PE: Editing DVD Menu PSD Files Revisited

INTRODUCTION

Premiere Elements DVD menu customization opportunities can be found in the Movie Menu creation area inside the opened project. See HERE* For more advanced customization of the Adobe built in DVD menus, the target evolves around how to open layer groups in the DVD menu's psd files which are found in the version's program files. The critical factor for any .psd editor is its capability to open the layer groups in the layer palette of the DVD menu psd files. Typically, Photoshop has been pointed to as the psd editor of choice since it could open and create the editable layer groups to meet Adobe requirements (nomenclature and structure) to produce a DVD menu that functions in the Premiere Elements opened project.

ISSUE

Photoshop Elements 14 and earlier has lacked the layer group capability of Photoshop; consequently, the workaround of Elements+ software can be found online as a suggested empowerment for Photoshop Elements 14 and earlier to meet the task of editing the Premiere Elements DVD menu psd files.

But now it appears that Adobe has given Photoshop Elements 15 and 2018 layer group capability; a "Create a new group" icon can be found at the top of their layers palette. Does this mean that Photoshop Elements 15 and 2018 are now comparable to Photoshop for the customization and creation of Premiere Elements DVD menus? It was decided to evaluate Photoshop Elements 15 and 2018 as psd editors for the task of producing the editable DVD menu psd files to be used for customized DVD menu available in the opened Premiere Elements project.

FINDINGS

Part 1

Layer Group Opening/Editable Content Within the Opened Layer Groups


Evaluation was performed with Photoshop CS5.1 64 bit, Photoshop Elements 11.0, 12/12.1, 13.0, 14/14.1, 15.0, and 2018 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 and Windows 10 Home 64 bit. The following psd files used in the study were

• from Premiere Elements 2018 program files: Pan and Zoom Theme/"pan and zoom_pal_s_mm.psd

• from Premiere Elements 11 program files: Pan and Zoom Theme/ "pan and zoom_pal_s_mm.psd

• from a Photoshop CS5.1 64 bit psd file created there with layer groups (saved with the Maximum Compatibility setting)

The findings are summarized in Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 1. Photoshop Elements As Psd Editor For Opening  Psd Layer Groups And Finding Editable Content In Them. Results Are From Programs Installed On Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.

Table 2. Photoshop Elements As Psd Editor For Opening Psd Layer Groups And Finding Editable Content In Them. Results Are From Programs Installed On Windows 10 Home 64 bit.

In all cases, the .psd files opened in the Photoshop Elements Editor. The opened psd files revealed the layer group status as summarized in Table 1 and Table 2 where

• Yes = Opened Layer Group/Editable Content, and no labeling of layer group with the "non editable adjustment" icon.

• Yes, but = Opened Layer Group/Editable Content, but layer group was labelled "non-editable adjustment"

• No = Layer groups could not be opened to reveal editable content, and layer groups were  labelled "non-editable adjustment"

The data do not support the thought that the opening of the psd layer group by Photoshop Elements editor can be inferred from the presence or absence of Photoshop Elements layer palette's "Create a new group" option. If the evaluation stopped with Photoshop Elements 15 and 2018 which each has the "Create a new group" layer palette's feature, a neat story might be built for 15 and 2018 as psd editor on a par with Photoshop for the task of advanced customization of Premiere Elements DVD menu psd files.

But, a generalized interpretation of the results is guarded at this point because of some conflicting  results using Photoshop Elements 14.0/14.1, 13.0, 12/12.1, and 11.0 which each does not have a "Create a new group" option in its layer palette.

Part 2

Can a fully functional DVD Menu for use in Premiere Elements 2018 actually be created in Photoshop Elements 2018 starting with a blank psd file?

As a first try to answer this question, the ingredients for the task included:

• Photoshop Elements 2018 Editor with New/Blank File/Document Type = Film & Video, Size = PAL D1/DV; Width = 720 pixel/Height = 576 pixels

• DVD Main and Scene Menus were created and named plants_pal_s_mm.psd and plants_pal_s_sm.psd respectively and placed in a new folder named "Plants" which was placed in the Premiere Elements 2018 program files in the path  Local Disk (C:)/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 2018/DVD Templates/Common/My Garden (newly created)/Plants (newly created)

• The new "Plants" DVD menu was used in a Premiere Elements 2018 NTSC/DV/Standard 48 kHz project after it was found and selected in the Premiere Elements Editor path of Tools Menu/Movie Menu. The functioning of menu buttons, including previous and next, was tested using the Movie Menu workspace "Preview Disc". After Done with Movie Menu preparation, the project was burned to DVD disc which was played back using the VLC Media Player.

The answer to the question

Can a full functional DVD Menu for use in Premiere Elements 2018 actually be created in Photoshop Elements 2018 starting with a blank .psd file?

is yes - successfully in every regard. See Figure 1 and Figure 2 for a look at the first try at creating a Premiere Elements 2018 DVD menu in Photoshop Elements 2018.

Figure 1. Main Menu View of  User Newly Created Plants DVD Menu In Premiere Elements 2018.The Menu Was Created In Photoshop Elements 2018 For Use In The Premiere Elements 2018 Project. All Navigation Buttons Were Functional.

