Photo Slideshow With Configurable Transistions and Audio?

[Zak00]

I want to create a photo slideshow where I have full control over what order the photos are shown, how long each photo is shown, what transition is used between each photo, and when audio begins and ends (along with fading and volume and stuff).

I've tried several of the photo slideshow programs out there and none of them give me the level of control I'm after (I have to use the same transition between every picture or every photo has to be onscreen for the same period of time, etc)... I'm sure my only choice for something like this is probably Premiere or Vegas or something, but wanted to ask here. I have Premiere 6.5 installed and am pretty familiar with using it, but when I tried to do a cross-fade between two photos - the output didn't have the transition... Anyone know what I might have done wrong?

I have Vegas 4.0 but have never used it - if anyone has a tutorial on using it to create a photo slideshow, that would be cool.

Are there any other programs I should look into using? Maybe I'm just too demanding. <grin>

Thanks!
-Zak

[Safesurfer]

You could try Slide Show Movie Maker, it does everything you want to do.

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=333#comments

[Zak00]

2 gig output limit? I ultimately want to go to MPEG-2 for DVD or SVCD - if I use Huffyuv, it doesn't take very long to reach 2 gig!

I'll check it out though since I haven't seen it before and post feedback here.

-Zak

[Boffo]

Take a look at Proshow gold

http://www.photodex.com/products/proshow/

This proggie will do everything you want and more. I have monkied with a ton of these slide show programs, and I stopped at this one!

Give it a try.

[Safesurfer]

2 gig output limit? I ultimately want to go to MPEG-2 for DVD or SVCD - if I use Huffyuv, it doesn't take very long to reach 2 gig!
-Zak

I've been able to use a VFW DV codec (such as the freeware Panasonic DV codec) as long as I set my project up as 720 X 480, 29.97fps (for NTSC) - this gives me better compression than using Huffy. For slideshows that comeout over 2GB with audio, I just do the images in SSMM, and then bring it in to my NLE video editor to add the audio. I find it easier to muck around with the audio in my NLE rather than in SSMM anyway.

HTH

[Zak00]

Wow, that's a brilliant idea. Do the video in my favorite slide-show software and then the audio in Preimiere... That's the one thing I've seen the least flexibility on in the slide-show programs. With Premiere, I can fade-in and out the audio and easily sync it up perfectly with the video transitions and stuff. Thanks!

-Zak

[TerryG]

I do the slideshow with MemoriesOnTV with the sound from the included video clips only. Then in put the video in Studio 8 (can auto generate background music) and add background music and adjust vol. etc. I output the sound file only and then Mux the video and sound together avoiding re-encoding the video.

However, the new Ulead VideoStudio 8 now has pan and zoom on stills and can also auto generate background music, so you could do the whole project in it and add nice text too.

[SoundFX]

I have used Vegas 4 to do great slide shows. Drop your stills on a video track, drag the right edge to change the duration. Then click the pan/crop fx button on the right to add some motion. You'd be suprised how much effect just adding a 10% zoom or small pan to a still can have. Then drop any transition you want between stills, however I think just a simple dissolve to be one of the most tasteful. Drop some music in on the next track and Viola! Change your mind? just rearrange things on the timeline until you are happy. I love this program...

[Kyle_Katarn]

You might be interested by a software of mine called PhotoToMovie : http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?p2m

[racer-x]

Let's see...............you say you have Vegas and Premire, yet you're looking for a slideshow program. You're either and idiot, or you just don't have a clue! Either of those apps are more than you need.

Do a search for my Guide to making High Quality Slideshows with Premiere 6.5. I'd give you a link, but I think you should find it on your own. Just look in the Guide section to the left.

[flyboy320]

Vegas Video is one of the best out there. As racer-x said, its more than you need. I have used Vegas for a while now, and once you get to know it, its very powerful. Stick with it, and it will be well worth it.

Here is a link to a Vegas Video forum which is very helpful.