PE: The Version Updates For An Already Released Version

INTRODUCTION

For a variety of reasons, a version update via download soon followed original release of several of the Premiere Elements versions: 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, 12/12.1, 13/13.1, and 14/14.1. Some examples of the nature of the more recent version updates include

PE12: 12.1 Update Released
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/03/pe12-update-121-released.html 

PE13: Adobe Releases Premiere Elements 13.1 Update
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/02/pe-13-adobe-releases-premiere-elements.html 

PE 13/13.1: 13.1 Update Failures/Solutions
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/03/pe13131-131-update-failuressolutions.html

Adobe Premiere Elements 14.1 Update
http://blogs.adobe.com/contentcorner/2015/12/18/adobe-premiere-elements-14-1-update/

To date Premiere Elements 4, 7, 10, 11, 15, and 2018 each does not have an updated version. Depending on the circumstances and generalizing, Adobe seems to consider "Fix in the next version" for some issues in any already released current version.

Version downloads are obtained in

Premiere Elements 14.1 only using the project's Help Menu/Updates
Edit Menu/Preferences/Update setting offers choice of "Automatically download and install updates" or "Notify me when an update is available".

Premiere Elements 13.1 using same as for 14.1.

Premiere Elements 12.1 only using the project's Help Menu/Updates.
No Edit Menu/Preferences/Update.

Premiere Elements 9.0.1 using the project's Help Menu/Updates or using Adobe link* found HERE.
I have had more success downloading 9.0.1 update from Adobe link rather than using the within project route of Help Menu/Updates. 

Premiere Elements 8.0.1 using the project's Help Menu/Updates or using Adobe link* found HERE.
I have had more success downloading 8.0.1 update from Adobe link rather than using the within project route of  Help Menu/Updates.

COMMENTARY 

As an aside, curious issue was found with regard to installing the Photoshop Elements 13.1 Update when the computer had installed on it both Photoshop Elements 13 and 14. Basically,

Photoshop Elements 13.1 would not install on Windows 7 or 10 64 bit computers which had installed on them

• Photoshop Elements 13

• Premiere Elements 13.1

• Photoshop Elements 14.1

• Premiere Elements 14.1

 The troubleshooting details for this situation are found HERE and point to the following suggestion

.......if Photoshop Elements 13 and 14 are on the same computer, do not update Photoshop Elements 14 to 14.1 if Photoshop Elements 13.1 is wanted.

 Premiere Elements was not implicated in this matter.
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*The links for Premiere Elements 8.0.1 Update and Premiere Elements 9.0.1 Update were obtained today from Adobe Downloads Premiere Elements at the Adobe web site. These updates were especially important to stability of the version (8.0.1, in every way; 9.0.1, especially with regard to display issues unique to this version).


ATR

PE: Support For TGA Files Update

INTRODUCTION

Back in the days when Premiere Elements 11 was the latest version of Premiere Elements, one of the  ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog posts addressed the issue of Premiere Elements 11 lack of support for files with the file extension .tga. Refer to "PE 11: TGA Files/PE 8.0/8.0.1 Title Templates" dated September 19, 2013 and found HERE.

UPDATE

Premiere Elements 11 through to the present version 2018 did not support the .tga file import; whereas Premiere Elements 4 through to 10 did. Furthermore, the program files for versions 4 through 10 each contain Adobe created .tga files*. The paths to these files files are
For Premiere Elements 4.0, 7, 8.0/8.0.1, and 9.0/9.0.1
Local Drive (C:)/Program Files (x86)/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0, 7.0, 8.0,  or 9/Presets/Textures/Common/
For Premiere Elements 10
Local Drive (C:)/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 10/Presets/Textures/Common/

In today's investigation, .tga support for versions of Premiere Elements later than 11 was evaluated using the Baby Girl rattle Logo_7.tga file from the Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1 program files. In each case, the import of this file into Premiere Elements 11 or later failed with the Add Media Failure/Error Message "This type of file is not supported or the required codec is not installed." Control for these findings was successful  importing of the same file into Premiere Elements 10 and earlier on the same computer.

COMMENTARY

To date, the solution suggested in July 16, 2018 is the same as that suggested back in September 19, 2013; that is,

 .....locate and transfer...template's text files (.prtl) plus graphic files (.tga), convert the .tga to .png, and then place the text and graphic files into the correct locations on the computer hard drive for Premiere Elements ... to use. If this involved a go between 2 computers, a USB 2.0/3.0 Flash Drive could be used for the folders/files transfer.

