Slideshow Question

[Pooh_Girl]

So my DBIL recently asked me if I could take some of his photos and put it to music for his/his DW's anniversary coming up. I remember not too long ago this same question came up on here (or something relatively similar) and there was a program that everyone kept raving about. Does anyone remember what that is???? Or what is the best program to use for something like this? I'm not sure if he's wanting to make like a screensaver/movie for the computer, or if he's wanting it on a dvd to play on tv. Any help would be MUCH appreciated!!!! THANKS!!!!

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

So my DBIL recently asked me if I could take some of his photos and put it to music for his/his DW's anniversary coming up. I remember not too long ago this same question came up on here (or something relatively similar) and there was a program that everyone kept raving about. Does anyone remember what that is???? Or what is the best program to use for something like this? I'm not sure if he's wanting to make like a screensaver/movie for the computer, or if he's wanting it on a dvd to play on tv. Any help would be MUCH appreciated!!!! THANKS!!!!

The easiest way to do it pretty quick and simple is using Windows Movie Maker. You can add music, pictures, and transitions as well as titles and credits.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It really depends on whether you want to watch the slides on a computer or on a TV/DVD player. For the former, you'll get the best results with software that displays photo files (something like Powerpoint or Pictures2Exe). For the latter, you'll want something that generates a movie, like ProShow Gold.

If you want to distribute on DVD and let people watch it at home, you're much better off with movie generators. That seems to be the most common approach. You can also do more complex pans and zooms.

If you want the best possible picture quality, movie generators are not the way to go. A DVD is only 720x480 pixels compared with 1024x768 or 1280x1024 for most computers. The downside is that you have to worry about whether the slideshow will work on the other persons computer, which isn't a big concern about DVDs.

Here are some examples of some computer slideshows that I have put together. It's my preferred technique, but I think most people would be better off making DVD movie slideshows.

 

[Master Mason]

I use proshow gold and have been very happy with the results.

 

[alan]

Mark's point about working out exactly what you are trying to produce is very well made. But assuming you are wanting to produce a DVD-resolution package, you could do a lot worse than downloading the free one that Microsoft produces for Windows.

It's called Photo Story 3 and you can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/PhotoStory

I used it to produce this video, made up from photos of two or three days at the Magic Kingdom. The music came from a Disney CD sold at the park. Note that this version is 800 pixels across, but you can ask for higher resolution from the package. Also, you can buy a DVD output plugin for, I think, around US$20.

I found this package interesting, but fundamentally flawed in that it was really hard to tailor slide transitions to match the rhythm of the music. So for my next attempt I used Son'y Vegas Movie Studio (a cut-down version of the professional Vegas Video tool). I was able to have much better control of the zooms, transitions and timing, and was able to fit them to the music. You can view that video here.

I have learned from Photo Story that I could do with some better functions - the ability to get the program to make the picture show duration fit the music, for example. But it was well worth the download

regards,
/alan

 

[The Grays]

I have used a number of slide shows and found that Proshow gold was the most versatile. Many of the free downloads limit you to just 100 images.

 

[Pooh_Girl]

So THANKS to everyone who provided some feedback!! You guys are GREAT!!! After prying my DBIL a little more, (he's not the most technically savy and wasn't even sure what HE wanted) I think we are going to go with something for the computer. We don't think that his wife will want to just randomly pop in a dvd slideshow at home; they don't watch home movies very often, it's just for archival/documentation/memory sake. So given that, I was thinking of trying to create like a screensaver/slideshow effect put to music. So what does everyone think/recommend?? THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!

 

[jann1033]

if you have photoshop elements ( i have 5) you can make a DVD with the option of viewing it on TV or computer...i've made a couple( aren't really my thing) but they are very easy to make. you just drop the photos from your computer to the slide show maker, then change the order etc. the only trickyish part is getting the music to line up with the photos, i wanted to change music with a fade out a few times which was a little hard to get exactly right timing but i did it after a few tries . you can use preexisting music or download your own. you burn them to a DVD and it makes whatever kind of DVD can be played on a computer or TV( it has a name but i forget it) i like that as i made one of my granddaughter but my parents don't have a computer so they can play it on their TV. i made one for a friend( anniversary party) and they loved it as well and like i said, if they were impressed it's not cause i am so proficient at making slide shows since it was the first i ever made:Lao:

 

[Pooh_Girl]

Does anyone know, with proshow gold, can you do special effects like panning/zooming/etc? I hear that one recommended more often on here, but I also looked at photostory and sony vegas movie studio and I'm having a difficult time choosing. Also, are either of them free??? Recently my DH and I had our bank account info stolen and we're not sure how they got it, so I'm really cautious now about my on-line buying. Thanks!!!

 

[jann1033]

look smilebox...it would probably do what you want for free although not sure how many photos you have, some have limited amount of photos you can use but have lots of effect..slide.com is good as well but not sure how you can burn those ( if you can) i think the other might burn them for you for a price(?) i've just been looking to put on a website so not sure how the burning works..i think you have to join at least for a month( $5) to be able to print a dvd??? i also think you can email both but not sure if you want a hard copy of something to give someone
http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=smilebox&gclid=CPbwv5_E8pQCFQGbnAodATdrqA
otherwise here is a list of reviewed slideshow programs and i know by googling slideshows i found a number that will burn a slide show for you ( which i didn't want so i didn't bookmark)
http://photo-slideshow-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

 

[boBQuincy]

ProShow Gold does zooms and pans very well. Here is a clip from one ofmy shows that includes some zooms and pans:

http://bob.suzieandbob.com/TCC_post1969.exe

Some computers with not so good video cards have trouble playing an exe with pans and zooms, in that case the show needs to be set up as a DVD.

 

[YesDear]

I use proshow gold and think it is a good program.

The easiest way to do a great slideshow is to find someone that has a mac and do it in iphoto. Music is easy and you can naturally do the Ken Burns effect then burn to dvd or cd.