Before you begin
As this process relates to importing single images, image sequences, and movie files, you should be mindful of the duration of the duration of still images in Premiere.
Set the duration of still images
When you import still images and flimsies, you will need to ensure the settings for still images align with your intentions for production. The default duration in Premiere is 5 seconds, which is fine for a documentary filmmaker who might use photographs for a film but not ideal for an animator. You can easily change the duration of still images, and you might do so a few times with a given project. Nonetheless, you will have to make sure its correct before you import images in this case and check the software preferences.
- Apple Macintosh: Referring to the Main Menu, go to Premiere Pro > Preferences > Timeline > Still Image Default Duration.
- Windows: Referring to the Main Menu, go to Edit > Preferences > Timeline > Still Image Default Duration.
- Enter the correct value:
- “2 frames,” if you intend to utilize single image files as double frames at 24 frames per second
- “1 frame,” if you intend to utilize single image files as single frames at 24 frames per second
Interpreting footage
When you have imported an image sequence, the segment will be listed Premiere’s Project Window. You will have to instruct the software about the frame rate by “interpreting” the footage.
To do so, locate the image sequence in the Project Window, right-click on the icon and choose Modify > Interpret Footage.
From the Modify Clip window, under Frame Rate, choose “Assume this frame rate” and enter either 12 or 24 fps. In many instances, you will animate at 12 images per second, “on twos.” That is, double-frame at 24 frames per second. However, with recording software like Dragonframe, you can playback at 12, therefore 12 fps. If you specifically choose to record and playback singles at 24 fps, enter 24.
If you wish, you can import and interpret at both 12 and 24. This will give you two kinds of tempo to create with.
Under the Interpret Footage options, you should select the following:
- Frame Rate: “Assume the frame rate” is 12 frames per second (double-frame animation) or 24 frames per second (single-frame animation)
- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Use Pixel Aspect Ratio from File: Square Pixels (1.0)
- Alpha Channel: Choose “Use Alpha Premultiplication from File”
Links to information and processes with Adobe Premiere Pro
- Project Folder Preparations
- Premiere Project Settings
- To Establish a Premiere Project
- To Prepare to Import Image Files
- Importing Images: Both Stills & Sequences
- To Interpret Footage
- To Scale Images & Footage
- To Add a Colour Matte
- Effects Controls
- Using Keyframes
- To Change the Scale & Position of Images & Sequences Compositionally
- To Make Tonal Adjustments using Levels
- Colour Correction
- Applying a Colour Key
- Exporting Media Files
- The Basics of Sound Editing with Adobe Premiere
- To Tap a Beat
- Adding Footsteps to an Animated Character and Assigning the Sound to a Sub-Mix
- To Export Audio Clips
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