Creating an overlay

[aquila]

I'm sorry, I don't know the correct terminology for the subject line. I'd like to create a layer and add a line or text or whatever and keep it visible during the video playback. Is this possible? If so, what is this procedure called? Maybe if I knew that, I could look up how it's done.

Thanks for any assistance,
Judy

[ATR]

Judy,

When you said Layer, that sort of threw me.

This is what I think you want to know. First, work on the Timeline instead of the Sceneline. If your video is on Video Track 1, then you want to create a Title that will be placed automatically on Video Track 2 at the position where you had your Timeline Indicator (also known as CTI).

Once the Title is on Video Track 2 you can move it to another location and/or stretch it out to cover as much of the video as desired.

What version of Premiere Elements do you have? If version 4,

Check out the Titles video tutorial in the Learning Center
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/learningcenter/

There are more tutorials that I can direct you to, and I can supply a customized step by step if need me.

To be continued....

ATR

[aquila]

Thanks for your usual quick response. I did check out the titles video but the example was using a slide show rather than a video file. As an example of what I'd like to be able to do. Let's say that my goal is to somehow add a circle over my video footage and be able to see both the video and the circle at the same time. Do you know if that's possible using Premiere Elements version 4?

Thanks,
Judy

[ATR]

Judy, are you OK with creating a Title?

If so, when you open the Titler, go toward the left to the Toolbar and select the icon for making a shape. (This example is using shape instead of text.)

Your Title (circle) that you create goes on Video Track 2 above your video on Video Track 1. Now with the Timeline Selection Tool, just move the Circle to where you want it to appear. If it does not extend the full distance of the video and you want it to, then use the Timeline Time Stretch Tool and drag it out.

Whether you have video (DV AVI, etc) or stills (jpegs) or just a slideshow on that Timeline, the same principle applies, namely put your Title/Circle/Whatever on Video Track 2 and position it as desired above the content on Video Track 1.

See how that goes. Do you hesitate to request more details or fuller details or a re-explanation if necessary. If you have done all that and still have a block, please go into more details where the procedure is not working for you.

ATR

[aquila]

Thanks for your continued patience. I opened Premiere Elements and loaded a video file. I clicked on the "Timeline" view and clicked on the square labeled "Titles" in the row next to "Media", "Themes", "Effects" and "Transitions". The only options I see are "General" and "Show All" (which are only Comic Book). I don't see another tool bar. I did try selecting "Title" at the top of the window but that gives my motion options ie crawl, still and roll. I don't see any options for selecting shapes or drawing a line but I do see an empty place for Video2. I hope I've given you enough information to figure out where I'm having the problem.

Your assistance is sincerely appreciated.
Thank you!

[ATR]

Timeline View
Video on Video Track 1

Note the Timeline Indicator (CTI) position at zero time on the Timeline. You can move that to another location, but for now let us leave it there for this example.

To the bottom right corner of the Monitor there are three icons scissors, "T", camera. Click on "T" to bring up the Titler interface. (Give it a few seconds to open.) Do you now see the Toolbar (vertically placed)?

Some of the more important icons that you will be using are located just above the Timeline, specifically, Selection Tool, Time Stretch Tool, and slider for expanding the Timeline to see it better.

Remember, right after you click done for your "Title" or circle in this case, it will be placed on the Timeline on Video Track 2, starting at where you had the CTI placed. Practice moving the "Title" with the Selection Tool and also stretching it out with the Time Stretch Tool.

Let me know if these details will be OK for you to move forward. If not, we will go onto another approach.

ATR

[ATR]

I just ran across this old video tutorial on Titles. Although it was done with a much earlier version of Premiere Elements, the fundamentals are there and presented excellently by tfry our super moderator.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/videotips/premiere_video3.php#

Have you checked out the video tutorial on Titles for Premiere Elements 4 (in the Learning Center page at http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com)?

As I said, let us see where this leads us, and then we will go to the next appropriate step.

