Deleted Effects in Premiere Pro: why and for what?

[MotionThunder]

Why is it that with each new version of Premiere Pro, there are fewer built-in effects?

I could understand if there were a need to remove effects that only work properly with GPU acceleration using CUDA, justified by the fact that many users are on macOS, which might cause compatibility issues.

But that's not the case. Many of the effects being removed with each new version of Premiere Pro functioned perfectly on CPU, providing excellent compatibility regardless of hardware.

I often create presets and templates for Premiere Pro, and there's even a "Premiere Pro Templates" category on Adobe Stock. So it's very strange to see such a trend in the development of Premiere Pro, considering its commercial value.

Previously, a large list of effects was removed without maintaining compatibility, including even RGB Curves, which was so convenient. Now I've installed Premiere Pro 2024 and noticed that it no longer includes Solid Composite, Checkerboard, Arithmetic (and possibly more — I haven't checked everything that's been removed). One question: why? Yes, thank you for maintaining compatibility so that my projects with these effects from version 2022 will work in 2024, but why was it necessary to remove them from the new software versions? Many things can no longer be achieved using effects in Premiere Pro (for example, an RGB Split that would work on CPU, just to name one).

P.S. Yes, I know that After Effects and MOGRT exist and that all this can be implemented using those methods, but I'm talking specifically about native Premiere Pro projects, which are in demand and even offered on Adobe Stock. Is it the right decision to shoot yourself in the foot?

[Averdahl · Accepted solution]

Some info here about why and for what: Obsolete Effects, Transitions and Presets removed

[MotionThunder]

Thank you very much.

I suspected that Adobe would cite "improving performance" as their argument. It's indeed good when software evolves, but in this case, keeping the effects wouldn't have caused any "slowdown" and could have been left to the users' discretion.

Now there are even fewer opportunities for creating native solutions in the form of templates or presets for Premiere Pro, which primarily limits the creators of such assets—who were already constrained by the rather sparse selection of effects in Premiere Pro (which is largely understandable, since it's editing software). It's sad, especially considering that many marketplaces don't even consider assets for Premiere Pro that use effects from the "VR" group.

[Harchenko]

I think because of this “support”, more and more users are switching to other programs, I’m increasingly seeing bloggers on YouTube talking about their transition and reading comments about it.

[R Neil Haugen]

Like a number of users, I lost a couple things I liked ... in the noise/grain options. So I do sympathize.

However, as noted heavily in their explanatory posts, the effects in the Obsolete bin were used by less than 1% of the user base.

So these effects were:

1.  ancient code that needed a complete scrap/rebuild;
2. as-was, didn't use the GPU, and at times, would 'pull' other effects out of GPU processing also;
3.  were used by only a tiny percentage of the user base.

I have numerous changes to the color correction and control tools I would like, and the devs are sympathetic. But after listening patiently, they still have to tell me that 1) yea, they see why I would want it but 2) so few other users would use it, that it's simply not going to be a priority.

Like ... I liked the controls in a couple noise/grain options for simulating film grain. And those were some of the least used of even the Obsolete bin effects. Darn.

[David Arbor]

Tthis happens with all software, and it always inconveniences someone; so I don't disagree that it's a pain for you, but just some context so you know why it does happen—as code bases get modernized and technology changes, older features that won't ever be updated again have to be modernized or made obsolete. You'd be surprised at how something that seems unrelated to everything else could wreak havoc when new technology is implemented. So even though the obsolete effects work fine today, old technology still has to be tested constantly; and more time spent testing or modernizing old features means less time testing or working on newer things that will benefit more users. 

That link above lists a ton of transitions where the alternative is third-party. Yes, many of those transitions are cheesy, but when used right, they can still be effective, creative tools, so I agree that it's disappointing to see stuff you use removed.