Software for creating slideshows, etc?

[Marty Moose]

Hi!

Can anyone recommend a decent (and wallet-friendly) software for creating slideshows? I would really like to set my vacation pics to music (preferably my own) and burn to dvd...

We don't have video camera yet (that'll be my next toy!), but a software that can work with video would probably be preferable.

I'm a total novice...but pretty good at figuring out software.

Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions on where I should start?

Thanks!

 

[jann1033]

i made my first ever slideshow and vcd the other day using photoshop elements 4...it was a snap and took me only maybe 2 hrs ( and since it was for someone else i was pretty picky). don't know if they all do this but the vcd can be used in any dvd, is self starting and some music comes with it( photshp 4) and you can download more( somehow, haven't done that yet)

the more i use it the more i like photoshop e 4, lots of things to play around with and not to hard( except still don't get layers even after the tutorial on here, oh well...)

 

[boBQuincy]

I use ProShow to create my slide shows and Nero the burn the shows to DVD (ProSHow has an option to burn the shows directly to DVD but it has never worked for me, it works for my Brother so it must be a software incompatibility issue).

Adobe Premiere Elements and Sony Vegas can also do very good slideshows, probably better than ProShow but with a lot more difficulty.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I've seen two very different types of slideshows. There are those designed to be shown on a PC and those designed to be shown on a DVD player.

The PC slideshows can utlitize the higher resolution of a PC screen. They also suffer from fewer compression artifacts. They can also be quicker to create because you don't have to go through a lengthy rendering process.

DVD slideshows are vastly more convenient for most viewers. They can incorporate more effects (like pans and zooms) because they are rendered in advance rather than in real-time.

You need to decide which approach you want before you choose your software. There are lots of examples of each. For PC slideshows, the two I see the most are Microsoft PowerPoint and Pictures2Exe. DVD style slideshow creators are almost too numerous to list. It seems like every video editing package and many photo editing packages can do this. I think Microsoft has a freeware slideshow generator, but I can't recall the name.

Most people opt for the universality of the DVD slideshow, but be prepared for an enormous drop in picture quality. A DVD image is about 720x480, which is 1/3 of a megapixel. Most non-HD TV's will not even display at that resolution.

 

[Marty Moose]

Thanks so much for all your replies! I have a lot to think about!! I really like the idea of being able to burn to DVD for television viewing...but I had no idea about the loss in clarity, etc.

I actually have Photo Shop Elements 4 so I guess my first step is to start playing around with that! I was also looking into Sony Vegas and they have a free trial, so maybe I'll try that and compare.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[jann1033]

not that i'm pushing photoe 4 (for some reason i feel like i'm on some game show showing the prizes )
but ...
the vcd can be used in a dvd or a computer which was why i liked it ( thinking of my mother who can't figure out her computer could still watch it on tv) plus it uses cds which i think are a little cheaper than dvds( i have lightscribe dvds which cost $$$)

 

[mabas9395]

I have Sony Vegas and LOVE IT!!!! But it is one of the more difficult of the consumer level software packages. But that extra level of difficulty also gives you an extra level of control.

 

[manning]

Can you afford FREE ??

If you are a comcast subsciber that is what it will cost you....nothing.

http://www.comcast.net/photocenter/?CM.src=top

When you go to the site you will see a free download tab. next to it is a demo tab called "see a photoshow cirlce website". Click it to see the demo. Click on the top large picture.

It is the same program that is licensed to Nero by Simple Star.

http://www.simplestar.com/