NTSC presets conform to the NTSC standard, where each video frame consists of 525 horizontal lines displayed at 29.97 frames per second. The Standard NTSC preset is for footage that has a 4:3 aspect ratio, and the Widescreen NTSC preset is for footage that has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

PAL presets conform to the PAL standard, where each video frame consists of 625 lines displayed at 25 frames per second.

General settings (Edit > Project Settings > General) control the fundamental characteristics of a project, including the editing mode used to process video, frame size, aspect ratios, count time (Display Format), and play back video (Timebase). These settings should match the most common source media in your project (for example, if most of your footage is DV, use the DV Playback editing mode). Changing these settings arbitrarily may result in a loss of quality.

General settings include the following options.

Editing Mode

Identifies the television standard and format chosen for the project. The following video preview settings can’t be changed because they are determined by the editing mode: Timebase, Frame Size, Pixel Aspect Ratio, Fields, and Sample Rate.

Note: The Editing Mode setting should represent the specifications of the source media, not the final output settings. Specify output settings when you export a project.

Timebase

Specifies the time divisions used to calculate the time position of each edit: 25 for PAL (European standard), and 29.97 for NTSC (North American and Japanese standard).

Playback Settings

This button is available if you use a DV preset, a DV editing mode, or if you install a plug‑in that provides additional playback functions. For a DV editing mode, this option indicates where you want your previews to play back: on your DV camcorder (or other connected device) or on your desktop. For information on the playback settings available for third‑party plug‑ins, see the documentation provided by the manufacturer of the plug‑in.

Frame Size

Specifies the dimensions, in pixels, for frames when you play back projects. In most cases, the frame size for your project should match the frame size of your source media. You can’t change the frame size to compensate for slow playback, but you can adjust the playback settings: Right-click in the Monitor panel and choose Playback Settings. You can also adjust the frame size of final output by changing the Export settings.

Pixel Aspect Ratio

Sets the aspect ratio for individual pixels. This ratio is determined by the video format: PAL or NTSC. If you use a pixel aspect ratio that is different from your video, the video may play back and render with distortion.

Fields

Specifies the field dominance, or the order in which the two interlaced fields of each frame are drawn. Adobe Premiere Elements captures DV footage with fields, even if the footage was recorded as progressive scan.

Display Format (video)

Specifies the way time appears throughout the project. The time display options correspond to standards for editing video and motion‑picture film. For DV NTSC video, choose 30 fps Drop‑Frame Timecode. For DV PAL video, choose 25 fps Timecode.

Title Safe Area

Sets how much of the frame edge to mark as a safe zone for titles, so that titles aren’t cut off by TVs that zoom the picture slightly to enlarge it (called overscanning). A rectangle with crosshairs marks the title‑safe zone when you click the Safe Zones button in the Monitor panel. Titles are usually assumed to require a wider safe zone than action.

Action Safe Area

Sets how much of the frame edge to mark as a safe zone for action so that action isn’t cut off by TVs that zoom the picture slightly to enlarge it. A rectangle marks the action‑safe zone when you click the Safe Zones button in the Monitor panel.

Sample Rate

Identifies the audio sample rate defined by the project preset. In general, higher rates provide better audio quality when you play back audio in projects, but they require more disk space and processing. Try to record audio at a high‑quality sample rate, and capture audio at the rate at which it was recorded.

Display Format (audio)

Specifies whether audio time display is measured by using audio samples or milliseconds. By default, time is displayed in audio samples, but it can be displayed in milliseconds for sample‑level precision when you are editing audio.

Capture settings (Edit > Project Settings > Capture) control how video and audio are transferred directly from a deck or DV camcorder. (Other Project Settings panels do not affect capturing.)

Video Rendering settings control the picture quality, compression settings, and color depth that Adobe Premiere Elements uses when you play back video from the Timeline or Sceneline.

To access Video Rendering settings, choose Edit > Project Settings > Video Rendering. These settings include the following options:

Maximum Bit Depth

Allows Adobe Premiere Elements to use up to 32‑bit processing, even if the project uses a lower bit depth. Selecting this option increases precision but decreases performance.

Compressor

Identifies the codec (compressor/decompressor) that Adobe Premiere Elements applies when previewing movies. The codec is defined by the project preset; you cannot change it because it must conform to the DV standard.

Note: If you use a clip in your video program without applying effects or changing frame or time characteristics, Adobe Premiere Elements uses the clip’s original codec for playback. If you make changes that require recalculation of each frame, Adobe Premiere Elements applies the codec identified here.

Color Depth

Indicates the number of colors included in rendered video. This setting is determined by the project preset; you cannot change it.

Optimize Stills

Select this option to use still images efficiently in projects. For example, if a still image has a duration of 2 seconds in a project set to 30 fps, Adobe Premiere Elements creates one 2‑second frame instead of 60 frames at 1/30 second each. Deselect this option if projects exhibit playback problems when displaying still images.

Default Timeline settings (Edit > Project Settings > Default Timeline) determine how many video and audio tracks appear in the Timeline when you create a new project; Adobe Premiere Elements can display up to 99 tracks.