As an aside, there are reports of issues with Premiere Elements missing media message related to seemingly non existent .tga file. Refer to ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog post named "PE 13/13.1: "Where is the File "Business Title_7.tga?" Solved?" dated July 24, 2015  and found HERE.

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*Reminder...for these versions, make sure that Content has been installed from Content Disc if Premiere Elements was purchased in box or from the following link if no Content Disc
https://www.adobe.com/special/premiereel/downloads/ 



ATR

PE: Instant Movie Details Round Up

INTRODUCTION

The Premiere Elements Instant Movie feature provides the opportunity for the user to take the Timeline Video Track 1 content (max 15 minute duration*) to a movie with choice of Adobe supplied themes and assets which can be customized (music and other) at the Timeline level after the Instant Movie process is completed. See HERE for the Adobe document "Adobe Premiere Elements Help/Creating Instant Movies.

 ISSUE

As the Premiere Elements versions evolved over the years, Instant Movie feature survived the cut each year when a new version of Premiere Elements was released with feature cuts and additions. Important details for various facets of the Instant Movie feature can be found in blog posts scattered in this ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog. It was decided to point to these blog posts for the user thinking about making a video presentation as Premiere Elements Instant Movie.


ATR BLOG POSTS RELATED TO PREMIERE ELEMENTS INSTANT MOVIE DETAILS AND CONCEPTS

Useful for introducing Instant Movie to the user, and especially useful for Instant Movie music customization details.
PE 14/14.1: Instant Movie Theme Music
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2016/04/pe-14141-instant-movie-theme-music.html  

Useful for recreating some Instant Movie effects and easier than trying to create user made new  Instant Movie with its required mvth file and assets available in Program Files or Online File locations.
PE: Some Instant Movie Movie Effects Explained
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/02/pe-some-instant-movie-effects-explained.html
Forum thread "How To Recreate Some Instant Movie Effects in PRE11?"
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1706770 

Useful for understanding and addressing "Instant Movie Outdoor Adventure Theme Glitch" which persists over versions through to version 2018.  And useful as introduction to locations for program's Instant Movie files in Program Files and Online File locations.
PE: Instant Movie Theme "Outdoor Adventure" Glitch
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/01/pe-instant-movie-theme-outdoor.html 

COMMENTARY

Just a reminder about Instant Movie/Personalize Movie/Duration....Duration area lists "Maximum Duration 15 min: 0 sec". The choices in that section are Match Music, Specify Duration, and Use All Clips.

Match Music...the resulting Instant Movie duration will be governed by the duration of the Instant Movie's  music file.

Specify Duration...by default is the duration of the music file. But, that setting has a maximum set of 15 minutes.

Use All Clips...an example for "AutoEdit" factor involved when Use All Clips is selected

• With Timeline content duration = 00;24;51;14, the completed Instant Movie duration = 00;15;06;01 when AutoEdit, Auto-Analyzer, and Entire Movie are selected in Personalize Movie.

• With the Timeline content duration = 00;24;51;14, the completed Instant Movie duration = 00;24;57;14 when AutoEdit is not included in the selections along with Auto-Analyzer and Entire Movie. 

This AutoEdit factor was found if Personalize Movie/Music was set for Theme Music or No Music. The above Use All Clips/AutoEdit factor was evaluated using Premiere Elements 2018 Windows 64 bit/Instant Movie with European Travel theme.

Lots of variables and choices. Typical default Personalize Movie settings are displayed in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Personalize Movie Default Settings. European Travel Theme Was In Use When Figure 1 Was Created. The Top Of The Personalize Movie Area Has The Default Text for Opening Title And Closing Title. Space Limitations Prevented Including This Default Text In Figure 1.

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* See COMMENTARY section.


ATR

PE: Experimenting With Video Story Telling Embellishments

INTRODUCTION

Story telling using video and photo clips can be achieved using Premiere Element built in features such as Video Story and Instant Movie. Aside from these features, the user has opportunities to story tell using his/her source media embellished by his/her selection of project assets such as special effects, fx effects, transitions.

ISSUE

Using only user selected special effects, fx effects, and transitions and with a "create a story as I go" attitude, I decided to take a group of related clips and try to build a story around them. The group of related clips were from Premiere Elements 4.0 program files found on my Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit computer at Local Drive (C:)/Program Files (x86)/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0/Samples Files.

RESULTS

The following is the user created story telling version done in Premiere Elements 2018 Timeline* with Premiere Elements 4.0 program Sample Clips (.avi) which were edited to include special effects, fx effects, and transitions.

