PPT storyboarding with Photo Story 3
Mitch Gallant
Photo Story 3.
Here is the procedure I used, and the results for this system:
XP Pro sp2 fully patched. Dell Latitude C 800 850 MHz 512 Meg RAM 12
Gb available HD space
(1) open PPT presentation, saved all images as jpg. I didn't bother removing
the animations or embeded icons for sound etc. This worked nicely. For 22
slides, takes about 4 minutes.
(2) Open Photo Story 3 (dnld'd from MS) and import images, add sound clips
to slides, adjust time delay on each slide (default is only 5 seconds) to
allow sound to play. Adjust so there is no motion (zooming etc..) during
slides and do color balance.
NOTE: I found that for such a long presentation, with my hardware,
previewing near final stage hangs/crashed Photo Story. So, SAVE the Procject
frequently, definitely before you preview it :-). I find that if I close
PhotoStory and preview separately in WMP 10, it plays fairly smoothly.
(3) Since I am targetting DVD, saved the video file as "Profile for
creating DVDs" NTSC 640x480 which is WMV Q=98 4:3 aspect ration and 30
ffs. Saving takes about 3 minutes for my config.
(4) Opened Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3SE and tried to import that WMV file
(which is a video file type supported by MovieFactory). Failed! Unsupported
format.
Used WinAVI to convert from WMV to DVD format (.vob). Conversion is
fairly fast with WinAVI. Tried importing this vob into MovieFactory. FAILED
.. audio type (Dolby.. ) not supported in MovieFactory. So looked carefully
at WinAVI converter config. The DEFAULT for conversion is audio AC3 (Dolby
digital) so disabled that and selected MPG2 audio. Converted again. SUCCESS.
Ulead MovieFactory accepts that format. COnverts quickly (as close to target
burning DVD format obviously). Created simply DVD setup (chapters etc..).
Content length about 12 minutes. Ulead process and burns DVD (on external LG
MultiSession DVD burner) in about 7 minutes. (Note ... must select 4:3
aspect ratio explictly in ULead MovieFactory!!)
(5) Opened DVD on home DVD player. Results: Images are somewhat blurry.
Text, which was good font size in original PPT are reasonably legible.
Sound voice-overs on tracks are perfect. Transitions that were in storyboard
are very poor in created DVD. Biggest annoyance was chopping around the
edges. (Note recommendations in storyboarding articles about allowing
sufficient border around images slides! )
So this first time experience in Storyboarding PPT images is reasonably
good. It is reasonably labour intensive.
Any comments on this: ?
How would I use Photo Story 3 to ensure that the images quality in final DVD
are better? I noticed that MS Movie Maker, if targetting DVD saves as
uncompressed (large file) AVI. I assume that would help in the final DVD
conversion? I'd like to get to the stage where my images are only limited by
the TV display capabilities and not any intermediate conpression conversion
process in intermediate stages from PPT exported images to DVD gen.
- Mitch Gallant
www.jensign.com
Mitch Gallant
http://www.jensign.com/photostory.jpg
Nice iconic reminders of slide time, and if images have been modified and
if/where sounds are included etc..
- Mitch
Mitch Gallant
is:
http://www.papajohn.org/
- Mitch
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:%23QHw$FecGH...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
Michael Koerner
Thanks for posting this Definitely going to keep the parts that work <g>
I was on that Radar Chain form 1956-1994 Per Ardu Ad Astra
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Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:ehvZRDe...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Echo S
> To add some references, a very useful site on Movie Makes and Photo Story
> is:
> http://www.papajohn.org/
Yeah, PapaJohn's a good guy. I don't think there's a PhotoStory group, but
you might want to try
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.moviemaker and
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.video -- I know he
posts quite frequently in those groups.
As far as I'm concerned, you can crosspost to this group and those if you
want, as I suspect many reading here would be interested in the answers to
your Movie Maker and Photo Story questions also. They're a bit off-topic,
but I think they're still very relevant.
--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com
Steve Rindsberg
> As far as I'm concerned, you can crosspost to this group
Amen to that. This is good stuff, Mitch, and there should be plenty of people
here interested in reading it. Now. Later.
Thanks for the post and keep 'em coming.
