DVD slideshow GUI - development thread.

[argusvidicon]

@ tin2tin, I used a different piece of video with the same rendered results. Watched the blipTV video on trimming and liked it but didn't try it. I considered converting my file to .avs, but got lost. I haven't any converter to create .avs. Several exist to convert from but not to .avs. I have been in video production since 1986, and it seems like I spend more time keeping up with changing technology than actual production. Looked at the "this avisynth plugin" but apparently don't know how to download and/or or install it. No big deal. I've used Premiere since 1993 and most things go well. The DSG software takes the videos I attempt to import, it just renders the front of the video with that weird paint effect. Eventually I would be interested in adding video to a slideshow project, but I think I'll take a break for now. I love the way the software is handling everything and everyone involved should be proud of what you have created. I think for now I'll play with still images and the backgrounds and install the external paint program I saw on the External Applications video. It all looks beautiful. This all started out as appreciation for your wonderful software and should stay that way. All the things I am forcing here can be done in Premiere if I really want to do them. Somehow I just like to test these software applications and contribute solutions to my silly dilemmas. My problems and mistakes will only eventually help newcomers.

[tin2tin]

.avs aka avisynth script is just a script - try to export a short slideshow as .avs and open it in notepad and see what it is DSG produces.

About avisynth - read here: http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page
And here: http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/First_script

In other words .avs is not a video codec or videoformat. It is a way to load and manipulate videos. So writing a simple wrapper to load a video with ex. directshowsource or the ffmpegsource plugin I linked to above will let you import most videoformats lossless and without conversion into DSG.

[argusvidicon]

Many thanks for detailed information and I'm sure this is a or the solution to importing some great video clips into the DSG. I only wish a knowledgeable person such as yourself could witness the comedy when I give it a shot. As I know not the first thing and never did when it comes to writing script or script code or writing a quick wrapper in notepad/avsp. I am even laughing right now at the fact that I will probably try this soon. I hope I don't start a fire or shock myself. I like this software so much that I am willing to learn what that all means and somehow do it. LoL!

[tin2tin]

You might laugh even harder when you realise how easy it is:
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/First_script

Let's start with the most basic of AviSynth scripts:

AviSource("c:\folder\myclip.avi")

Open up any text editor, type the above on the first line (using any AVI file on your machine as "myclip.avi"), and save it as "myclip.avs". You now have a script that can be opened by most AVI players in your machine: Windows Media Player 6.4 (aka "mplayer2") will play the script; so will VirtualDubMod or plain VirtualDub. So far as they care, your text document is an AVI file.

There are several different source types, and each means something unique. For instance, you cannot open an MPEG file with AviSource because it's not an AVI file. For MPEG files you could use DirectShowSource, so you would write:

DirectShowSource("c:\folder\myclip.mpg", fps=25)

And when you got your feets wet here's more on importing other formats:
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Importing_media

[argusvidicon]

@ tin2tin
Video solved. I haven't gotten into the script lesson yet and may do it next weekend. However, I took a chance on importing AVI video from a different approach. I decided to torture the software and tried importing a video file that I would have prepared for Premiere. It is considered an AVI so I took the chance just to see what would happen. The DSG took it with flying colors and the rendered project was perfect. The preset I use in Super to create Premiere friendly DVAVI files blows up a 3Mb file to 36Mb, so I set up a conversion to an AVI H264 ACV file and the file size was close to the original. I think I see a tiny bit better quality final output from the DSG project where the DVAVI file was opposed to the AVI H264 ACV file. But not enough difference to justify the file size difference for working project files. In summary it was my Xvid and DiviX files all along that were causing the problem. I have attached a zip file here to show the Super setup configuration for each mentioned and the GSpot analyzation of each Super created file. Thank you for all your knowledge and kindness.

[tin2tin]

DVD slideshow GUI is a gui - take a look here to read up on what a gui is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface

In other words what DSG does is to generate avisynth scripts which can be viewed in Media Player Classic, rendered in ex. HCenc og FFmpeg, authored to dvd structure with Muxman etc.

Avisynth scripts can be imported as well as exported from DSG.

An exported .avs script can be processed/rendered in ex Super. The Avisynth script is just text wrapper and when the render process the script it deals with the original sourcefiles and the avisynth script process is lossless.

[tin2tin]

Container - a photo montage(done in DVD slideshow GUI):


Any of you people want to show what you're using DVD slideshow GUI for?

