Skip to main content
J
jkmg
Participant
October 28, 2017
Answered

Getting Started in Premiere Pro Plugin Development?

  • October 28, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 31852 views

Hello! I am a DSLR Video Producer & Photographer out of the PNW working with an employer that has the possibility of an improved workflow. If only I could develop a Premiere Pro Plugin to fit their needs. Alas, I am unable to find any viable beginner information on the matter. I've looked over the SDK documents, I've also looked on YouTube, Forums (including here) and have yet to find anything that will help me get from 0 to something rather than 0 to nothing. I don't even know how to begin to get started. I hope to make some videos myself on this matter due to my struggle, but I need to be helped before I can help others. I hope that I can be given some information to be put in the right direction. I am just clueless, even after everything I've looked at. I've seen everything from You can use any development program to develop with the SDK to You develop with HTML5, Javascript, and CSS or something close to the sort. Yet, no simple information for a beginner myself to just get started. Please, help??

What I'm trying to do: Basic automated animation for photos in Premiere (kind-of like a slideshow). I'm trying develop a custom plugin for Premiere Pro that takes out the handy work of setting: position and scale keyframe at position1, animate a basic movement with position and scale to position2 while keeping a person or persons face or faces as the focus. Possible detection of photo width/height for proper scale to cover monitor viewport. Possible anchor point movement/use to allow custom movement to pull/push towards the desired point in photo.

I love Adobe products and have been a CC subscriber for years. I am more than willing to clear anything up if needed. I hope to hear from anyone willing to help soon.

Thank you.

    Correct answer Bruce Bullis

    One must be a capable JavaScript-er, and ExtendScript-er, to take advantage of the APIs available to panels; C++, for plug-ins.

    None of what you describe, above, is simple, from within a PPro panel; an After Effects panel might be more straightforward. Specifically: while changing position/rotation/scale is possible, there's nothing in the API to do the image analysis necessary to keep people or faces in focus. Unless you have some sort of image processing library of your own...?

    We're happy to help with questions around Adobe's APIs, but we aren't a good resource for learning JavaScript, or programming in general.

    Best available starting point for PPro panels = the PProPanel sample, from GitHub. If you work through the readme, you'll have a system ready to build and debug panels, and working sample code that demonstrates PPro's ExtendScript APIs.

    https://github.com/Adobe-CEP/Samples/blob/master/PProPanel/ReadMe.md

    3 replies

    T
    Tristan28427322t5dl
    Participant
    January 24, 2024

    Hey jkmg, 

    Reposting this so you see it.

     

    If you're still in need. I can help (and for any others searching for similar assistance). Please reach out to me at modalmixpro@gmail.com.

    I'm proficient in developing extensions with advanced capabilities harnessing the power of multi-modal AI. I've run a commercial production house for years so I have deep knowledge of video-production processes in the adobe suite. I've also written code for Nuke and other industry standard applications.  

    The information on legal provided by users in this thread is largely accurate from my understanding, though I am not legally confirming any such advice myself. Please reach out to me at modalmixpro@gmail.com.

    C
    Chane5FF7
    Participant
    January 13, 2021

    Hi there! A very useful tool to have is the Automator Plus extension. It is a Premiere Pro extension that allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts to any extendscript you find online or have lying around.

    Bruce Bullis
    Community Manager
    Bruce BullisCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    October 30, 2017

    One must be a capable JavaScript-er, and ExtendScript-er, to take advantage of the APIs available to panels; C++, for plug-ins.

    None of what you describe, above, is simple, from within a PPro panel; an After Effects panel might be more straightforward. Specifically: while changing position/rotation/scale is possible, there's nothing in the API to do the image analysis necessary to keep people or faces in focus. Unless you have some sort of image processing library of your own...?

    We're happy to help with questions around Adobe's APIs, but we aren't a good resource for learning JavaScript, or programming in general.

    Best available starting point for PPro panels = the PProPanel sample, from GitHub. If you work through the readme, you'll have a system ready to build and debug panels, and working sample code that demonstrates PPro's ExtendScript APIs.

    https://github.com/Adobe-CEP/Samples/blob/master/PProPanel/ReadMe.md

      J
      jkmgAuthor
      Participant
      October 30, 2017

      I know Javascript. I suppose I forgot to mention I know how to code. I'm fluent in HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Javascript, jQuery and AJAX. I just don't know (structurally) where to even begin to begin... What is the difference between a Panel and a Plugin?? Please feel free to send any documentation my way that may be helpful. Sorry for any confusion. I'm just trying to understand. Thank you.

      Bruce Bullis
      Community Manager
      Bruce BullisCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      October 31, 2017

      Panels = web pages, hosted in PPro's UI, which can also 1. access the local file system and 2. drive PPro via ExtendScript.

      Best place to start = PProPanel readme, which walks you through setting up a panel dev system.

      While CEP HTML Test Panel shows off all the fun stuff you can do at the JavaScript level, PProPanel is pretty exhaustive in its usage of PPro's ExtendScript API.

      Here's a video I made showing how to debug panels at both the JavaScript and ExtendScript levels.

      Work through the readme, play with panels in your debuggers, and feel free to ask questions.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices