Proshow Producer Alternative

[garherd]

I like many of the features of Proshow Producer with one glaring exception. There has always been a noticeable loss in image/video quality when the rendering engine has completed. Over the years this problem has never been fixed completely. I have tried other programs (free and paid) that produced far greater results where quality is concerned. However, it's been difficult to find one that is feature rich like Producer.

I'm looking for something that has hundreds of transition effects as well as highly customizable text effects. I'm working on special projects that have a large volume of images and I don't want any of the transition effects to repeat themselves constantly. If anyone can offer some suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

[poisondeathray]

I like many of the features of Proshow Producer with one glaring exception. There has always been a noticeable loss in image/video quality when the rendering engine has completed.

Do you mean compared to the preview in the program? or compared to the original photos ?

In many respects, the quality loss is "normal"

If you're making a blu-ray or dvd the resolution is going to be a lot lower than , say 24 megapixel dslr pictures

NTSC DVD 720x480
BD 1920x1080
Even an el cheapo 6 megapixel point and shoot will produce photos about 3000x2000

Moreover, even at the same resolution, DVD and blu-ray using chroma subsampling (4:2:0), instead of full color RGB






If you want to test the encoding engine itself , you can export a lossless AVI (e.g lagarith), and encode with another encoder.

If you really meant the rendering engine (how effects are produced with the assets) , then the preview within the program should already be deteriorted

[garherd]

Do you mean compared to the preview in the program? or compared to the original photos ?

In many respects, the quality loss is "normal"

Both. I understand what you're saying but I'm talking about a significant quality loss with any image. (even marginal quality stuff online). The one constant is that I can use virtually any other program and the quality is always better.

[poisondeathray]

When I used proshow years ago, I discovered their encoders are subpar (both MPEG2 for DVD and blu-ray). This was confirmed by many people on their forums. Encoding with 3rd party encoder ALWAYS gave better quality results (lossless AVI method mentioned above). I ditched the program, so I don't know of the current status

If previewing the lossless export is still worse than that of the same thing done in another program, then that suggests problems with the actual rendering engine , not encoder . That's a huge problem and makes it basically unusable since quality is your concern.

If the rendering engine is fine, then the lossless export method will give you comparable results to other programs and access to all preset transitions and effects

[garherd]

It's the rendering engine. I've tried several outstanding encoders and the result was always the same unfortunately. Do you know of any other program(s) that offers the features that I'm looking for?

[poisondeathray]

It's the rendering engine. I've tried several outstanding encoders and the result was always the same unfortunately. Do you know of any other program(s) that offers the features that I'm looking for?

That's a shame

Most likely you're looking for lots for pre-canned transitions and effects for ease of use; and I doubt you're going to find it. Proshow is going to beat the competition by a landslide. Effects type programs can give you infintely more (eg adobe after effects), but require more manual user input

If you list the other programs you have already tried (and rejected), maybe some others will have alternative suggestions

[garherd]

Basically I've tried everything from Ulead,Wondershare,Magix,MemoriesOnTv, and countless other slideshow only type programs. I'm aware that there are some Dvd/ BluRay authoring programs that offer slideshows as well, but I haven't tried any of those yet. Thanks for your help Poisondeathray.

[poisondeathray]

I'm aware that there are some Dvd/ BluRay authoring programs that offer slideshows as well, but I haven't tried any of those yet.

Yes, but they won't have even a fraction of the transitions/effects that proshow has. They might have couple dozen or so at most

[garherd]

In that case, I will try my luck on Adobe After Effects unless I find something else that doesn't require so much time, if at all possible.

[poisondeathray]

In that case, I will try my luck on Adobe After Effects unless I find something else that doesn't require so much time, if at all possible.

It will definitely exceed your "highly customizable text effects" criterion , and comes with many text presets, but the learning curve is steep. It's not as easy to use as proshow, and will require much more time investment - It's not really a slide show program . But if you put in the investment, your productions will definitely look better than any slideshow program can possibly make

Maybe you could do something like combine the output and ease of use of some of the other programs, and put it all together in a NLE or AE

Have you investigated the deficiencies in Proshow ? Any comments on their forums ? Maybe some special settings or workarounds?

