Using Frame Hold to create photographic effects

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In this tutorial, we'll show you how to use Adobe Premiere Pro's Frame Hold command together with several other effects to create a realtime sequence in which frames of motion video transform into animated photos, capturing the highlights of a taped wedding ceremony.

1. Set up the Adobe Premiere Pro Timeline

   Place a video clip on track Video 2. Trim the Out point of the clip so that the last frame represents an image that you want to freeze onscreen.

   
   

2. Add a duplicate clip to the Timeline

   To add a duplicate of the clip on the Timeline, do the following:

   1. Select the clip, then choose Edit > Copy.
   2. Move the current-time indicator to the end of the clip.
   3. Select track Video 2, then choose Edit > Paste.
      
      

3. Apply a freeze-frame effect

   To freeze the Out point of the second clip for the duration of the clip, do the following:

   1. Select the second clip and choose Clip > Video Options > Frame Hold.
   2. In the Frame Hold dialog box, select Hold On.
   3. From the Hold On menu, select Out Point then click OK.
      
      

4. Create a white flash effect

   An interesting transition that is often used in music videos is called "flash to color" or "white flash." You can produce this effect in real time with Adobe Premiere Pro and Matrox RT.X by creating a white matte and making opacity adjustments that cause it to change from fully opaque to fully transparent.

   To create a white matte and adjust its opacity:

   1. Choose File > New > Color Matte.
   2. In the Color Picker dialog box, select pure white (Red: 255, Green: 255, Blue: 255), then click OK.
      
      
   3. In the Choose Name dialog box, enter a name for the new color matte then click OK.
   4. Drag the color matte from your project bin onto track Video 3 on the Timeline.
      Note  You may need to add another video track to your Timeline, for more information on adding tracks see your Adobe Premiere Pro User Guide.
   5. Move the white matte so that its In point aligns with the In point of the second video clip.
   6. Set the duration of the matte to 10 frames by choosing Clip > Speed/Duration. In the Clip Duration dialog box, enter a duration of 0;00;00;10.
   7. Expand track Video 3 (if necessary) by clicking on the arrow next to the track label.
   8. Click the Show Keyframes button and choose Show Opacity Handles.
      
      
   9. Make sure the white matte clip is selected. Place the current-time indicator at the beginning of the matte.
   10. In the Effect Controls window expand the Opacity menu.
   11. Click the Add/Remove keyframe button to add a keyframe at the beginning of the white matte.
       
       
   12. Move the current-time indicator to the end of the white matte clip and click the Add/Remove keyframe button to add another keyframe.
   13. Reduce the opacity of the white matte by dragging the Opacity slider to the left until it reaches 0.0. Your Timeline should look similar to the following.
       
       

5. Apply color correction (sepia tone)

   To apply a Matrox color correction effect to your still image, do the following:

   1. Drag the Matrox Color Corrections effect from the Video Effects bin in the Effects window onto the second video clip.
   2. Click the Setup button beside your effect in the Effect Controls window.
   3. In the Matrox Effect Setup dialog box, select Sepia Tone.
   4. Click OK to close the dialog box.
      
      

6. Add motion

   For a more dramatic effect, you can make your still image gracefully leave the screen by adding a realtime DVE. To add a DVE to the second clip, do the following:

   1. Drag the Matrox Advanced DVEs effect from the Video Effects bin in the Effects window onto the second video clip.
   2. Click the Setup button beside your effect in the Effect Controls window.
   3. In the Matrox Effect Setup dialog box, choose Advanced DVEs > 3D DVE Effects > Fly In and Out > Classic Bottom RC.
   4. Click OK to close the dialog box.
      
      
      Note:  Depending on your source footage, you might want to crop the left and right edges by several pixels to remove any black borders present. You may also want to add a white border to your still image to complete the antique look.

7. Add a background layer

   Complete the effect by adding a background graphic or video clip on track Video 1, below the second video clip.
   
   
   Your completed Timeline should resemble the following:
   
   

8. Preview your effect in real time

   Press the Play button in the Monitor window or press the Enter key on your keyboard to preview your resulting effect sequence in real time.

   Preview	Click one of the icons below to view the clip in your preferred format.
   	Flash Windows Media
   	By adding more clips and repeating the above steps, you can create a dramatic realtime photo montage sequence. The still clips that fly off the screen can be enhanced by adding photo borders. We'll show you how to do this in Enhancing your photographic effects.
   	Motion graphics by Digital Juice © 2002