-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Mitch Gallant
news:%23QyQ6Gf...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> "Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
> news:eTWFFKec...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> To add some references, a very useful site on Movie Makes and Photo Story
>> is:
>> http://www.papajohn.org/
>
> Yeah, PapaJohn's a good guy. I don't think there's a PhotoStory group, but
> you might want to try
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.moviemaker and
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.video -- I know he
> posts quite frequently in those groups.
>
> As far as I'm concerned, you can crosspost to this group and those if you
> want, as I suspect many reading here would be interested in the answers to
> your Movie Maker and Photo Story questions also. They're a bit off-topic,
> but I think they're still very relevant.
>
Thanks for that infor. I fwd'd the link of this discussion to PapaJohn.
I noticed in my DVD authoring software (Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3SE) that
there is capability to storyboard directly within that app (didn't notice
that until I had already storyboarded using Photo Story :-)
I didn't see any "preview what this will roughly look likeon your TV" in
MovieFactory before committing to burn to DVD. That might have showed the
edge problems.
I also have CyberLink PowerProducer DVD Gold authoring tool, but for some
reason it will not open .. as I posted here:
http://www.cyberlink.com/english/cs/support/qa.jsp?m=edabcf5de2d21697d934ab238e6d9f8f&ID=CS000334921
I have expended about as much time as I can on solving that problem.
For anyone who can REALLY provide the silver bullet to help solve my
PowerProducer Gold hang for me, there is a gratis complete JavaScience web
site content CD ready to be shipped as a reward :)
I think sometimes when people user PowerPoint for too long, it tends to
blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
approach. But as I said, I am working with power-PowerPoint lovers so I must
conform :-)
- Mitch
Echo S
> I didn't see any "preview what this will roughly look likeon your TV" in
> MovieFactory before committing to burn to DVD. That might have showed the
> edge problems.
When you create stuff for TV display, you want to put nonimportant parts of
the pictures in the margins because, while that area may show on some TVs,
it may not show on others. And, as far as I know, there's really no way to
tell ahead of time. So some products (Adobe products being some of them)
have what's called a "safe area" indicator you can turn on. One's for
titles, one's for margins. Anything inside the margin area will show on most
(all?) TVs, and anything inside the "title safe area" is where you want any
text to be if you want to be sure it will show on most (all?) TVs.
I don't know the ULead products, but you might look for something like a
"safe area" option in them.
> I think sometimes when people user PowerPoint for too long, it tends to
> blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
> approach.
Totally agree. (I might say "source screen authoring," though.)
Steve Rindsberg
> I think sometimes when people user PowerPoint for too long, it tends to
> blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
> approach.
Hey buddy, you come into The Hammer Store, you get Hammer Advice. You wanna know
about screwdrivers, ya go to Screwdrivers 'R Us.
What can I say? Guilty as charged.
Steve Rindsberg
> When you create stuff for TV display, you want to put nonimportant parts of
> the pictures in the margins because, while that area may show on some TVs,
> it may not show on others. And, as far as I know, there's really no way to
> tell ahead of time. So some products (Adobe products being some of them)
> have what's called a "safe area" indicator you can turn on. One's for
> titles, one's for margins. Anything inside the margin area will show on most
> (all?) TVs, and anything inside the "title safe area" is where you want any
> text to be if you want to be sure it will show on most (all?) TVs.
I used to have all that info for 35mm slides, but if somebody can supply the
safe title and safe margin areas for 4:3 pages, I can prolly whip up a little
macro that toggles safe area indicators on/off.
Mitch Gallant
news:VA.000025a...@localhost.com...
>
>> I think sometimes when people user PowerPoint for too long, it tends to
>> blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
>> approach.
>
> Hey buddy, you come into The Hammer Store, you get Hammer Advice. You
> wanna know
> about screwdrivers, ya go to Screwdrivers 'R Us.
>
> What can I say? Guilty as charged.
lol .. well no nastiness intended .. really!
But there is something about a screwdriver that is just so compelling!
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
> >> blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
> >> approach.
> >
> > Hey buddy, you come into The Hammer Store, you get Hammer Advice. You
> > wanna know
> > about screwdrivers, ya go to Screwdrivers 'R Us.
> >
> > What can I say? Guilty as charged.
>
> lol .. well no nastiness intended .. really!
None implied, none inferred. All in fun. Really!
