Shapes in Titles

[Ned789]

I am creating a video in Premiere Elements 11 on a Mac. I am adding titles to most of my still shot clips to say who the people are in the photo. Because titles don't show up very well in many cases, I would like to add a rectangle shape behind the title at the bottom of the screen so you can read it easier. I can make my title fade in and out, but the shapes just sit there. Can I make the shapes fade in and out with the title??

[momoffduty]

Are the shapes in the title or did you make them separately? If in the same Title (words & shape) then they are one unit in the time line. If you made the shapes separately then just add a cross dissolve on the ends in the timeline. This is a one sided dissolve.

For example:
When I have a separate Title (words) and a Title (shape) then I line up the length in the timeline to match the duration. Then add a cross dissolve to each end so they will fade in and out at the same time.

[Bob]

I would like to add a rectangle shape behind the title at the bottom of the screen so you can read it easier. I can make my title fade in and out, but the shapes just sit there. Can I make the shapes fade in and out with the title??

The easiest way is to simply add the rectangle to the title instead of making it a separate layer. That way, whatever you do to the title will affect both the text and the shape.

While you are making your title, select the rectangle or rounded rectangle shape tool and then click and drag in the monitor window to add it to the title, you will be able to position it, resize it, and select the color. If the rectangle is hiding the text, you can change the stacking order by selecting the rectangle and typing command [ (for mac) or ctrl [ (for windows) to move it down in the stacking order. Use command ] (ctrl ]) to move it up in the order.

For subsequent titles, you can select the title in the media bin, right click and select duplicate, and then modify the text. That way, you will have consistent size location and color.

[momoffduty]

Good advice Bob! That is the best and easiest way.

[Ned789]

Please be more specific about adding the rectangle to the title. I have tried and tried, but just can't make it work. If the title is selected then the rectangle won't drag onto it. When I finally click away from the title box and then add a rectangle, the two are not connected. Thank you for your help, you make it sound very easy, and I like the duplicating idea.

[Steve Grisetti]

Ned, if you are in the Titles Adjustments workspace, any imagery or shapes you add will be part of the same finished title clip.

[momoffduty]

The first section is about adding a shape to a title with the tools.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/premiereele ... 6B629.html