Imported Still is Blury, Prem Elements 9

Question

I'm a complete novice when it comes to Premeire, so forgive me. I am very familiar with Photoshop CS4, but I'm using Photoshop Elements 9, which is not as similar to CS4 as I expected.
I'm trying to import an image of text for a title screen rather than using the Prem 9 templates. The images I import come in blury. I have created a photoshop doc using the NTSC DV preset, but that doesn't help. The img files are 720x480, just like my video. Resolution 72 or 300...it doesn't matter, clarity is still bad. I've also tried saving it as .jpeg, .bmp, and .psd with no difference. I'm thinking it's possible it could be the fact that the film is intended to be viewed on a TV screen, but here's why I think that's not the case:
I have film footage of a "title screen", i.e. text printed on a paper held in front of the camera. That text comes in clear enough, but the lighting quality is poor and the printout is not straight. If I capture a frame from this image and edit it's brightness/contrast and levels in photoshop, and then import it back into Prem, it becomes blurry.
Also, I would hope the film could look just as clear regardless of how it was viewed, meaning both TV Screen and Computer Monitor. I'm not sure if there's a setting in premiere that, for editing purposes, shows the film in a low quality preview format or what the issue is. It just doesn't seem like it should be blury.
Again, very new to premiere, so I apologize for being slow.

Answer 1

The use of a PSD will be virtually indistinguishable from the output using Titler. Now, I probably use PS and PSD's a bit more, but part of that is because PrPro will Import Layered PSD's, and then I can animate each Layer independently. To do the same with Titler would require a separate Title per line, or element. PS also offers me a few more controls, and for even more, like Glyphs in my fonts, I use Adobe Illustrator for that sort of control, and just Place the AI Vector Art into PS, Save_As PSD and then Import that into my video editing program.
For most simple Titles, however, I just use Titler, as it is really quite powerful. Wish that there was a spellchecking plug-in for it (and for PS, as well).
As for the second question:
The most common issues that I see are, and in no particular order:
Where the director/producer/cinematoghrapher/editor looses track of the story, and falls in love with footage, that does not further that story.
The overuse of Transitions, especially more graphically intricate ones. I use the simple Butt-Cuts, Cross-Dissolves (usually indicating a change in time, and/or place) and Dip-to-Black (usually indicating a greater change in time, and/or place).
Shots that are too long, and could benefit from being tightened greatly.
Using a single long shot, where cut-aways, or changes in angles would improve the pacing of the story greatly.
Not establishing the "stage" and not giving enough visual info.
Giving too much visual info and for too long - tight shots can improve the story-telling.
Over-use of zooms.
Under-use of interesting angles and POV.
Music/Audio that does not contribute to the story, or is just inappropriate.
Lack of the use of a tripod, or camera stabilization, unless hand-held is part of the pacing, mood or part of the story.
Effects that might be neat by themselves, but do not improve the story.
Lack of continuity.
Total lack of a story.
That's probably just the "short-list."
I think that one can learn a lot, by just studying the work of great directors and cinematographers. The work of Hitchcock, Kubrick, Peckinpaw, William Freidkin, John Ford, Sergio Leone, Peter Jackson, Coppola, et al, is a great place to start. Those folk created special films, have much to teach one.
Good luck,
Hunt