Exactly what you are you exporting? Is this for DVD, or blu-ray , or file based slideshow or exe ?

[garherd]

Exactly what you are you exporting? Is this for DVD, or blu-ray , or file based slideshow or exe ?

It's a file based video. Basically It's the chronology of someone's very beginnings from childhood to the present. (and everything in between). There are special images that have to have special quotes and transition effects specifically with them only. There are some other things that I just want to explore as well. I want it to look as "Hollywood" as possible. The first project will have at least 300 images.

P.S. I did find a program called Blender. I saw it listed as an After Effects alternative. Do you know anything about it's features?

[poisondeathray]

Exactly what you are you exporting? Is this for DVD, or blu-ray , or file based slideshow or exe ?

It's a file based video. Basically It's the chronology of someone's very beginnings from childhood to the present. (and everything in between). There are special images that have to have special quotes and transition effects specifically with them only. There are some other things that I just want to explore as well. I want it to look as "Hollywood" as possible. The first project will have at least 300 images.

File based - what is the resolution ? Is it meant for PC playback then? Is it being projected ?

As "Hollywood" as possible - can you clarify what you mean?

One of the reasons I stopped using proshow and similar programs, is that they produce too "generic" results. If you want "WOW" results, then the only way is to do your own custom things. AE is one of the right tools but it's not as easy as point and click like proshow. It's going to take much longer

P.S. I did find a program called Blender. I saw it listed as an After Effects alternative. Do you know anything about it's features?

Yes, but it's more 3d oriented and more of a modelling tool. It does have a video sequence editor (like a NLE) , but AE is probably more what you're looking for for a "slideshow type" scenario . Still, that doesn't stop you from incorporating 3D elements into your work - but that becomes very advanced , lots and lots of time investment (even learning the basics of the tools)

[garherd]

1920 x 1080 and 1080 x 720 mkv, mp4, or m2ts,etc, are the resolutions. By "Hollywood" I mean that I want to do such a professional job that you'd think you were watching a program on broadcast tv instead of your flash drive.

[garherd]

Yes, but it's more 3d oriented and more of a modelling tool. It does have a video sequence editor (like a NLE) , but AE is probably more what you're looking for for a "slideshow type" scenario . Still, that doesn't stop you from incorporating 3D elements into your work - but that becomes very advanced , lots and lots of time investment (even learning the basics of the tools)

Well, It looks like I'll stick with AE

[poisondeathray]

By "Hollywood" I mean that I want to do such a professional job that you'd think you were watching a program on broadcast tv instead of your flash drive.

I see. IMO, It' s more about telling the story , than the effects, transitions, etc... It's VERY easy to go overboard and make it about effects rather than the story of that person growing up . The effects are supposed to enhance the story telling, not the other way around . There are many different ways or styles to convey that story. Careful planning is probably the most important step by far . Personally, I don't think programs like proshow are up to the task - they are more suitable for quick & dirty presentations

[garherd]

Exactly. I'm not looking for any artificial artifacts for the effects and transisitions, because the text is the most important thing with this project. I just don't want any transitions and effects,etc. repeated

[poisondeathray]

Exactly. I'm not looking for any artificial artifacts for the effects and transisitions, because the text is the most important thing with this project. I just don't want any transitions and effects,etc. repeated

In terms of text , AE won't disappoint for text animation and full control . It is *THE* industry standard (motion graphics, broadcast, Hollywood) for 2D text (can also do real raytraced 3D text in the newest AE versions) .

It's also a much more versatile program, and not as limited as proshow type programs - for example, you can animate in your assets in z-space, even if you only have photos as the assets, you can give depth in 3d space. Many photo based "stories" done in AE use a camera that moves in z-space, use cutout elements in the photos

[garherd]

I'll start learning with the basic to intermediate tutorials before I download the trial. Even though I'll probably wind up buying it anyway.

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