> But there is something about a screwdriver that is just so compelling!
The orange juice ... the ice cubes ... the little plastic sword with the orange
slice and vat-grown cherrie ...
Yeahhhh.
Mitch Gallant
>> >> to
>> >> blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
>> >> approach.
>> >
>> > Hey buddy, you come into The Hammer Store, you get Hammer Advice. You
>> > wanna know
>> > about screwdrivers, ya go to Screwdrivers 'R Us.
>> >
>> > What can I say? Guilty as charged.
>>
>> lol .. well no nastiness intended .. really!
>
> None implied, none inferred. All in fun. Really!
>
>> But there is something about a screwdriver that is just so compelling!
>
> The orange juice ... the ice cubes ... the little plastic sword with the
> orange
> slice and vat-grown cherrie ...
>
> Yeahhhh.
Well I prefer a nice cold crisp Keith's .... salt of the earth ...
here's tipping my glass .. or rather a shaker to this group:
http://www.jensign.com/keithsbal75.jpg
- Mitch
Mitch Gallant
aspect), and the quality of the generated images is quite impressive. Is
that exported jpg resolution configurable?
(My current LCD monitor size is 17" with the display resolution set at
1280x1024).
As I mentioned in my OP on this thread, with MS PhotoStory I used the save
setting "Profile for creating DVDs" NTSC 640x480 which is WMV Q=98 4:3
aspect ration and 30 ffs. That suggested resolution seems somewhat low (DVD
is 720X480?).
Also, I noticed that my DVD authoring/burning app (ULead MovieFactory 3 SE)
has ability to directly create image slide-shows, so maybe PhotoStory isn't
necessary. I also have NeroVision Express 3SE and it also has slide-show
capability, but haven't tried it. I imagine these apps. are similar in their
results. Maybe importing PPT exported images directly into these tools makes
more sense than using MS as intermediate slideshow generator.
I didn't see any "safe area" setting, to assist with managing unwanted
display cropping in Ulead's product.
- Mitch Gallant
"Echo S" <msnews...@echosvoiceUGHSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:eCbVB1fc...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
Michael Koerner
There is a registry change here
Improve PowerPoint's GIF, BMP, PNG, JPG export resolution
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00052.htm
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Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
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Mitch Gallant
- Mitch
"Michael Koerner" <iam...@home.com> wrote in message
news:esBa98pc...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Mitch Gallant
faq article indicates that the "DPI number is approximately 80" but in fact
the default value is exactly 96, the same as for PPT 97. So on my system,
with a default slide width of 10" the exported image width is 960 pixels).
- Mitch
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:e1hZnXqc...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Michael Koerner
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<><><>Do Provide The Version Of PowerPoint You Are Using<><><>
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Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:e1hZnXqc...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Mitch Gallant
> "Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
> news:%23tBylrf...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>> I didn't see any "preview what this will roughly look likeon your TV" in
>> MovieFactory before committing to burn to DVD. That might have showed the
>> edge problems.
>
> When you create stuff for TV display, you want to put nonimportant parts
> of the pictures in the margins because, while that area may show on some
> TVs, it may not show on others. And, as far as I know, there's really no
> way to tell ahead of time. So some products (Adobe products being some of
> them) have what's called a "safe area" indicator you can turn on. One's
> for titles, one's for margins. Anything inside the margin area will show
> on most (all?) TVs, and anything inside the "title safe area" is where you
> want any text to be if you want to be sure it will show on most (all?)
> TVs.
>
> I don't know the ULead products, but you might look for something like a
> "safe area" option in them.
>
>> I think sometimes when people user PowerPoint for too long, it tends to
>> blind people as to the only way to go as the source slide authoring
>> approach.
>
> Totally agree. (I might say "source screen authoring," though.)
Perhaps a bit off topic now, but I'm impressed by the quality of responses
in this group. I'm thinking of buying Nero Ultra 7 which seems to have good
support for audio and video standards. Any comments on anyone who has bought
this product? or other competing products recommendations? I prefer
something that has as much control as possible instead of a product that is
targetting the drop-dead easy to use market.
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
> here's tipping my glass .. or rather a shaker to this group:
> http://www.jensign.com/keithsbal75.jpg
I'm willing to be persuaded. <g>
I filmed a movie way back when, a kind of combination of live action and
stop-motion animation. There was a fractious saltshaker involved; it got to
take a bow during the credits.
