What is your favorite slideshow program. I am starting a new project...

[JR6ooo4]

and the last time I made one I seem to recall a 100 photo limit. It has been a while, maybe I was using a demo program.

I have PS CS2, and a few old movie maker programs like Ulead video studio, etc..

The slide show will have photos from past theater shows with a music montage.

thanks for any tips and suggestions,
Mikeeee

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The two that I've used extensively are Pictures2Exe and ProShow Gold. I used to use Pictures2Exe because it was the only program I could find that did a good job of making PC based slideshows and I hated losing the resolution output to DVD. I found that ProShow Gold now does that and it handles output to video much better, so I use it almost exlusively now.

 

[Chikabowa]

I just upgraded to Animoto. Love it.

No limit to the amount of pictures and there is a royalty-free music program associated with the program so you don't have to go out and purchase additional music. It's one of the only slideshow programs that you can download a HD-quality full resolution DVD and burn straight to disc. Plays perfectly on my big screen LCD using both a Blu-Ray and HD DVD system. You can also download a high-quality version for your computer. Lastly, they make it one-stop click for posting onto message boards, blogging and social networking (such as facebook and myspace).

It's a subscription service - but really awesome. I absolutely love it. It literally takes my minutes to upload my pics and then done. Their software does the rest of the work. There are two videos on my blog (listed in my siggy). The Disney slideshow is a little sloppy and done quickly, but I was just using a few pics as a tester while trying out the software. The second video there is a little cleaner and definitely much nicer.

 

[NostalgicDad]

I've been using Pro Show Gold for a short time now and have been very pleased with it.

 

[boBQuincy]

I have used ProShow Gold for years, for shows from a few minutes long to a 1000+ slide / 35 minute show. The software has a few quirks but I have not found anything better unless you want to do a *lot* of work.

 

[Master Mason]

another recommendation for pro show gold

 

[JR6ooo4]

OK thanks, I will check it out.

Mikeeee
and yes, I really hate dumbing my photos down to american TV standards.

 

[alan]

One of the reasons I preferred Microsoft's Photo Story was that it would automatically generate movement and royalty-free music. Is there any such music generation program for Pro Show Gold, or does anyone have any recommended programs for generating music of a specific length?

I'll also check out Animoto.

regards,
/alan

 

[mabas9395]

I like Sony Vegas

 

[KCmike]

Photostory 3 is free on Microsoft's website it is also great for a beginner.

 

[Khokhonutt]

I like Sony Vegas

+1. It's not free or even cheap, but I find that the only limitations are what I don't know about the program.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Thanks for asking this question...Awesome info everyone.

 

[iluvdisnee]

Didnt read the replies but I use Proshow Gold or Proshow Producer (the bigger/more professional version) If I just want a pretty standard show I use the gold, if I want something to knock my clients socks off I use the Producer.

Stock20 offers a free song for every new user and you get a free song for everyone you refer. Great source for Royalty Free Music.

Here's a really simple show I made with Proshow Gold...Basically anyone could do it--very easy to use!

Slideshow

 

[alan]

That's a beautiful slide show, Christy - well done!

I've made one slideshow of Disneyworld, here. That was made with Microsoft Photo Story, timed to match with some music from a CD I bought at the park.

My next one was this, of a theme park in France that focused on some of the region's rather violent history. It was made using Vegas Movie Factory, which gave me much finer control over the motion (so, for example, the pictures change in time with the music).

I've posted both of these two before, but recently I made this, which contains photographs of a musical I was in. This is again done in Photo Story, and the music entirely generated by that program. The quality is lower than the other two, however, to allow me to put a 20 minute slideshow on my web site! (I'm the fellow in the Rhinestone cowboy outfit near to the end of the show)

regards,
/alan

 

[YesDear]

I also recommend Proshow Gold. Also if you have a mac Iphoto is a great program.

 

[alan]

+1. It's not free or even cheap, but I find that the only limitations are what I don't know about the program.

For most home users (including me) Vegas Movie Studio is probably entirely adequate (in the same way as most home users get all they need from Photoshop Elements and don't need full-blown PhotoShop).

It starts at under £45 in the UK, and is available from http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com

regards,
/alan

 

[alan]

Okay, I'm just wanting to bring this subject back to life. Does anyone know of a Photo Program that can:

1. Generate automatic pan/zoom effects?
2. Generate appropriate-length music of appropriate length, and
3. Gives a 16:9 output?

Any pointers appreciated

(Microsoft Photo Story does 1 and 2, but not 3)

regards,
/alan

 

[cbombard]

Okay, I'm just wanting to bring this subject back to life. Does anyone know of a Photo Program that can:

1. Generate automatic pan/zoom effects?
2. Generate appropriate-length music of appropriate length, and
3. Gives a 16:9 output?

Any pointers appreciated

(Microsoft Photo Story does 1 and 2, but not 3)

regards,
/alan

Alan, though I have not used it I am pretty sure that Adobe Premiere Elements will give you number 3.