i'm ready to share/export my video. when i do this, does the video become a seperate file from the project, meaning will I have the finished video and my "blueprint" still? ex. if i want to export it to my computer now, and later share it to dvd instead, or change something in it? thanks

I've never used elements but in adobe premiere it works this way. I would be 99% sure it works this way as well.