DVD Slideshows

[Alter_ego]

I need to be able to create DVD slideshows as part of my wedding package. I have never made a photo DVD so i am not sure of the process. I have a DVD R/RW drive, but am not sure if I need any special software to create a slideshow and maybe have it with music as well.
Any input would be appreciated.

PS: I do have NERO Express software installed but have never used it for anything other than backup cd's.

Allan.

[grodgers]

I like Adobe Premier Elements 4.0 - Nice and clean, and can do ANYTHING you want to throw at it.
Get it and Photoshop Elements 6.0 for $149 at Staples.

[Driftwood]

The following 2 programmes have both received good write-ups and seem to be popular.

ProShow gold - Photodex - Photo Slide Show and Presentation Software - Create Photo DVD Slide Shows

PicturesToExe - Slide show software, graphic software, files management

They are both available as (restricted) free trial downloads, and the full versions are not expensive.

[billkay]

I've used Windows Movie Maker that comes pre-installed with all new PC's. Very easy, lots of transition and title page/credit options, and the ability to include text layers. I'd try that before buying another program.

[Alter_ego]

Thanks guys, and I found movie maker on my comp so I will give it a try before I spend any more money.

[Mark McCall]

Having beta tested for both of the software titles listed in Driftwood's post, I can tell you that ProShow Gold is the easiest, fastest way to create a stunning DVD presentation.

Create your show, put in a blank DVD, click Create>DVD.
You can create a custom on-screen menu in the next dialog, then sit back and wait for your finished DVD to pop out. EEAAASSSYYYY.

[Alter_ego]

I had a look at the two links that Driftwood posted, and perusing the forums for each one it seems thay can both be problematic at times. One thing I did notice with the ProShow, was some folks saying that too many images result in failures.
For those of you that have used either of these programs; how many images do you put in a slideshow, and at what resolution?
Also, am I right in assuming that you cannot copy pics from a DVD slideshow to a computer for printing, and do you have any worries about clients copying the actual DVD for relatives.

[Mark McCall]

Originally Posted by Alter_ego

One thing I did notice with the ProShow, was some folks saying that too many images result in failures.

It is possible to have a failed show by adding too many images into a ProShow or Producer based show. But this isn't a software flaw.

The computer running the software must have enough processing power, and available memory to process/render the show during output.
If it doesn't, the software simply cannot render the show.
Either too many images, or images that are too large in file size can bog down the system, which will eventually time out.

We use images no larger than 1800 pixels on the longest side.

[Sing141]

I purchased ProShow Gold two or three years ago. It works, but it is designed so that their Logo, masthead, whatever you want to call it, is at the beginning of every slideshow -- unless they have recently changed it. When I contacted them to see if there was any way around this they said, "No." and, more or less, insinuated, "If you don't like it, that's too bad."

I've created slideshows for funerals, for church programs, etc. and didn't like "advertising" on the screen when the slideshow starts -- I consider it inappropriate in some settings, so I quit using ProShow Gold. I like Pictures to Exe and have used it quite a bit although it went through a spell a while back where I thought WNSOFT had shut down.

Sing141

[Style]

I use Pro Show producer and you can turn off the "pro show" intro at the start of the show. You can even add your own logo or information before the show plays.

[EvansCassone]

I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0, so far it works great.

[Sing141]

Originally Posted by Style

I use Pro Show producer and you can turn off the "pro show" intro at the start of the show. You can even add your own logo or information before the show plays.

I haven't tried Pro Show Producer. ProShow Gold makes great slideshows -- I just don't want their intro. I create logo/information slides with Photoshop when I need them for Pictures to Exe.
Sing141

[Mark McCall]

Originally Posted by Sing141

I purchased ProShow Gold two or three years ago. It works, but it is designed so that their Logo, masthead, whatever you want to call it, is at the beginning of every slideshow--

To disable their plash video clip at the beginning of your show in ProShow Gold, click Create>Executable>Shows>Unselect "Include Intro Show".

That will disable their show.
You can even insert your own splash screen.

The steps are different in Producer, but you can do it in either program. Producer runs way faster than ProShow Gold, renders shows far quicker.

I wrote the PicturesToExe Quick Start Guide several years ago, still use it for some things as it has a unique menu building feature, but it's antiquated compared to ProShow Gold/Producer.
If creating EXE's, images must be resized first if burning the resulting show to CD...an unnessary step with ProShow Gold.

For the record, I use them both.

[Sing141]

Thanks Mark! I still have ProShow Gold and will try it again. I had contacted their support a long time ago, ask about how to disable their intro and was told there wasn't any way to do it. -- guess I should have asked someone in Photo Camel.

Sing141

[Mr Mikey]

Photodex Proshow Gold, i tried a few other demos but liked Proshow gold. i recently used it to make a slide presentation for a wedding, photos from both sides of the family, from diapers to "I DO", music sequenced to the photos. Both families loved it, just wish i had a dvd duplicator, burning 30 copies at home took a while.
Good Luck

[Lin Evans]

Perhaps a bit late to the party, but you must not have been around PicturesToExe for quite a spell. PicturesToExe can do many things not possible with either Producer or Gold (I too use them all and co-authored the PTE User Guide).

PTE has unlimited layers, complete control of opacity at every layer simultaneously, unlimited objects (hardware limitations only), the smoothest pan, zoom, rotate possible, custom non-linear motion and other extremely powerful features.

The features it has which neither Gold or Producer have which allows animations not possible with Gold or Producer are complete control of the center of rotation and parent/child relationships.

It also has a DVD burning engine which is up to 400% faster than "anything" else out there (uses hardware rendering) and has hardware rendering which provides the highest image quality available in presentation slideshow software.

The primary thing is doesn't do which Gold and Producer do is allow video-clip drop in. This is due to the extreme jump between image quality from video to high resolution hardware rendered (input equals output) images. Gold and producer have more features - they are more like a "jack of all trades" in that they try to be both a presentation slideshow program as well as image editor. PTE doesn't do that. Their assumption is that adjusting image quality is best done in specialized software such as Photoshop, PixBuilder, Elements, etc.

But if you want the finest quality in your output, nothing comes close to PTE in my experience. If you want to see a few examples visit my site at:

Lin Evans' Learn To Make Slideshows

Click on the demo's link and download zipped executable samples.

Best regards,

Lin

[joshranwest]

The ONLY problem I have ever had with these things, are people on older computers. My mother in law for instance, it never loaded on her computer which is only 4 years old! My only concern. Otherwise, great programs, and it is a great idea.

[Lin Evans]

That's absolutely true. It takes a reasonably modern computer with a decent video card to run animations smoothly. Fortunately, in some sense, with the slug of an operating system Vista is, it was necessary for manufacturers to provide sufficient resources to run "both" the resource pig of an operating system and applications so most modern computers being sold today have plenty of clout to run these slideshows.

On the other hand, once these shows are burned to DVD then they can be run on nearly any television. Of course the quality will not be what is possible with a decent high-resolution monitor and computer, but now that flat screen LCD and Plasma digital televisions are becoming de jure, things will become much better in the near future.

Soon 1080p will likely become the new standard for high definition television. 1080p is essentially two megapixel resolution so being able to see great detail will soon be possible at the very linear rate of change in technology.

The future is bright for presentation slideshow productions. Some of our early adopters in the Arts venues have already purchased 9 megapixel monitors and high resolution presentation slideshows shown on these are absolutely incredible. Of course with about a six thousand dollar price tag for the ultra resolution monitors and dearth of ultra high resolution video cards it will be a few years before prices drop so that the ordinary person can afford these.

The nice thing is that it just keeps getting better!

Best regards,

Lin