Steve Rindsberg
> There is an inaccurate comment in that article (I think). For PPT 2003, the
> faq article indicates that the "DPI number is approximately 80" but in fact
> the default value is exactly 96, the same as for PPT 97. So on my system,
> with a default slide width of 10" the exported image width is 960 pixels).
There's an Alice In Windowsland air to anything having to do with bitmap
import/export in PPT. It *changes* so. I'm guessing that it wandered back
from 80 to 96 as a result of one of the SPs.
Thanks for pointing that out ... I've updated the article accordingly.
Mitch Gallant
>> There is an inaccurate comment in that article (I think). For PPT 2003,
>> the
>> faq article indicates that the "DPI number is approximately 80" but in
>> fact
>> the default value is exactly 96, the same as for PPT 97. So on my system,
>> with a default slide width of 10" the exported image width is 960
>> pixels).
>
> There's an Alice In Windowsland air to anything having to do with bitmap
> import/export in PPT. It *changes* so. I'm guessing that it wandered
> back
> from 80 to 96 as a result of one of the SPs.
>
> Thanks for pointing that out ... I've updated the article accordingly.
I was actually going to suggest that perhaps it was something like that
(feature creep). I'm glad to see that there are others who are willing to
update their web site content on a dime like that. Kudos!
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
>
> > Thanks for pointing that out ... I've updated the article accordingly.
>
> I was actually going to suggest that perhaps it was something like that
> (feature creep). I'm glad to see that there are others who are willing to
> update their web site content on a dime like that. Kudos!
I'm far too lazy to do that regularly. Wrote a program to do the dirty work
for me. Computers and mindless tasks ... what a great combination!
Anyhow, the updated version now starts with a "Here's how to figure out what
YOUR version of PPT will do" and then backs it up with "and here's what we know
about most versions. YMMV."
Steve Rindsberg
> in this group. I'm thinking of buying Nero Ultra 7 which seems to have good
> support for audio and video standards. Any comments on anyone who has bought
> this product? or other competing products recommendations? I prefer
> something that has as much control as possible instead of a product that is
> targetting the drop-dead easy to use market.
I'm still using Nero 6 - it ships with a couple of proprietary codecs and wants
to set up file associations that I'd rather it didn't. It also makes it very
simple to override any of these defaults, so no complaints there. Just don't
install too far past your own personal primetime. <g>
Oh, and unless they've changed things with 7, getting the help files downloaded
will make you crazy. You have to be sure to choose the help file version that
matches your software versions. Exactly. Otherwise you get all sorts of weird
messages that suggest you've installed the wrong language version.
Or maybe I'm just exceptionally dim. I'll buy that.
Mitch Gallant
mean about that language pack version bs. No good excuse for that nonsense!
I was interested in Nero 7 .. because it has a lot of advanced audio
capability (like 5.1 audio recording capability etc.. ). Not sure if the
Nero 7 DVD authoring is usefully work buying it as a replacement for Nero 6.
I am a bit concerned that it might be somewhat bloated and my current
hardware is living precipitously on the performance edge!
I didn't actually have NeroVision express (but Nero and some of there
ultra-cool audio stuff), but was happily surprised to see that I COULD
download the Nero 6 update pack with NeroVision Express SE version, based on
the strength of my fcurrent Nero license. And, yes .. when I installed
NeroVision, I opted-OUT of Nero grabbing any file associations (I like my
Microsoft and Creative MediaSource associations thanks very much!) ..
- Mitch
"Steve Rindsberg" <ab...@localhost.com> wrote in message
news:VA.000025b...@localhost.com...
Mitch Gallant
for input to any DVD slideshow authoring tool.
I next will try importing these images directly into the DVD authoring tools
(Ulead MovieFactory or NeroVision Express 3SE). Not sure if it is worth
trying the Windows Movie Maker and create a large avi first with the images.
Any ideas or suggestions on 2nd try ??
Actually I looked at my first attempt below with 640X480 and it isn't too
shabby except for some small text problems, border clipping etc..
Question: Since I am burning a few expendable DVD -R for this, if I get a
bad DVD video burn, is there a way to easily add some BACKUP data to that
disk so if the video created is no good, at least I have some backup data
and the disk isn't a complete writeoff? The slideshows only use a small
part of the DVD.
