Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

In any major undertaking, there are many people who knowingly or unknowingly play big roles. The following people have played their parts well and to them I am truly thankful: Linda Harrison, for her help and support through this entire process. Alice Martina Smith, Tonya Simpson, Heather Wilkins, and Douglas Dixon, for giving us such great advice and timely help; you all helped make this book the best. The Media Department at Trinity Chapel, especially Tres, Rich, Hector, and Pastor Randy; you have inspired me more than you will ever know. To my bosses and co-workers , who have bent over backward to give me the time to write this book; a special thanks to Glenn, Keith, Greg, and Dan. To everyone who prayed for me; your prayers were answered , and I thank you. All of my fellow Premiere Elements forum members are as much a part of this book as I am. And finally, to Steve Grisetti, a man I truly respect and admire. He has helped me in more ways than he will ever know, and I consider it an honor to be his co-author .

Chuck Engels

Likewise, I've enjoyed the privilege of working with the ever-patient Linda Harrison as well as the entire development team at Sams Publishing. Thank you for making us look great! And Chuck, my partner and my friend, it's been a pleasure sharing this adventure with you.

Steve Grisetti

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Bonus Content on the Web

Visit www.samspublishing.com/title/0672328534, register your book, and download additional information to enhance your Premiere Elements experience:

• Guide to setting preferences

• Description of available transitions and effects

• Sample videos illustrating effects taught in this book

Chapter 1. Start Here

It really is pretty amazing when you think about how far video technology has come in such a short time. Just a little more than 20 years ago, broadcast professionals were editing analog video using what was essentially a mechanical controller between two VCRs. (And, before that, editors were literally cutting and splicing tapea primitive age best forgotten.) The innovation of computer-based, nonlinear digital editing has not only changed the way video is assembled , it has changed our entire concept of the editing process.

Nonlinear editing takes a process that was once stressful, time-consuming , and expensive, and turns it into something that is intuitive, simple, and above all, easily revisable. There's more freedom to be creative, to try new things, to experiment, and to play.

Before Premiere Elements, most video-editing software aimed at consumers was designed with an easy-to-use interface as its priority. Adobe, however, took a different tack. Using as its base its top-of-the-line prosumer video-editing software, Premiere Pro, Adobe stripped back a few higher-end and professional features (features you will probably never miss ), made many of the features more user-friendly, and produced an application that combines both a relatively simple, intuitive interface with the power and customizable features of a professional editing package. A product that's easy to learnand yet capable of going as deep as the user dares to dig.

But dig a little deeper and you'll find even more. And more. In fact, every time you think you've discovered everything this program can do, you round a corner and find even more features, more things to customize, and more tricks, tweaks, and new applications. Premiere Elements can take you as far as you dare to go with your videos .

And that's the good news.

The bad news, though, is now that you are armed with Premiere Elements 2.0 and this book, you're never again going to have an excuse for creating a less-than -dazzling video. No more shoot-and-play home movies. No more boring family vacation videos.

Such is the responsibility that comes with a master's knowledge.