Sebastopol, CA—Armed with a camcorder and Premiere Elements video editing software, you can create art. Or, if your goals are a little less lofty, you can chronicle family events, show off on YouTube, or produce a video project for school. But despite the many improvements to the software over the years, one feature has grown consistently worse: documentation.

Fortunately the newest addition to the Missing Manual series,Premiere Elements 8: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly Media, $34.99 USD), delivers crystal-clear guidance. Packed with great ideas on how to spiff up your footage, this book helps you avoid the dreaded "Help! I Never Do Anything With My Video" syndrome.

When you want to turn raw video clips into a finished movie to share, Premiere Elements 8 has all the tools that hobbyists and serious amateurs need. This program has so much going for it, in fact, that you may easily get lost. With Premiere Elements 8: The Missing Manual, you'll learn how to use Premiere's two approaches to filmmaking: The quick-and-easy InstantMovie technique, and the classic, handcrafted approach for frame-by-frame editing with fine-tuned transitions, effects, and more.

Premiere expert Chris Grover combines a touch of humor with insights, tips, and tricks culled from years of moviemaking experience to help you release your inner Scorsese.

"This book uses every day language, not computer jargon, to teach you how to use the Premiere Elements video editing program. In addition to mastering the program, you'll learn the language and grammar of filmmaking," says Grover.

He continues, "We're in the midst of a video revolution. For less than $200, you can buy a HD video camera that fits in your shirt pocket. For less than $100, you can get Premiere Elements, an amazing video editing tool. It costs nothing to reach an audience of millions by posting your video on YouTube. If you prefer, you can distribute your video on DVD for pennies a disc. So, these days, if you've got a message to deliver, it's only naturally to chose video as the medium. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, just imagine the communication power of 30 pictures per second."

Premiere Elements 8: The Missing Manual will teach you the important stuff you need to know:

• Create movies from start to finish with hands-on, step-by-step instructions

• Use InstantMovie to whip slick videos ready for prime time

• Learn frame-by-frame editing to handcraft your story like the pros do

• Share your movie by saving it to disc, uploading it, or emailing it

• Add video effects that dazzle

• Use keyframes to precisely control cuts, special effects, and sound

• Tap Premiere's automated tools to analyze, organize, and rate your clips

Chris Grover lives in Fairfax, California with his wife and two daughters. Chris received degrees in Creative Writing and Film from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He's worked as a technical writer, advertising copywriter and product publicist for more than 25 years. His freelance articles have been published in a variety of magazines from Fine Homebuilding to CD-ROM World.

Additional Resources:
For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596803360

Premiere Elements 8: The Missing Manual
Chris Grover
ISBN: 9780596803360, 478 pages,
Book Price: $34.99 USD, £38.50 GBP
Ebook Price: $27.99 USD
[email protected]
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

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Front cover: Premiere Elements 8 - The Missing Manual, by Chris Grover. Image provided by O'Reilly Media