Previewing assets in the Project tab


    You can preview any asset from the Asset Preview thumbnail at the upper left corner of the Project tab. Text next to the thumbnail displays the filename and file format of the selected asset. It also displays, if applicable, the duration, image dimensions, and frame rate of the selected asset. If you are previewing video footage, you can either view a particular frame or set the footage to play from any point in its progression.

    If you import a still image with an aspect ratio different from that of the project, Adobe Encore DVD stretches the image to fit the project aspect ratio once you place it in a timeline. However, you can use the Scale and Swap command to maintain the image's original aspect ratio before you place it in a timeline. You can tell if an asset doesn't match the project aspect ratio if you see that the image is bounded by black bars in the Asset Preview thumbnail.

    Illustration of Asset preview thumbnail with these callouts: A. Play/Pause B. Current-time indicator
    Asset Preview thumbnail A. Play/Pause B. Current-time indicator

To show or hide the preview thumbnail:

    Click the triangle next in the upper left corner of the Project tab.

To preview a still asset:

    Select the asset you want to view.

To preview a video or audio asset:

  1. Select the asset you want to view.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • To begin playing the asset, click the Play button Play button .
    • To pause playback, click the Pause button Pause button .
    • To play from a specific location, whether the asset is currently playing or paused, drag the current-time indicator until you reach the location you want to play from. If the preview was paused when you began dragging, click the Play button, and if the preview was playing when you began dragging, stop dragging for playback to resume.

To maintain a still image's aspect ratio:

  1. Select the asset in the Project tab.
  2. Choose File > Scale and Swap Asset. Adobe Encore DVD swaps the original asset with a PNG file copy that keeps the asset at its original aspect ratio. When you add this to a timeline, the Preview window will display it at its original aspect ratio, with black bars, or a matte, to extend the image boundaries to fit the project aspect ratio. See Previewing the timeline.