[tin2tin]

New diasshow or slideshow projection transitions and posteffects:

[tin2tin]

Photo collage background:

[KAD7770]

I don't understand that you get the same error when the subtitle checkbox is unchecked?

You state that:

and then "vsfilter" window pops up saying "syntax error at line 301"
convertion is still in process after this window has popped up
also the info line says TextSub Cant't open C:\...

Because when the subtitle checkbox is unchecked, then there is no function(vsfilter) added to the script to load subtitles(textsub)...?

A couple of other idears for you:
Grab and install the latest avisynth and see if that changes anything.
Render your slideshow in parts(of ex. 100 slides) and use MediaJoin(free) to join the resulting mpg's.
Alternatively you can try to export to .avs and render that file in ex. Super to mpg.
.... and use Gui for dvdauthor, DVDauthor GUI or DVD styler to author a dvd with the slideshow.

HI I'm back, had to take a little break...
Yesterday I downloaded the latest version 9.3.9 and exported my almost 900 slides plus music. I can play it in my dvd player as well. But unfortunalely the subtitles still don' t work. As soon as I try to export WITH subtitles I get "error in line 293" (not 301 any more) and the vs filter error and the textSub error
TextSub: can't open "C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\K.Helli.001\.DVDslideshow\ GUIsDVDGUItemp.ssa"
C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\K.Helli.001\.DVDslideshowGUI\DVDsGui temp.avs,line24154)
I downloaded a vsfilter.dll but it didn't help, but I didn't know where to install or put it actually...

[tin2tin]

900 slides - that must be a record! I run out of RAM with around 400 slides with 3 GB of RAM.

When you get that error, keep the message on the screen and open the GUIsDVDGUItemp.ssa in notepad. If you close the error that file will be deleted. Save the file under a different name and upload it somewhere or paste it into a pm to me. And then do the same with the DVDsGui temp.avs file. Then I'll take a look.

It maybe a bad character is used or something like that. Altertively it's because the ssa file isn't finished saving to hdd before the avs tries to open it. The tricky part is that the ssa is actually saved to hdd in the first part of the very same avs script. Because of the size of you slideshow the saving part could have become too slow.

[argusvidicon]

@tin2tin, Absolutely loving the software. I spend most of my free time learning more about it. It seems though it'll be a never-ending hobby. Especially trying to catch up with all that I see being done. The Piant.NET has given me second thoughts about Photoshop (CS4) . Adobe should be ashamed that we almost don't need it anymore. I'm loving the DVD slideshow GUI so much that I've installed it on my other machine (XP Pro). So here's a fancy question for anyone. I had a dream that if I copied the folder with all the material and project files to the "Desktop" also of the new install I might be able to use the second machine to render a project built on the orginal machine (Windows 7). I figured this would create the NOT finding of material files. Of course. Can anyone help explain a trick or go-around for this. I often do this with several programs, because I like doing it. I know this is odd, but it is a convenience.
On another note, I was thrilled to discover I was messing up by using some jpeg files that were smaller than the full screen, taking advantage of the great motion backgrounds, and the jpeg files had the white corners around the edge of the actual image. The fantastic discovery was to magic wand the white edges in Paint.NET and delete then. Save as PNG and import into DVD slideshow GUI. I am very happy. Pardon me as I have always used Photoshop and Premiere and white alpha matte for this type of thing, so it took me some time to learn this. Thank you so much for the software.

[tin2tin]

Thank you for the kind words.

If you move .dsg files from one computer to another, you'll have to open it in Notepad and find & replace all the paths of all the files used manually. However it would properly be faster just to remake the slideshow on the other computer.

You can actually use photoshop instead of Paint.net if you want to - all you have to do is change the Paint.Net path in 'External Applications' to where the Photoshop .exe is located. You can actually use most photo manipulation programs this way.

[argusvidicon]

I attempted to learn how to "open it in Notepad and find & replace all the paths of all the files used manually" since this would be best for me. I looked at this method and it is perfect, you are the best. All your help is a blessing. Try getting this attention from the folks on the hill, like Adobe. This is the reason I make a hobby out of software like DVD slideshow GUI. I assumed that the path for external applications could be set to Photoshop. I've already considered setting the path to Office 2010 where as Open Office is used as an external application. But this I will not do in either instance, because the beauty of you and DVD slideshow GUI is that it is full of hope. Everything is based on things that are available to anyone without cost. For this you are far above in due respect than any software company on Earth.
I learn these types of software not for myself, but for others who might enjoy it. Normal people that haven't spent over $3000 for software like Adobe Master Collection CS4, CorelDraw X5, and Roxio, such as I have done. Of course I can and have done hundreds of such projects over the past 20 years, but none has been as exciting as what you have here. It all seems so pure in the heart. I only hope that someday I can be of such help to others as you have been and done here and with DVD slideshow GUI.