ATR

[aquila]

I didn't see anything labeled CTI but I can guess you were referring to the thin red line that can be dragged though the time line. Other than that I found everything else in your instructions. With your help, I was able to draw a line, move it to Video track 2 and stretch it to the length of Video track1 and as a result view both at the same time. I had viewed the first tutorial link but it demonstrated text with slides rather than lines with video. Now, that I understand how it works, I can see that it IS the same principal the key is in the stretching. I expected the title would disappear with the slide that it was placed under. I also watched the more recent tutorial link and I noticed that the older versions seemed to come with a lot more title templates. Of course I also found it interesting how the text properties could be changed. I haven't tried that in my version yet.

Please let me know if you have any other nuggets of wisdom to share on this topic. I'd love to learn what I can.
THANK YOU!

[ATR]

Sounds like you have made great progress. Good work.

Just a caution when you go to use the Templates in Titles instead of creating text.

Key: When you start to create a Title (text/shape), the black around your text or shape represents transparency. So, when you place the Title on Video Track 2, those black areas will be replaced by the video on Video Track 1.

This concept is important to keep in mind when you get to using the Templates (Under Titles). Those templates with transparency areas (black) will allow you to see Video Track 1 video when your template is on Video Track 2 (specifically referring to Templates with "lower 3rd or frame" in their name.

It takes time to pick up all the dos and don'ts of the program, but keep experimenting and exploring and asking questions, and you will do great.

ATR

[aquila]

You've been a tremendous help. Speaking of those templates.... I only seem to have the comic book templates. Are there other templates available somewhere to download or does one add to this list by creating their own templates?

Thanks again,
Judy

[ATR]

Judy,

Check out the following to see if you can find the rest of the Title Template Categories/Template types:

When you click on the "Title" tab at the top right of the interface (just below where is says Share), you should see the place for the category name and an adjacent spot for "Show All" or the name of one of the templates in the category that is named.

I suspect that you may have "General" in the category spot and "Comic Book" in the template type place. If you click on the tiny arrow to the right of the word "Comic Book", you should get a drop down list showing you all the templates available in the "General" category including a spot to click on for "Show All". When you do the latter, the "Comic Book" as well as the other Title template types in the "General" category will be displayed.

Now there are other categories besides "General". Just click on the tiny arrow to the right of the words "General" and a drop down list will appears showing you the other categories to select from. Each of those categories has Titles template types as well.

Let us know if you found them.

ATR

[aquila]

Thanks but I have clicked on the tiny arrows beside both "General" and show all and the result is always the same, just the same 4 Comic book templates no matter which arrow I click on.

[ATR]

First let us try to see if other templates made it to your computer. With Windows XP, get to the Program Files/Adobe/Premiere Elements 4/DVD Templates Folder. Open the DVD Templates Folder and see if Comic Book + all the other templates are there. I am not sure why they would not be, but....

In case Comic Book is the only one found there,.....

Was your installation of Premiere Elements 4 via a disc?

If so, try going back to the installation disc and getting them installed by clicking on the "Install Premiere Elements Templates" icon.

Let me know how that turns out.

ATR

[aquila]

Once again you've provided the solution.
I checked the appropriate folder and found only the comic book templates so I proceeded to step 2.

It probably took me 30 minutes to go through all my various cd storage areas 3 times. I was kicking myself because pretty good when I found that I could come up with an original Windows 95 installation cd but NOT my Premiere Elements cd. After giving up on the idea that I put it in a logical place I started "desk diving". Going through the various piles on any horizontal planes in the vicinity of my computer and finally I uncovered my disc set (Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere Elements 4) Then it became clear that the problem was that because of the shape of the disc case, it wouldn't fit in any of my "logical" storage places. I guess I could put it on a bookshelf but that was NOT one of the places I had thought to look THIS time. I'd probably be better off to slip the discs into clear cd cases that will fit my cd racks.

Anyway.... I followed your instructions and now I have more templates than I'll ever need. Thank you yet again!

Judy

[ATR]

Judy,

Glad everything is going well. Again, good work.

Just a word of caution...when you get to using those DVD Menu Templates, post if one does not work for you. By that I mean, you find that you cannot navigate the DVD Main Menu "Play" and/or "Scene Selection" via remote in Preview or via remote of your TV/DVD player.

There have been some problems noted with some, namely the Baby related ones.

ATR