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Trouble will Still Images, changing length
Hey Kids…
I’m a newbie to Premire Pro2 (but have spent many years cutting with earlier versions), so I could be just doing something stupid…. but if that’s the case I haven’t been able to figure it out.
We are having some trouble with still images. We are using PP2 with an Aja Xena system (my previous experience was with Canopus DVrexPro and Storm2 systems, if that is of any help)….
Bottom line, we can’t adjust the length on the timeline of some still images.
Photoshop and jpeg images come in fine and are perfect usuable. But some (bitmaps and targa files), import ONLY as single frames. In addition, their lengths/durations CANNOT be changed on the timeline… neither by trying to specify a new length NOR by dragging the handles in an attempt to stretch them. They simply won’t stretch or change lengths, whereas if I simply re-save it as a Photoshop file it will work perfectly.
Bmp and tga files simply come in as 1-frame images… and darn it, that’s what they’re gonna be.
Am I doing something wrong??? Still image preferences are set correctly.
We have lots and LOTS of old graphics that are frequently re-used and I’ve been working around this problem for the last few days by converting them all to PSD files… but I’m getting tired of doing that and it seems to be an unnecessary step when things should be working correctly.
Thanks all,
Todd -
18 Replies
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Todd,
What happens if you import the BMP/TARGA files into a non-Aja project?
– Aanarav
Aanarav Sareen
premiere@asvideoproductions.com
https://www.asvideoproductions.com/techtalk -
Hi Aanarav….
That was a good question, one I had not thought of since we had ONLY been doing Aja projects (and that is likely to continue in the future), so I gave it a try…
Same results. Still can’t adjust the lengths. GRRRRRRRR.
Todd
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I think what’s happening, is that Premiere is seeing the images as if they were a Targa sequence, thus seeing the images as footage. What if you drag them from a folder to the project window, and try one at the time first.
Vince
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Hi Vince…
That’s a good thought, I had the same idea early on. I thought Premiere was seeing the targas as a sequence.
BUT….
I wasn’t instructing it to import the files as a sequence, and even if I wanted to they are not sequential numbered files. They are not somefile22.tga, or such, but simply somefile.tga or somefile.bmp.
I tried your suggestion of just dragging an individual bitmap or targa file into the project window from an outside window (rather than importing the usual way), but I still get a file with the unchangeable default of 1 frame.
Grrrrrrrr again,
Todd
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So, if you right click on the timeline image and choose Speed/Duration, can you then change the length?
Really a one frame image that cannot be stretch has got to be something that’s viewed as footage. I have an AJA card as well and I just imported a Targa image with no trouble. Did you try resetting your preferences?
Until someone finds a solution, you could to put all these images in one folder, and do a batch save to PSD in Photoshop.
Good luck,
Vince
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[Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.] ” but I still get a file with the unchangeable default of 1 frame.”
You maybe doing something wrong, I use Bitmaps(.bmp) quite a bit, importing a still image should be as long as the basic default duration of 150 frames(unless the length has been changed in Preferences) and can be stretched as long as you want it, for instance I just changed the length of a 150 frame .bmp image to 4hrs by draging the right edge.
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Hi again Vince….
>>So, if you right click on the timeline image and choose Speed/Duration, can you then change the length?
Sadly, no… I CANNOT change the length of ANY bitmaps or targa files, no matter what I try. Trying to change the Speed/Duration does nothing. Trying to stretch them with the handles does nothing.
Changing the “Still Image Preferences” does not help.
Apparently they ARE being seen as footage, not as stills, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to change that. My senior editor is a PP whiz (although he still works on Pro1 on his machine) can’t figure out what my problems are either.
Yeah, there are ways around it (batching files in Photoshop, etc.), but I just hate to jump through hoops to get something workable when it is supposed to work right the first time. Its frustrating to have to tell clients “I’m doing it this way because the machine won’t work right.”
Grrrrrr yet again again,
Todd -
>>You maybe doing something wrong…
No doubt, but I don’t know what it is. I’ve been a Premiere editor for 10 years (going back to 4.0) and have never had a problem like this. This is my first time to use PP2, though.
>>importing a still image should be as long as the basic default duration of 150 frames
Yep… it should be. SHOULD be. But it’s not. I can only get bitmaps and targas to import as 1 frame, the length/speed of which cannot be changed and the duration cannot be manually stretched. Photoshop and tif files import correctly at the proper default length and can be changed in duration just as the good Lord intended… but not bmp’s or tga’s on my machine.
Man, this is frustrating….
Todd -
Ok, now I’m wondering, where did the Targas come from? Say, you save a file to Targa from Photoshop, do you get the same issue.
Can you post a sample or email to Vince_at_kaptis.com to see if I have the same issue?
Vince
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Hi Vince….
Thanks for the time you are taking to investigate this, I really appreciate it.
No, it does not seem to matter what the source of the targa (or bitmap) file is, where it originated, or what program created it.
We have tried files made directly and originally in Photoshop, converted in Photoshop, created by any of several third-party graphics programs, and even stills made directly from the timeline in Premiere. All import at one-frame, with unchangeable durations.
I will email you one frame that I just made right off the timeline so that you can take a look at it.
Much thanks again,
Todd
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