[tin2tin]

Great! One little thing - Office 2010 will not work with DSG. Open Office is only used for converting PowerPoint files to images(with an Open Office speciffic plugin I coded) which then are imported in DSG.

I noticed your cool slideshow on YouTube.

If you want a better quallity of the animated slides 'Project Settings' -> 'Animation Quality' -> 'Export' if you higher this value you'll get better quality, but much longer render times.

If you want the animations to start at the first frame of a transition then try to use negative transition durations.

[I will be starting in a new job on wednesday, and my years as a freelance filmmaker(with writers block) are over. This will limit my time with DSG]

[tin2tin]

New DVD slideshow GUI 0.9.4.0 out now.
New:
- Dias/Slide projection transitions and post effects.
- Photo Collage background.
- Japanese translation.
Bugfix:
- Avs slides exported in wrong ratio.
- Open: check for audiofile.
- 300+ slides warning.

The dias transition with Dias_ pre and Dias_Post - posteffects:


Dias transitions with 'Collage' background:


[I will be starting in a new job on wednesday, and my years as a freelance filmmaker(with writers block) are over. This will limit my time with DSG.]

[nlsnrn]

Hi,

I don't know if this belongs here but, I am not sure where else to ask...
I have just recently discovered this program to replace using Windows Movie Maker and so far I love it. Although, I do have an issue with it and I was hoping someone here could help me get some answers. When I create a slide show and go to preview it the output comes out TERRIBLE...

This is what it looks like before I preview the slide show..



.
[Attachment 4451 - Click to enlarge]


This is what it looks like during the preview..




My image is there but, for some reason the Print Screen doesn't pick it up. The preview shows the image as a double and the colors are not correct and it is very pixalated (Spelled wrong..I Know)

If someone has the time I would greatly appreciate the help because I would like to use this software for my wedding slide show.

Thank you,
Ryan

[tin2tin]

If you need video editing WMM is proberly a better solution that DSG. The video function in DSG is mainly for throwing photos together with a few videoclips done with a photo-camera.

Well, as you can imagine it is very hard to make anything out of 6 black screens... Media Player Classic can save screenshots. Or maybe you can describe it in words?

The preview shows the image as a double and the colors are not correct and it is very pixalated

Are the source images very small - the will be upscaled to fit the screen size of the slideshow?

My guess is that StarCraft II is interfering with DSG. So first of all try again without that running at the same time. Another thing is that you should try to export to ex. mpg or .avi. Preview is not always very accurate.

[Btw. could you clean out some of all those screenshots to order to keep the thread clean?]

[argusvidicon]

Good luck on the new job. I was a Video Editor / Director for 14 years liked it very much. I have since go to freelance and taken a blue collar job. I fee like I'm 19 again. I would have never had time for any of this when I was in Video Production. I'm not worried much about using the PowerPoint, but thank you for explaining that about Office 2010. The video on YouTube was before I realized I could magic wand the white edges on floating images .and save as PNG. I was a fool and saved as jpg. LoL the white just came back. I had not worked with PNG files, but will be aware of them from now on in many applications. Transparent potions in a PSD file would key out in Premiere as white alpha matte, so I just wasn't sure of what I was doing. In a day or so I'll have a re-edit of the video on that channel. I just replaced a house full of 70's guitar equipment and made the video to show a friend I played with when we were teenagers a hundred years ago . I will try to raise the animation quality on the keyframe movements. I did notice the edges a bit wiggly on the floating objects, maybe the higher value will clean this up. That would be just great. The option of negative transition durations is just fantastic. Soon I will take a break from my addiction to this incredible software.
Your time here will be missed. Best of luck, I know a load of stuff about Video production, contact me if I can help. Maybe I can answer a question for you, as oyum have really helped me greatly. http://www.argusvidicon.com/

[argusvidicon]