- Mitch Gallant
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:OGwkmupc...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Steve Rindsberg
> Well I think the exported ppt images at 960x720 should be sufficient quality
> for input to any DVD slideshow authoring tool.
Just for grins, I'd also try PNGs or BMPs if the authoring tool will eat 'em.
These use lossless or no compression compared to JPG's lossy compression.
With text and other small, 'hard-eged' graphics, JPG can give you compression
artifacts ... stuff that looks like hairs or paramecia hovering around your
graphics.
-----------------------------------------
Mitch Gallant
standard TV:
(1) Using Ulead DVD MovieFactory, select "create a slide show" and SVCD
format
(2) Add the images (in this case 22 images exported as 960x720 from ppt
2003
(3) Unfortunately, Ulead slide-show designer does NOT let you adjust the
timing of each slide to accomodate synching with different added audio
files, so I didn't bother adding any sound files or track at all.
(4) burn the SVCD (fairly fast)
(5) view the SVCD on my Toshiba combo DVD/VCR and oldish TV
The visual quality and text is very sharp and readable and MUCH better than
the first approach where I create a video from Photo Story (as wmv).
Question: When you create a slide show in either a VCD, SVCD or DVD, what
format is that stored in?
Is it still MPEG2? what about bandwidth usage?
Since I am very happy with SVCD and the ppt converted presentations I am
targetting will mostly be less than 1/2 hour, that suites the bill and CDs
are cheaper than DVDs.
I just need to find a good DVD authoring tool, with slide-show design that
allows adjusting time of individual slides so can synch with audio clips.
Microsoft MovieMaker can export to huge high quality uncompressed avi .. and
it has nice control of individual picture interval ... audio clip, cropping
etc.. but is using that MovieMaker exported slide-show as avi and then
importing into say Ulead DVD slide-show the same as creating a slide show
from images directly in Ulead MovieFactory?
- Mitch Gallant
"Steve Rindsberg" <ab...@localhost.com> wrote in message
news:VA.000025c...@localhost.com...
Mitch Gallant
> Just for grins, I'd also try PNGs or BMPs if the authoring tool will eat
> 'em.
> These use lossless or no compression compared to JPG's lossy compression.
> With text and other small, 'hard-eged' graphics, JPG can give you
> compression
> artifacts ... stuff that looks like hairs or paramecia hovering around
> your
> graphics.
Don't you need a good microscope to see paramecia? However I could have
sworn I saw a Simocephalus :)
- Mitch
Mitch Gallant
Microsoft Movie Maker along with about 7 30 sec. mp3 audio clips. There were
22 slides exported from ppt.
Raw avi file generated was 1.5 Gb! (for a total slide show of 10 minutes).
Converted that to SVCD MPEG file format (using WinAVI) .. quite fast
. --> 72 Mbytes
Imported that generated SVCD file into Ulead MovieFactory authoring tool and
burnt as SVCD.
Quality is good .. but not as sharp as the 2nd approach below where I
created photo story directly from ppt exported images in Ulead movie factory
(all other SVCD settings were the same).
Obviously, this current technique is not really a photo-album cd .. controls
on the SVCD are different also.
So the clear winner, if you want to do a slide show in either SVCD or DVD is
to create it directly from the exported images as a real photo CD slide show
and not a converted video file from the original images. Much faster also.
By comparison, the first technique (at bottom) which used MS Photo Story and
converted to wmv was 14 Mbytes and quite blurry on DVD player/TV.
- Mitch
"Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:eeL23iyc...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Echo S
> Well I think the exported ppt images at 960x720 should be sufficient
> quality for input to any DVD slideshow authoring tool.
> I next will try importing these images directly into the DVD authoring
> tools (Ulead MovieFactory or NeroVision Express 3SE). Not sure if it is
> worth trying the Windows Movie Maker and create a large avi first with the
> images. Any ideas or suggestions on 2nd try ??
As Steve mentioned, PNG may be the way to go for text slides. I know I
rarely export as JPG because the text is usually incredibly jaggy. PNG does
a much better job. (Actually, WMF/EMF does the best with text, but I don't
know that you can import that format into most DVD authoring software. So my
next choice for text is PNG. I use both PNG and WMF/EMF, depending on what I
need the images for.)