The story telling wmv video above is the Premiere Elements export** of the Premiere Elements Timeline which utilized the following embellishments.

Freeze Frames
To increase the view duration for "Dolphin Harbor" at start and also for "Dolphin Harbor Return From Dream" at end, bmp freeze frames were created for those areas in the project.

Transitions
Swing Out
Duration 1 second, Alignment Left clip, "More" area with check mark next to Reverse.
To give the illusion of book type opening going between "Dolphin Harbor" and "Once Upon A Time" segments.
Tic Tac Toe
Duration 1 second, Alignment Between clips.
To complement the change from Black & White video to original colors video. Concept was  influenced by 1939 movie "Wizard of Oz" in which the movie starts in Black & White and changes to colors once the character of Dorothy enters Oz.
Swing In
Duration 1 second, Alignment Right clip.
To give the illusion of book type closing at the "Return From Dream" segment.
Fade
There is a Fade Out Video applied to the view of the Dolphin video seen under the "Dolphin Harbor" closing.

Effects
Bounce Back Effect
After the "Once Upon A Time" segment",  the avi clip with boy and girl jumping was triplicated and placed next to one other. To the second clip only, Time Stretch/Reverse Speed was applied. There is a Guided lesson on "Create Bounce Back Effect" available in the project workspace, but it was not referred to in this instance.
fx Effect
Video, Image Control, Black & White.
Story telling video starts off in Black & White and goes to original colors when boy and girl are playing with Dolphins. Black & White is reverted to at end to imply return from dream concept.  Concept was influenced by 1939 movie "Wizard of Oz" in which the movie starts in Black & White and changes to colors once the character of Dorothy enters Oz.

Music
Music Score/Ambient/Heaven is soundtrack used under those story segments which appear in their original colors.

Titles
A Title*** was created for the "Once Upon A Time" and "Return from Dream" segments. The Black & White Effect was applied to each of the Timeline titles.

Figure 1 displays the Timeline construction for the story telling video version described above.

Figure 1. Timeline Content For Video Embellishments Experimenting. Premiere Elements 2018 Expert Workspace.

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*Project preset was NTSC-AVCHD-Full HD 1080i30.
**Export route was Export & Share/Devices/Custom with Custom's Advanced Settings for Format = Windows Media.
***The project Titler was used for title creation...Text Menu/New Text/Default text. The text animation "SpinInByLine" was applied to the "Return From Dream" title at the closing of the story telling wmv video.

ATR





 

PE: Update - What Version of Premiere Elements To Buy

INTRODUCTION

The end of September/early October has been the classical time each year for Adobe to release a new version of its Premiere Elements software. The release of a new version triggers the question "What version of Premiere Elements to buy if you are a present user of some version of the software and you are interested in new features or if you are a new user seeking video editing software?" On July 31, 2016, this question was previously been discussed in the ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog post as it relates to Premiere Elements 7 through 14/14.1. See HERE.

Note: To date there has been no subscription purchase for Premiere Elements. The latest version of the software has been purchased either as download from Adobe or a non Adobe source. The disc version of the latest version is not sold by Adobe and can be obtained from a non Adobe source. Each version is a standalone software (there is no updating of features for an already installed earlier version). There is the possibility for the purchase of older versions from certain non Adobe source.

ISSUE

With September 2018 fast approaching and the possibility of a new Premiere Elements version (assumed named 2019), it was decided to update the July 31, 2016 blog to include Premiere Elements 15 and 2018 information.

OBSERVATIONS

Suggest Reading Material

Premiere Elements 2018 First Look
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2017/10/premiere-elements-2018-first-look.html
 
Premiere Elements 2018 Daily Discoveries
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2017/10/premiere-elements-2018-daily-discoveries.html
 
Premiere Elements 15 First Look
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2016/10/premiere-elements-15-first-look.html
 
Premiere Elements 15 Daily Discoveries
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2016/10/premiere-elements-15-daily-discoveries.html
 
Sampling of Version Alerts 

Premiere Elements  2018
Blu-ray and AVCHD categories have been removed from Export & Share/Disc/Blu-ray and Export & Share/Disc/AVCHD. Only Export & Share/Disc/DVD remains. System Requirements for Windows 64 bit, not 32 bit.
No workarounds found.

Premiere Elements 15
Last version to support Blu-ray and AVCHD Export & Share/Disc opportunities.


COMMENTARY 

Be sure to review Adobe document on the Premiere Elements System Requirements. See HERE. Additional information may be added to today's blog post at later date.

