Elements 2025 -- can't find controlled rotation, or controlled zooming

[pdk-midwest]

I'm upgrading from Premier Elements 2021, to 2025, and the drastically changed/new/different interface is tripping me up. Three main Q's:

1. Is there any way to ask Elements 2025 to shift back to a "legacy appearance", comparable to the 2021 version, or other prior versions?

2. What command do I use to rotate a video by a controlled and limited amount, rather than in 90 degree increments? For example, if someone was holding the video camera at a slightly off-kilter angle, such as 4 degrees clockwise, how can I return the video to normal vertical?

3. How can I zoom in, using a controllable slider, rather than the 1.5x, 2x, and other fixed increments that show up in the list of zooming options?

Any help on ANY of those would be truly useful, and appreciated.

[Ann Bens]

1. No

2. Effect controls > rotation

3. Effect controls > scale

Hold down ctrl for small increase/decrease value, shift for large ones.

[pdk-midwest]

Excellent answer from Ann, many thanks.

Re: "the outline with small dots" when I want to resize. I tried to figure it out, and use it, for several minutes, only to give up in frustration. It's like the program is asking my to use a box kite, as an adapter to help me hold a screwdriver. Sorry, but . . . I could NOT get THAT thing to work. So, I would suggest, as an early update, that they add back in one or more "grab points" with distinct sizes or colors, and allow THOSE to be used in the old way . . . i.e., simply click-and-drag, and it works. 

For Steve: I got thru 1.7 videos, and paused, and will cycle back to those. For now, I would offer three suggestions:

1. in addition to your "how to start, from scratch" video, you might want to create a video focused solely on "changing over to the 2025 version, if you're used to prior versions."

2. The single best tip I've found, which I would share with anyone, is, Create a "Template" file, with about 5 seconds of some low-bulk clip, using whatever "default" settings you prefer, and then create a desktop shortcut, to get you immediately to THAT short clip, with all of the default settings already set up, so that you can use ALL  of THOSE settings, with whatever new video file you want to start working with.

3. Point out that when the 2025 package gets installed, it leaves any prior version entirely alone, and readily accessible, but only if you know how and where to find it, and load it. So, if you create a "How to change over" video, I would suggest that you show viewers how to create a FIRST "template" icon, on a desktop, which will load the 2025 version, as well as a SECOND template icon, which will load whatever prior version was on their computer.

Again, everything -- thanks. You've gotten me started in a better direction, and at a better level, than before.

[Bill Sprague]

I don't know of any way to return to a legacy view.   

For your second and third questions, go to the Effect Controls panel.  The little blue numbers work like sliders.  Hover over (grab) with your mouse and move it horizontally.  

You can also do it graphically.  Double click in the preview panel and an outline with small dots appears.  You can grab the small dots with your mouse.  If the Effects Control panel is open, you can see the numbers change.

[Steve Grisetti]

My 8-part Basic Training tutorials may help familiarize you with the new interface.

[pdk-midwest]

And, hey, as long as I'm logged, here's a request I would like some experts to forward to Adobe -- 

would you folks please allow posters to simply edit their own posts?

I have THREE boo-boos, in my "thanks, and" post above.

And, I would genuinely like to change them. But, I can't . . .

1. "asking my to use a box kite" . . . no, should be "asking ME"

2. "'grab points' with distinct sizes or colors" . . . no, should be "distinct SHAPES or colors" 

3. "Again, everything" . . . no, should be "again everyONE"

[Steve Grisetti]

If only we had the sway some people wish we had...

The ability to edit and correct old posts has long been something we've all wanted.

[Bill Sprague]

Under "More" is an edit choice.   It only shows up under your own posts.  I think it's been there a long time!