At any rate, I would try to use as little software as possible -- if you can
go directly into your DVD authoring software and it does what you need, then
do that. It's like making a copy of a copy of a copy -- a copy of an
original will always be better quality.
Echo S
> Question: When you create a slide show in either a VCD, SVCD or DVD, what
> format is that stored in?
> Is it still MPEG2? what about bandwidth usage?
Should be MPEG2. What do you mean about bandwidth usage?
> I just need to find a good DVD authoring tool, with slide-show design that
> allows adjusting time of individual slides so can synch with audio clips.
Not sure what pricerange you're looking at, but Adobe Encore DVD should fit
the bill. It's about $350, I believe. Otherwise, see if you can find trial
versions of Movie Studio + DVD (Sony Media Software), MyDVD Studio (Roxio),
or Sonic DVDit (Sonic). Ulead has DVD Workshop (as opposed to DVD Workshop
Express), and I bet it will do what you need. Of course, it's also twice the
price ($400-ish).
> Microsoft MovieMaker can export to huge high quality uncompressed avi ..
> and it has nice control of individual picture interval ... audio clip,
> cropping etc.. but is using that MovieMaker exported slide-show as avi and
> then importing into say Ulead DVD slide-show the same as creating a slide
> show from images directly in Ulead MovieFactory?
Well, I guess it's pretty much the same, but it's the "copy of a copy" thing
again -- if you can go directly into the DVD software, it's going to be
better quality-wise.
Mitch Gallant
> "Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
> news:eeL23iyc...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>> Question: When you create a slide show in either a VCD, SVCD or DVD, what
>> format is that stored in?
>> Is it still MPEG2? what about bandwidth usage?
>
> Should be MPEG2. What do you mean about bandwidth usage?
Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking by that! (and VCD is MPEG1). Ignore
that one.
I think what I meant to saw was the difference in space requirements for a
slide-show versus a simple single video conversion. I know that the are all
basically all MPEG2 but they are organized differently in folders on the
SVCD/DVD. The VCD created from the exported avi file has a single MPEG in
the D:\segment burnt cd folder, but creating the slide show directly in DVD
authoring tool creates a bunch of MPEG files in the segment so navigation to
each slide is possible. I was referring to space difference due to "slides"
versus single video file generation.
>> I just need to find a good DVD authoring tool, with slide-show design
>> that allows adjusting time of individual slides so can synch with audio
>> clips.
>
> Not sure what pricerange you're looking at, but Adobe Encore DVD should
> fit the bill. It's about $350, I believe. Otherwise, see if you can find
> trial versions of Movie Studio + DVD (Sony Media Software), MyDVD Studio
> (Roxio), or Sonic DVDit (Sonic). Ulead has DVD Workshop (as opposed to DVD
> Workshop Express), and I bet it will do what you need. Of course, it's
> also twice the price ($400-ish).
I currently have only DVD MovieFactory 3 se and the slide-show creating mode
is too limited (e.g. can't assign individual image duration; but if the
sound clip with a slide is LONGER than the default image duration, that
slide duration is automatically extended; sound clips can't overlap more
than one slide etc). I like the interface and logical layout. I tried
NeroVision Express but I don't like the interface design. Will look for next
step in in Ulead product line with $150 max as my limit.
The other thing that is neat about Ulead Moviefactory SVCD burns is you can
option to save, along with the MPEG video, the original images of the slide
show as well and also a personal data folder. Very cool. So that answers my
question: If you create a VCD you can store other data on that disk easily
during a VCD burn (say like a bunch of MP3 / wma files) if you have a bad
video burn :-)
>> Microsoft MovieMaker can export to huge high quality uncompressed avi ..
>> and it has nice control of individual picture interval ... audio clip,
>> cropping etc.. but is using that MovieMaker exported slide-show as avi
>> and then importing into say Ulead DVD slide-show the same as creating a
>> slide show from images directly in Ulead MovieFactory?
>
> Well, I guess it's pretty much the same, but it's the "copy of a copy"
> thing again -- if you can go directly into the DVD software, it's going to
> be better quality-wise.
OK thanks. That copy of a copy makes sense. I would have thought that the
very high quality MovieFactory exported avi file would have very good image
quality.