I raised up the animation quality to 75 and tweaked a few keyframes here and there. Look for the re-edit on that channel by evening EST USA. Can't wait to see if the value change cleans up the wiggles around the edges on floating objects. ...and Oh I forgot to mention that as the edit of the project file in Notepad was the perfect answer, but maybe in a possible version upgrade just the report of file not found could be changed to an option to browse for the missing file(s). The the transfer of a project and related files to a different machine would be even easier. Even though copy and paste only took little time doing it the Notepad method. I was very grateful for that tip and it did solve the whole situation. Hope that one helps others, as well as using PNG instead of jpg on objects on a transparent background. Also I hadn't mentioned that the software works nice on XP, but you all already knew that. I just had not installed it on anything except Win 7.
I don't worry about render time, since back when Premiere 4.2 (before real time anything) used to take up to 27 hours to render a busy :30 spot, and then if there was a mistake or change needed, then another 27 hours. Try all that on a 4Gb SCSI drive that used to cost 2k and an upgrade from 32Mb of RAM to 64Mb that cost around $700. Man that machine was really supped up, and It was nice to be on NT instead of 311.

[argusvidicon]

Here's an odd question about Project settings. looking at the bottom 4 choices on the screen size, I am not familiar with 23.976 as the frame rate. Is this just a typo or is there something someone can explain to me. I can believe the bottom 2 are 25 and that must be PAL, but guessing that the other two of the 4 in question reading 23.976 makes me wonder and here I am asking this question.

[tin2tin]

720p and 1080p are for BluRay Disks or HD on ex. YouTube(not for dvd production).
25 is PAL(Europe)
29.97 NTSC(US)
23.976 BluRay

Check out the BluRay specifications here:
https://www.videohelp.com/hd

The quality setting 75 might be overkill in you case - rotating images - I hope that you do not run out of RAM.

[nlsnrn]

I will try that and see what happens....

[argusvidicon]

The quality setting at 75 was overkill, and seems to make the background animations look better. The slides and objects in the video already looked just fine. I think the default was 25 and I will put it all back to that. Everything was already OK, I did not see the edges clean up any on the keyframe movement of objects from raising that setting, so I will just re-set everything back for now. Thanks.

[tin2tin]

Here's an example of animation quality 75(mainly for zooms into the image):


BTW. if you want to improve the edges of the png with alpha(I was wrong about the quality setting having an impact on this), you can use the magic wand to select the ex. guitar at then use the feather selection plugin in Paint.Net from BoltBait: http://www.boltbait.com/pdn/ this will give you graduating eges to total transparency. Think you just throw the plugins into the plugin folder in Paint.Net, restart it and find it among the effects.

[argusvidicon]

The zoom at 75 quality is a great option and I can use that. Something made me hope for that 75 quality to clean up artifacts around the edges of objects "floating" on those awesome motion backgrounds. Not to worry I don't really care that much. However I may like to try a method of rendering out a few of those backgrounds somewhere somehow to use in other applications. Then I could key in some objects over them. I don't exactly know what to try or where to start with that crazy idea, but any suggestion would be helpful. I will see if I can just open a few of them directly into a DGS project, and see if I can render them out from there. Hope I don't short something out. ..but that's the fun of it, or I could just watch reruns of the A-Team on a cable channel.

[tin2tin]

BTW. if you want to improve the edges of the png with alpha(I was wrong about the quality setting having an impact on this), you can use the magic wand to select the ex. guitar at then use the feather selection plugin in Paint.Net from BoltBait: http://www.boltbait.com/pdn/ this will give you graduating eges to total transparency. Think you just throw the plugins into the plugin folder in Paint.Net, restart it and find it among the effects.

I did throw that in after posting above.
Some of the backgrounds get their colors ans such from the center of the slide layer, so you will not be able to get anything in the background without something in the foreground. Others can be rendered clean by having a two slides - animate them both to have to keys outside the visible area - and export.

Good night from Europe...

[tin2tin]

BTW. if you want to improve the edges of the png with alpha(I was wrong about the quality setting having an impact on this), you can use the magic wand to select the ex. guitar at then use the feather selection plugin in Paint.Net from BoltBait: http://www.boltbait.com/pdn/ this will give you graduating eges to total transparency. Think you just throw the plugins into the plugin folder in Paint.Net, restart it and find it among the effects.

Come to think of it - this will only have an effect if you're not using the animated backgrounds - because the transparent area is a black key out, and graduation edges will not be keyed out and leave uneven edges. But if you use an image as background with will get nice soft edges with the feather plugin.

[chowmein]

Here's one!

[tin2tin]

Cool, you even made you own transition!