In most video, each frame consists of two fields. One field contains the odd‑numbered lines in the frame, and the other contains the even‑numbered lines. The fields are interlaced, or combined, to create the complete image. Adobe Photoshop Elements includes a reverse field order preset for video imported from a hard disk or Flash memory camcorder that uses upper fields first. If your footage was captured with reverse order fields (upper fields first), make sure your project uses either the Standard or Widescreen preset from the Hard Disk, Flash Memory Camcorders presets folder. (See Create or change project presets.)

Ordinarily, interlacing isn’t apparent to a viewer. But because each field captures the subject at a slightly different moment in time, playing a clip in slow-motion, creating a freeze frame, or exporting a frame as a still image makes the two fields discernible. To avoid this, you can deinterlace the image. Deinterlacing eliminates one field and either duplicates or interpolates the lines of the remaining field.

Reversing the field dominance, the order in which the fields are recorded and displayed, may also cause playback problems. When the field dominance is reversed, motion appears jerky because the fields no longer appear in chronological order. Fields can become reversed when the field dominance of the original videotape is the opposite of the field dominance of either the video‑capture card used to capture the clip or the video‑editing or animation software that last rendered the clip. Reversing can also happen when you set an interlaced clip to play backward.

To avoid these complications, you can deinterlace the image. Deinterlacing eliminates one field and either duplicates or interpolates the lines of the remaining field. You can also set field options for an interlaced clip so that the clip’s picture and motion quality are preserved in situations such as changing the clip speed, exporting a filmstrip, playing a clip backward, or freezing a video frame.