Adjusting the Opacity of the Transported Man

In order for our intergalactic traveller from another dimension to appear to dissolve into the scene, we need to adjust his opacity from 0% (invisible) to 100% (fully visible) over time. To do so, we'll make use of keyframes and animation and set the points at which we want the actor to be seen and at what percentage.

Set the Opacity to Increase Over Time

Select the freeze frame still image in the Video 2 track on the Timeline.

In the Properties panel for the still image, click the Show Keyframes button to reveal the workspace for adding keyframe.

Tip

The Show Keyframes button, once clicked, becomes the Hide Keyframes button and its function changes to match.

Timesaver

Adjust the horizontal size of the Properties panel as needed so that you can work most effectively with keyframes. To expand the keyframe area of the Properties panel, drag the left side of the panel to the left. You want to see as much of the Properties panel timeline as possible.

Move the CTI to the beginning of the clip by pressing the Page Up key on your keyboard.

In the Properties panel, set the Clip Opacity to 0% (zero).

Click the Toggle animation button to turn on the animation functionality of Premiere Elements.

Tip

Premiere Elements automatically inserts a keyframe at this point.

Move the CTI to the end of the clip by pressing the Page Down key twice.

Tip

We need to press the Page Down key two times because the first time you press the key, the CTI jumps to the end of the White Matte clip on the Video 3 track.

Set the Clip Opacity to 100%.

Tip

Premiere Elements automatically inserts a keyframe at this point.

We don't want our traveller to appear too quickly, so lets set one more keyframe. Scrub the CTI to 00;00;03;15, which is roughly the half-way point for this clip.

Normally at this point, the clip would be around 50% opacity. But we want to slow things down a bit, so set the Clip Opacity to 25%.

Tip

Again, Premiere Elements automatically inserts a keyframe at this point.

Did You Know?

Opacity is the opposite of transparency. Opacity shares the same root word as opaque (to be non-transparent; a wall is opaque, but a window is transparent). It refers to the degree to which an image allows the images behind (below) it to show through; in other words, how "see through" the image is. An opacity setting of 100% means that the clip is completely opaque. An opacity setting of 0% means that the clip is completely transparent.