Premiere depending on original files?

[KrixLP]

I am working on a compilation and from most files I only need a little bit (10s) but the videos are up to 20min long... can I delete the files once they were imported to the project and shrunk down or is premiere elements depending on them as long as the project is not yet rendered? My harddrive is pretty full...

[Peru Bob]

You will need the original media.

Another option is to export only the parts of the video you need as a separate files.  Then use the shorter, exported video as media for a new project. You will need to keep the exported media for the new project.

[Bill Sprague]

There is an option in the Files > Project Archive menu that may do what you want.  I've not used it enough to know how it actually works, so be sure to test it before you dispose of media you don't want to keep.

[Shivangi_Gupta]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. When you add/import any media file inside Premiere Elements, it creates a copy or replica of the original file with all the properties. You can edit it and make all the changes without affecting the original file, however, during the entire editing process it is important to keep the original files safe on your computer or any storage media connected to your computer.

If you'll delete the file after importing them inside Premiere Elements, the media will become offline from Premiere Elements and it will ask you to link it with the original file.

Hence, it is important to keep the original file while editing.

Thanks,

Shivangi