Selecting multiple layers in Program (Premiere)

[MZTVPD]

A feature I've taken for granted in all NLEs I've used, is the ability to select and move multiple video layers together in the Program/Canvas. Short of actually nesting multiple layers, It appears this is not possible in Premiere. These are the options I understand to be available to me:

• Double-clicking a video in Program selects a single (top-most) video layer.
• Video layers with alpha/transparency do allow me to select layers below/through them.
• Selecting layers that are not visible in the Program requires  selecting it in the timeline and using the Effects Control/Motion tab in the Source window.
• Selecting multiple layers in the timeline disables any Effects Controls.

Am I missing something? If not, this seems like such an obvious omission. Moving a lower-third carrier along with the text becomes such an annoyance, for instance. And no, I'm not interesting in nesting as a solution.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Ken

[Peru Bob]

mztvpd  wrote

And no, I'm not interesting in nesting as a solution.

I'm just curious as to why you don't want to nest.

[MZTVPD]

Personally I've never been a fan of using nesting if I know I will be constantly jumping in/out of the nest to make adjustments. I find it much less accurate without immediate feedback (in relation to other layers) and cumbersome to open/close multiple sequences.

This is especially true when the look or style of the graphics/elements I'm building are in flux. And in general, I prefer to see my complete edit without having to look inside other sequences. There are of course cases where nesting is ideal, even needed; when you animate/keyframe multiple layers or your graphic builds become too cluttered, for example.

As you can probably already tell, I say this in the context of creating and developing simple graphic elements or lower thirds in your NLE. As an FCP user, the limitation of only being able to select a single layer in the Program was a big surprise to me. I've built some pretty complicated looks in FCP with multiple video layers, text, simple solids, masks, filters and travel mattes. All of which was possible because I could move/adjust multiple layers simultaneously. It appears I won't be doing this in Premiere.

I suppose that's what After Effects is for. Sigh.

[Peru Bob]

Look in the Help for "Adjustment Layer" and see if that will do what you want.

Here is one link:

Apply effects to multiple clips in the Premiere Pro timeline with adjustment layers

[MZTVPD]

You can add a transform effect to an adjustment layer, like scale or rotate, and then animate it over a span of clips (or still images). This technique allows you to achieve motion effects formerly done by nesting clips.

Despite the article you linked mentioning the above, animating an Adjustment Layer appears to have no affect on the layers below it. All other effects work as expected.

[AdamRitz]

NO, we (he and I) want to grab all three text layers that are created independently and move them as a group.

[Mario37140797pky9]

In my opinion, Premiere is the worst NLE in the market regarding GFX capabilities. In any other NLE, you can effortlessly animate text/graphics, but in Premiere, all the GFX work has to be an endless drama: You need either to nest your layers, create an After Effects composition, use an external (and most of the time paid) plugin or settle for a sub-par text animation. Very frustrating for us coming from other NLEs out there, but forced to use Premiere because of our client´s workflow.

[R Neil Haugen]

All these apps are flawed, all have things that other's don't, all don't have things others do.

And as there are several million daily users of Premiere, and heavily in production facilities, it seems a lot of people do get graphics done in Premiere effectively.

One example of not knowing how it properly works in Premiere, is I've seen many people create several graphics in separate instances in multiple layers. Then complain how hard it is to animate them together.

Why on earthe would you DO that? Make them in one layer.

Simple workflow ... create your text, shapes, and masks in one graphic, group them and animate sections of them in one action, the whole thing in another. Easy peasy.