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
Once you get past a certain age, you ned a microscope to see *hairs*.
Steve Rindsberg
BTW, did you also try Nero Vision Express? I've been poking at it a bit and
also the Windows Movie Maker. Interested to hear your take on how they compare
(and also the ULead product).
Steve Rindsberg
Hoping somebody has answers for the latest round of Qs, 'cause it's beyond my
ken at this point!
Echo S
>>> Question: When you create a slide show in either a VCD, SVCD or DVD,
>>> what format is that stored in?
>>> Is it still MPEG2? what about bandwidth usage?
>>
>> Should be MPEG2. What do you mean about bandwidth usage?
>
> Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking by that! (and VCD is MPEG1).
> Ignore that one.
My bad -- I did ignore that one (LOL!), because I was just answering for
DVD. Totally missed the VCD/SVCD!
Mitch Gallant
I don't have the DVD encoder so can't create SVCD. Timing can't be
separately adjusted.
- Mitch
"Steve Rindsberg" <ab...@localhost.com> wrote in message
news:VA.000025c...@localhost.com...
>
Mitch Gallant
..
Most DVD players not only support DVD, VCD, SVCD video disks, but also
support MP3 and JPEG data disks (CD-R, CD-R etc..) which are created simply
as data disks in yoru favorite disk burning software.
Of course this is very very cool:
Consider that you can simply create:
MP3 data disk with about 1500 typical length MP3 soundtracks!
JPEG data disk with about 13,000 images of typical good resolution.
and use your cheapo DVD player support for playing these jukeboxes-disks of
audio clips or huge slide shows.
So that begs the question about those JPEG image data disks. What is the
quality of these images compared to say a SVCD slide show where you convert
the JPEG images to MPEG2 for video disks?
Since the entire jpeg image is read by the DVD player, it does a hardware
video transform on the fly for display?
I gather that these JPEG data CDs/DVDs don't support any soundclip
synchronization capability (like DVD/SVCD slide show disks do).
- Mitch
"Steve Rindsberg" <ab...@localhost.com> wrote in message
news:VA.000025c...@localhost.com...
>
Mitch Gallant
news:VA.000025c...@localhost.com...
> In article <#Wzs5kyc...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>, Mitch Gallant wrote:
>> "Steve Rindsberg" <ab...@localhost.com> wrote in message
>> news:VA.000025c...@localhost.com...
>> > In article <eqEUKRwc...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>, Mitch Gallant
>> > wrote:
>>
>> > Just for grins, I'd also try PNGs or BMPs if the authoring tool will
>> > eat
>> > 'em.
>> > These use lossless or no compression compared to JPG's lossy
>> > compression.
>> > With text and other small, 'hard-eged' graphics, JPG can give you
>> > compression
>> > artifacts ... stuff that looks like hairs or paramecia hovering around
>> > your
>> > graphics.
>>
>> Don't you need a good microscope to see paramecia? However I could have
>> sworn I saw a Simocephalus :)
>
> Once you get past a certain age, you ned a microscope to see *hairs*.
>
Are you suggesting that aging has its benefits? like intrinsic visual
"smoothing" ?
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
> Yes .... but I don't like it .. it has poor flexibility (the SE version) and
> I don't have the DVD encoder so can't create SVCD. Timing can't be
> separately adjusted.
I seem to have the full version; I made a slide show CD/DVDthing earlier today
out of curiosity. In it, if you rightclick a picture or transition and choose
Properties, you can change the transition or picture display times. Pretty
clumsy, that one.
Steve Rindsberg
> > Once you get past a certain age, you ned a microscope to see *hairs*.
> >
>
> Are you suggesting that aging has its benefits? like intrinsic visual
> "smoothing" ?
You don't notice everyone around you getting gradually more attractive?
Or at least less wrinkly?
Steve Rindsberg
> Consider that you can simply create:
> MP3 data disk with about 1500 typical length MP3 soundtracks!
> JPEG data disk with about 13,000 images of typical good resolution.
>
> and use your cheapo DVD player support for playing these jukeboxes-disks of
> audio clips or huge slide shows.
>
> So that begs the question about those JPEG image data disks. What is the
> quality of these images compared to say a SVCD slide show where you convert
> the JPEG images to MPEG2 for video disks?
'Bout the same, at least the times I've tried it with yer basic family snaps
sort of images.