Figure 2. Scene Menu View of User Newly Created Plants DVD Menu In Premiere Elements 2018. The Menu Was Created In Photoshop Elements 2018 For Use In The Premiere Elements 2018 Project. All Navigation Buttons Were Functional. Since Scene Menu Was Designed With Only 3 Scenes Buttons And There Were 8 Movie Markers Used In The Timeline, 3 Scene Menu Pages Existed. Shown In Figure 2 is Scene Menu page 1 of 3.

In the case of the psd for the DVD main menu, the fundamental layer groups created using Adobe required codes and other details were top to bottom

title
(+<) previous group
(+>) next group
(+^) main menu button
(+*) bonus
(++) scenes
(+-) play button
background

In the case of the .psd for the DVD scene menu, the fundamental layer groups created using Adobe required codes and other details were top to bottom

title
(+) scene 3
(+) scene 2
(+) scene 1
(+<) previous
(+>) next
(+^) main menu button
background

For this test project, the editable content within these layer groups in the Photoshop Elements 2018 layer palette are shown in Figure 3 (main menu) and Figure 4 (scene menu).
Note the nomenclature and structure of the Photoshop Elements layers palette's opened layer groups and contents within the opened layer groups.

Main Menu

Figure 3. Photoshop Elements 2018 Layer Palette Layer Groups And Their Content To Build/Create The Premiere Elements 2018 DVD Menu's Main Menu.

Scene Menu

Figure 4. Photoshop Elements 2018 Layers Palette Layer Groups And Their Content To Build/Create The Premiere Elements 2018 DVD Menu's Scene Menu.

For comprehensive details related to required content within these layer groups, please refer to ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog titled "PE: Inside the Disc Menu Theme Folder/Files", dated  September 5, 2014, and found HERE.

COMMENTARY**

The results described would merit further exploration of Photoshop Elements 2018 or 15.0 as psd editor for customization/creation of DVD menu psd files for DVD movie menu used within the Movie Menu workspace of a Premiere Elements project. Use of Photoshop Elements 14/14.1 and earlier for this task is questionable since the results were not always consistent.

Note that the Plants DVD menu whose creation was described above was also found to function in Premiere Elements 11 opened project after the newly created My Garden folder containing newly created Plants folder was placed in the Premiere Elements 11 program files in the path
Local Disk (C:)/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Premiere Elements 11/DVD Templates/Common/My Garden /Plants.

Customization and creation of the Premiere Elements DVD menu psd files requires attention to details as per the Adobe requirements for nomenclature and structure of the DVD menu psd file. Overlooking the "attention to detail" factor can lead to time consuming failures.

As always, work continues in progress for checking and double checking the accuracy and reproducibility of the data provided.


___________________________________________________________________________
*Adobe document dated April 26, 2018.
**Other DVD Menu related blog posts in the ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog may be of interest.....

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/05/pe-one-page-14-scene-buttons-dvd-menu.html

PE: One Page 14 Scene Buttons DVD Menu

May 7, 2013

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/09/pe-dvd-menu-navigationplay-all-loss.html

PE: DVD Menu Navigation/Play All Loss

September 13, 2013 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/11/pe11-and-12-christmas-disc-main-menu.html

PE 11 and 12: Christmas Disc Main Menu Audio Limit

November 17, 2013

 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/02/pe-adding-movie-thumbnails-to-disc-main.html

PE: Adding Movie Thumbnails To Disc Menu

February 19, 2014

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/02/pe9-disc-menu-lost-replacement.html

PE 9: Disc Menu Lost Replacement Background

February 10, 2014 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/02/pe-scene-menu-customizationdecreasing.html

PE: Scene Menu Customization/Deceasing Existing Scene Buttons Per Page

February 9, 2014 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/03/pe11-full-background-faux-widescreen.html

PE 11: Full Background Replacement Faux Widescreen Disc Menu

March 22, 2014

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/06/pe12-scary-halloween-main-menu-default.html

PE 12: Scary Halloween Main Menu Default Highlight Sequence

June 26, 2014 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/09/pe-inside-disc-menu-theme-folderfiles.html

PE: Inside the Disc Menu Theme Folder/Files

September 5, 2014 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/09/pe-disc-menu-foldersfiles-locations.html

PE: Disc Menu Folders/Files Locations

September 3, 2014 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/01/pe-13-glass-flowers-disc-menu.html

PE 13: Glass Flowers Disc Menu Highlights Missing in Playback of DVD-VIDEO on DVD Disc

January 31, 2015 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/03/pe13131-news-reel-movie-menu-theme.html

PE13/13.1: News Reel Movie Menu Theme Unusable

March 25, 2015 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/04/pe-editable-subtitle-for-disc-menus.html

PE: Editable Subtitle For The Disc Menu’s Main Menu

April 30, 2015 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/12/pe-default-video-background-for-movie.html

PE: Default Video Background For Movie Menu Main Menu

December 30, 2015 

https://atr935.blogspot.com/2016/02/pe-11-through-14141-picture-cube-movie.html

PE 11 through 14/14.1: Picture Cube Movie Menu Scene Buttons Not Editable

February 15, 2016

ATR

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.
 ____________________________________________________________________________
*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.

_____________________________________________________________________________
*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.

_____________________________________________________________________________
* 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.

____________________________________________________________________________
*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.

___________________________________________________________________________

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).

_____________________________________________________________________________

ATR