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ATR

PE: Creating A Blu-ray ISO Image File

INTRODUCTION

Generalizing, a Blu-ray ISO Image

• can be produced without the requirement for a system Blu-ray burner, and that saved iso file can be  taken to Blu-ray format on Blu-ray disc when a Blu-ray burner eventually is available to the user

• can be used as a Blu-ray Burn to alternative if and when a Burn to Blu-ray Disc fails in the Burn to Blu-ray Disc with Blu-ray burner

Premiere Elements did not offer a built in Share option for creating a Blu-ray ISO Image until its version13/13.1. But, that Premiere Elements 13/13.1 Blu-ray ISO Image export was flawed since it was useless when its file size exceeded about 1 GB. See HERE for those details. An Adobe fix for this 13/13.1 problem was never found; however, the issue was resolved in the subsequent versions 14/14.1 and 15. In the current Premiere Elements version (2018), Adobe discontinued its Burn to Disc options for Blu-ray (be it to Blu-ray Disc or to Blu-ray ISO Image). See HERE.

Premiere Elements 15 and through 7 can also produce a Blu-ray ISO Image file when
the Phantom Drive (virtual Blu-ray burner with virtual Blu-ray disc) was installed on the same computer with Premiere Elements.The basic requirement here is that the installed Phantom Drive is recognized and selected in the Premiere Elements' Share area/Blu-ray/Disc/Burner Location. See HERE for fuller discussion in the ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog titled "PE: ISO Images (Burn to, Opening, Virtual Burner/Virtual Discs)" and dated March 1, 2016. 

ISSUE

Today's 2018 blog is intended to update certain points made on this topic earlier. All work in the past and present is done with the demo version of Phantom Drive. 

FINDINGS

For Premiere Elements 15 and earlier, Blu-ray ISO Image file could be produced with Phantom Drive demo (version 1.0.0.5/64 bit) in conjunction with Premiere Elements 15 and earlier. At this time, this iso file was explored for the 5 GB iso file size); this iso file could subsequently be burned to a Blu-ray disc (BD-RE 25 GB) containing Blu-ray format.  The current testing was done using Windows 10 Home 64 bit. Spot checking included producing Blu-ray ISO Image file from Premiere Elements 7, 13/13.1, and 15 in conjunction with Phantom Burner.

Basic generalized settings:

Phantom Burner
Double click of Desktop Phantom Starter icon to get to Settings under Phantom Creator panel which includes Create a Blu-ray-R/Size 23.87 GB/Create an ISO Image/Insert the new Phantom Image after creation/Close Phantom Creator after the image file has been created, and concluding with Create button to save settings.

Premiere Elements' Share area, Blu-ray, Disc, Burner Location set for Phantom Burner which had beforehand been set for the virtual Blu-ray disc. See Desktop Phantom Starter icon.

COMMENTARY

The mention of the Phantom Drive has been made for informational rather than promotional consideration. I am not affiliated in any way with this software or its manufacturer. Phantom Drive licensing issues prevented me from doing this 2018 work on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit. I did not run into this problem with Windows 10 Home 64 bit. This software offers a free 30 days try out period after which purchase is required for continued use.

This did work on Windows 10 Home 64 bit in spite of the fact that the Phantom Drive System Requirements included only Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 and 2008. There is a 32 as well as a 64 bit version offered for the demo download.

Today's blog pointed to creation of Blu-ray ISO Image using Phantom Drive in conjunction with Premiere Elements on Windows 10 Home 64 bit. As a very quick aside, creation of AVCHD ISO Image using Phantom Drive in conjunction with Premiere Elements 14/14.1, but not 15, on Windows 10 Home 64 bit worked to produce an AVCHD ISO Image. The settings in that case were:

Basic generalized settings:

Phantom Burner
Double click of Desktop Phantom Starter icon to get to Settings under Phantom Creator panel which includes Create a DVD+R/Size 4.48 GB/Create an ISO Image/Insert the new Phantom Image after creation/Close Phantom Creator after the image file has been created, and concluding with Create button to save settings.

Premiere Elements' Share area, AVCHD, Disc, Burner Location set for Phantom Burner which had beforehand been set for the virtual DVD+R disc. See Desktop Phantom Starter icon.

A lot more work needs to be done to address this topic as it relates to the AVCHD ISO Image/Phantom Drive/Premiere Elements. Reminder: AVCHD as well as Blu-ray burn to disc support has been removed by Adobe from its latest Premiere Elements version (2018).

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ATR
 

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