December 25, 2011

Adobe Premiere Elements 9

CNET UK recently reviewed Adobe's latest annual update to Premiere Elements, its simplified home video-editing software. The program is catered towards casual filmmakers and video hobbyists, and most of the changes and stronger features reflect this demographic. Adobe has included more clip art, more themes, more effects, and more options, but the latest version showcases new additions like automated features for enhancing and trimming poor-quality clips and introduces "smart motion tracking."

The Elements series Adobe designs are typically built for domestic users who want a simple, uncomplicated program that's both efficient and easy to use. Adobe utilizes drag-and-drop browsing, composing, and exporting of home movies, and because of its ease of use, Premiere Elements 8 has become the top-selling video-editing software on the market. Users can trim video, add effects, produce sound with multi-track audio editing features, and include fades, tilts, and various transitions between clips.

But CNET's favorite new feature has to do with the motion-tracking capability of Premiere Elements 8. In the editing menu, a user can draw a rectangle over part of a video in the preview pane, and then allow the program to track the movement of the selected part. Say you want to track an individual person, you simply select their face and Premiere Elements will follow it around, recognizing changes and following movement. Users can link a title or piece of clip art to a tracked item and follow it around on the screen.

Adobe suggests applying a speech bubble clip art file to various people in the video, perhaps a comical hat or a silly nose. Of course you can apply various wacky items to family members and friends, but the real triumph here is having a consumer version of motion tracking software.

Typically, video motion tracking works using an algorithm based on "blob tracking" or "contour tracking." The algorithm analyzes the video frames and then outputs the location of moving targets within the frame. The technology, then, is able to track a consistent image based on motion models that describe how an image of the target might change for different possible motions of the object being tracked.

Another useful feature included in the newest version include the "Smart Trim" button, which, when enabled, automatically analyzes video clips for clarity. If the camerawork is overly shaky or out of focus, Adobe's software recognizes and offers the option to clip the imperfect parts.

With specialized industrial technology being made more accessible to consumers, it's time to expect a lot more expertise across the board, be it the refined professional or the curious amateur.

Adobe Premiere Elements 9

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 & Adobe Premiere Elements 9 software delivers powerful options that make it easy to use photos and videos together and share in entertaining ways. Now enjoy a complete solution for photos and videos whether you use Windows or Mac OS.

Incredible movies, effortlessly! Adobe Premiere Elements 9--the newest version of the #1 selling video-editing software--delivers powerful, automated moviemaking options, professional-quality effects, and optimized HD and SD editing. Share quickly via convenient web DVD viewing experiences and on disc, mobile devices, Facebook, and YouTube. Automatically organize and help protect all your video clips and photos. And now enjoy a complete solution for videos whether you use Microsoft Windows or Mac OS.

Quickly find, view, and protect your clips and photos in a powerful media-management hub.

Adobe Premiere Elements 9 Pic

Adobe Premiere Elements 9 Photo

Adobe Premiere Elements 9 Picture

Adobe Premiere Elements 9 Photo

Most helpful customer reviews

140 of 146 people found the following review helpful.
This is the one folks...really the one!
By MW
I'll start off by stating that I am just an everyday dad who wants to take the HD videos he shoots of family vacations, kids' birthdays, fishing trips, etc and transfer them to DVD without any loss in quality. I am not out to produce the next "Citizen Kane" nor am I out to challenge Steven Spielberg to a directorial throwdown.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful.
Being a novice, I like this editor
By N. Krumpe
There seem to be multiple negative reviews for this version of Adobe Premiere Elements 9, but nearly all come from people who have much more experience than I do with previous versions of the software, or who have used competing software. I can't possibly disagree with these reviewers, because I lack their experience.