x 1080 with Format = MOV - H.264.
Pressing Save to start the export triggered message "Incompatible Video Codec type in Preset"

          or

Export & Share/Devices/Custom and its Advanced Settings for Format = QuickTime sends out an export that has audio but no video at playback.

The above were resolved by installing QuickTime on the same computer as Premiere Elements 2018 or 15.  Based on these findings, it is curious why QuickTime was removed from the System Requirements for 2018 and 15, but was kept for 14/14.1 and earlier.

Lots to look at...other formats, QuickTime alternatives, and other (especially File Menu/Export/Movie as well as Share/Personal Computer/QuickTime).

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*Premiere Elements 7 installation files were not available for download from Adobe. Premiere Elements installation files for download from Adobe are available for only Premiere Elements 9 and later. See HERE. The Premiere Elements 7 installation disc used offered the following language choices during the installation Setup: English (United States), French, German, and Japanese. In contrast, the Setup gave many choices for the  "Country/Region in which you live".

**In the first project of the installed program, I suggest that the User do a Timeline content render as one way to get out of the way any possible MPEG2 Activation issues.
***In this work, Export, but not Import (.mov), issues were encountered when QuickTime was not installed on the same computer as Premiere Elements 7.


As always work, in progress to assure accuracy of information provided.



ATR