Adjusting the Transitions in the Properties Panel

Because we want to exaggerate the transitions between clips a bit, we want the transition to last longer on the first clip of the two clips we apply the transition to. To do so, we'll use the Properties panel for each of the transitions to control how the transitions behave. By extending all of the frames of the transitions to the first clip in each transition and increasing the duration of the dissolve, we can increase the dramatic effect to make it seem more dreamlike. The clips will also overlap more obviously, and the actor in the scene will appear to be in two places at once: dissolving out of one location while simultaneously dissolving into another location.

Change the Default Behavior for the First Cross Dissolve

To access the Properties panel for the transition, select the Cross Dissolve between the first and second clips on the Timeline.

On the Properties panel for the transition, select the triangle on the drop down menu for Alignment.

From the Alignment drop down menu, select End at Cut.

Note

Selecting End at Cut, instead of the transition's default Center at Cut will cause the Cross Dissolve transition to overlap all of the frames using the first clip.

Change the Duration of this transition to 7 seconds, or 00;00;07;00.

Change the Default Behavior for the Second and Third Dissolves

Modify the second dissolve:

• Select the Cross Dissolve between the second and third clips on the Timeline.

• On the Properties panel for this transition, select the triangle on the drop down menu for Alignment.

• From the Alignment drop down menu, select End at Cut.

• Change the Duration of this transition to 4 seconds: 00;00;04;00.

Tip

You may find that it's easier to select each of the transitions if you switch to Sceneline view on the Timeline. Additionally, if you adjust the Timeline by dragging the top of the Timeline panel down, you'll see that the size of the scenes shrink until you can eventually see all of the scenes and transitions in the project.

Modify the third dissolve:

• Select the Cross Dissolve between the third and fourth clips on the Timeline.

• On the Properties panel for this transition, select the triangle on the drop down menu for Alignment.

• Leave the Alignment at Center at Cut.

• Change the Duration of this transition to 3 seconds, or 00;00;03;00.

Note

The Alignment automatically changes from Center at Cut to Custom Start once you set the Duration to 3 seconds.

Using SmartSound^® Quicktracks^™ with Premiere Elements 3

Quicktracks is an interesting product from the people at SmartSound that allows you to use both the songs that come bundled with the product right off the QuickTracks CD, as well as the hundreds of songs that come on the additional music CDs available from the company and available for download from directly from the company's Web site.

The music provided with Quicktracks and on the additional music CDs is very similar to the music you'll hear on commercials, corporate presentations, and multimedia and Flash presentations on the Web. What's unique about Quicktracks is that you can choose not just a given tune, but variations on that tune. For example, if you select the music selection called "It's Cool" from the list of tracks available with Quicktracks (which SmartSound describes as "Way cool, easy feel jazz with trumpet, sax, piano, bass and drums"), you'll be able to select from a number of variations on the theme, including:

• Cool

• Sly

• Miles

• Bluesy

Installing Quicktracks

Quicktracks is a software product that was designed as a plug-in to work with Adobe Premiere Pro. As such, it looks for and installs into the Plug-ins folder for Premiere Pro. If you don't have Premiere Pro, Quicktracks discovers this during the installation process and prompts you to choose an alternative folder in which to install Quicktracks. Choose C:\Program Files\Adobe\ Premiere Elements 3.0 \Plug-ins\en_US. (Choose the appropriate folder below Plug-ins if en_US does not apply.) If the installation should finish without prompting you for a folder, after installation use the Windows Search feature and search for Importer Quicktracks.prm. Then copy it into the Premiere Elements Plug-ins folder (the full path is listed above).

Starting Quicktracks

Using Quicktracks in Premiere Elements 3 is simply a matter of starting Premiere Elements (if you installed Quicktracks while Premiere Elements was running, close Premiere Elements and start it up again). Access the Available Media tab on the Media panel. Click on the New Item button (shown at right). The menu that appears will now include "SmartSound."

Select SmartSound and the SmartSound Quicktracks for Premiere Pro window displays:

Using Quicktracks

To choose a song from Quicktracks, click the "Click here to select music!" link next to Name field. When you click the prompt, the SmartSound Maestro window appears, shown below, where you can choose the song you want.

You can also:

• Search for music (on your hard drive as well as on SmartSound's Website).

• Sort and filter the music by category, style, and "intensity."

• Listen to selections of the music to help you choose the music that best fits the project you're working on.

Some of the music that comes with Quicktracks is ready to use, and some requires you to purchase the music. You can purchase music on the spot over the Internet, which lets you get right back to your project with just a minor interruption. After you select your music, it's copied to your hard drive ready for editing in Premiere Elements just like any other media.