> Since the entire jpeg image is read by the DVD player, it does a hardware
> video transform on the fly for display?
Must be.
> I gather that these JPEG data CDs/DVDs don't support any soundclip
> synchronization capability (like DVD/SVCD slide show disks do).
Or effects, transitions, user-friendly interface. On mine, the interface is
downright opaque, in fact. I wouldn't dream of handing a cd full of JPGs to my
mom and expecting her to be able to play it, where with a VCD slideshow,
navigation is pretty much like a DVD, or can be.
Mitch Gallant
>
>> > Once you get past a certain age, you ned a microscope to see *hairs*.
>> >
>>
>> Are you suggesting that aging has its benefits? like intrinsic visual
>> "smoothing" ?
>
> You don't notice everyone around you getting gradually more attractive?
>
> Or at least less wrinkly?
>
Are you referring to my better half? omg .. i don't dare fwd this to her!
I'd be in the dog house majorly! lol
- Mitch
Mitch Gallant
> In article <OjHp2H4c...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, Mitch Gallant wrote:
>> Yes .... but I don't like it .. it has poor flexibility (the SE version)
>> and
>> I don't have the DVD encoder so can't create SVCD. Timing can't be
>> separately adjusted.
>
> I seem to have the full version; I made a slide show CD/DVDthing earlier
> today
> out of curiosity. In it, if you rightclick a picture or transition and
> choose
> Properties, you can change the transition or picture display times.
> Pretty
> clumsy, that one.
Agreed on that one. I actually do like the MS Photo Story interface. Too bad
the conversoin results are not worthy.
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
> > You don't notice everyone around you getting gradually more attractive?
> >
> > Or at least less wrinkly?
> >
>
> Are you referring to my better half? omg .. i don't dare fwd this to her!
> I'd be in the dog house majorly! lol
<g>
Mitch Gallant
news:VA.000025c...@localhost.com...
>> I gather that these JPEG data CDs/DVDs don't support any soundclip
>> synchronization capability (like DVD/SVCD slide show disks do).
>
> Or effects, transitions, user-friendly interface. On mine, the interface
> is
> downright opaque, in fact. I wouldn't dream of handing a cd full of JPGs
> to my
> mom and expecting her to be able to play it, where with a VCD slideshow,
> navigation is pretty much like a DVD, or can be.
>
Actually that comment about navigating VCD slideshows is interesting. I
created a SVCD slide-show directly in my Ulead Movie Factory 3 SE, one with
sound clips tacked to the images, and the second one just the jpgs.
When I play the SVCD with JUST the images on my DVD player, the >>| (next
button) on my DVD remote control advances to the next slide as expected. But
with the mixed SVCD that button doesn't advance the slide at all! hmmm
sounds like something strange in the menuing of the SVCD!
So even VCDs are not without their own onscreen navigation glitches :-)
- Mitch
Steve Rindsberg
>
> Actually that comment about navigating VCD slideshows is interesting. I
> created a SVCD slide-show directly in my Ulead Movie Factory 3 SE, one with
> sound clips tacked to the images, and the second one just the jpgs.
> When I play the SVCD with JUST the images on my DVD player, the >>| (next
> button) on my DVD remote control advances to the next slide as expected. But
> with the mixed SVCD that button doesn't advance the slide at all! hmmm
> sounds like something strange in the menuing of the SVCD!
> So even VCDs are not without their own onscreen navigation glitches :-)
Seems so. FWIW, mine's a sub $50 Polaroid DVD player. I didn't expect too
many luxe features. <g>
stancol
is 640X480. DVD's require 720X480.
"Echo S" wrote:
> "Mitch Gallant" <jens...@community.nospam> wrote in message
> news:eTWFFKec...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> > To add some references, a very useful site on Movie Makes and Photo Story
> > is:
> > http://www.papajohn.org/
>
> Yeah, PapaJohn's a good guy. I don't think there's a PhotoStory group, but
> you might want to try
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.moviemaker and
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.video -- I know he
> posts quite frequently in those groups.
>
> As far as I'm concerned, you can crosspost to this group and those if you
> want, as I suspect many reading here would be interested in the answers to
> your Movie Maker and Photo Story questions also. They're a bit off-topic,
> but I think they're still very relevant.