slideshow Software

Eppingkeeper · #1 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 08:15 AM

Hi Folks,

Not sure if this is in the right place but..

I would like to put together a slide show of some of the pictures I have taken over the year to give to family/friends at Christmas. My idea is that it has a music background ad the pictures fade in and out.

I have a Mac so could do it in Iphoto but think that people couldn't view the show if they don't have Iphoto too?

I also have CS3 and Powerpoint but think the same would be true?

Does anyone have any experience of this? A friend once gave me a disk with a show on which seemed to have a stand-alone program that allowed it to be viewed on my computer but I cannot remember it.....

Thanks foe any help,

Jon

Mike Jackson · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 08:40 AM

You can package powerpoint viewer with a presentation so it can be viewed on any PC. Not sure about macs though.

RobSutton · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 08:52 AM

I seem to recall that in iPhoto you have an option to export the slide show as a Quicktime Movie, there may also be other options but I'm at work so only have access to PC's, I can check for you when I get home (Macs at home

). Providing your friends/family have Quicktime they should be able to view the slide show as you intended.

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 08:38 PM

So many of these special formats only work if you have the correct programmes. I keep getting items sent to me in Powerpoint or a selection of other formats which which I can't view.

However, I have done exactly what you are wanting to achieve, although it may be a touch technical. At least it is for me!

What I did was to create a universal MPEG CD by using a video editing programme which allowed me to add still photos. It is relatively easy to add a choice of transitions between images and use backing music which can be carefully cut to fit exactly with selected photos.

I'm certainly no expert on this, but I think that a universal format like MPEG should work equally well in Mac or Microsoft and even be viewable through a TV.

It does take a bit of forethought to get perfect results but you can work in captions etc to make a professional looking CD.

There is a slight loss of image quality with MPEG but I found it was tolerable if you start with really sharp photos. Animated GIF may be another option.

mickmassie · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 09:11 AM

Picasa (free) has a 'Gift CD' command that is very simple to use, and can include a slideshow as an option. M.

Eppingkeeper · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 05:12 PM

Thanks for the answers so far, I will certainly look at Picasa tonight. The slideshow on Iphoto is quite limited (I hate to admit it!) but I did spend a few hours last night messing about with Imovie which is quite addictive, so long as I can work out the conversion to MPEG as suggested by Geoff F.

I will let you know how it goes.

Jon

RobSutton · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 06:06 PM

Don't know why I didn't think of this before but do you have iDVD? If you do, you should be able to make your own DVD which will work on any make of computer or even on a DVD player.