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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
digital slide shows
Robert Beck, Photographer
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Carlsbad | CA | USA | Posted: 11:48 PM on 01.27.07 |
->> I'm at it again and I am still having problems. I want to create a slide show where I can crop images any way I want and then drop them into the show where they will be sized by the program to fit the screen size. And I want to control the duration each image is shown and I want to put music to it. I want to be able to use verticals with no cropping of the image. I want to play the show on screens at full screen size and have the images look good...Not ratty and soft. I want to also show them on the web at, obviously, a smaller size so they can load in a decent amount of time. The iBook slide shows look good but you can't control the duration each image is on the screen. Photo to Movie is hard to figure out unless you are putting movement in each photo. That makes me seasick. If you have no movement, it crops the images. iView Media pro is okay but how can I get music in there?
Help. |
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Michael J. Treola, Photographer
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Neptune | NJ | USA | Posted: 12:10 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> Robert,
I think of your choices Iview is going to be your best option as you can control a good chunk of what you’re looking to do right within the software.
As far as your audio file you'll want that to be your file "slide" file. That will play along with the photos the moment you start the slide show. I use an MP3 and those always work for me.
After you start the slide show you can open the slide show control then the little tick mark the open the expanded view. Once you see the list of files you can change the slide duration in seconds, the transition, size (scale to fit is probably what you'll want) and finally how the image(s) tile on the screen using the rows to the right of the file names.
What's great about Iview is that it will show your image without degradation as other programs do so often. And when you are finished you can select all your images and from the "Make" menu and use the Save Slide Show as Movie option. Here you'll have a rather nice selection of output methods, sizes and options to choose from.
Though I have not used the Save Slide Show as Movie that often I personally would output at the very best it can and then use QuickTime pro to format for "the web" as QT will give you far more control/options then Iview will.
Tree |
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Chad Ryan, Photographer, Assistant
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Fort Wayne | IN | USA | Posted: 12:11 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> You might think about using Flash. It takes some time to learn, but with the right scripts written into the project file you can pretty much control everything. You can build projects in layers much the same as you would work a photo in Photohop, and you have total control over the timeline.
As far as a less involved program goes, I can't think of one that does everything you want to do. Soundslides has a lot of those features. You can adjust the length of each photo based upon the amount of audio you have embedded in the file. I'm not sure, though, about displaying the photos full screen.
I would be interested to hear from others about this subject as well. I've done some work with Flash, but it takes a good amount of time - especially if you don't use the program regularly. |
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Michael J. Treola, Photographer
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Neptune | NJ | USA | Posted: 12:29 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> Flash is WAY too technical a program for this. You can spend a week tweaking the same slide show that you can build in Iview in just a couple of hours.
SoundSlides also isn't an option in this case as you have their stupid interface overlay over the slide show. SSlides also completely destroys audio files you put into it. Now after each export I have to replace their train wreck mp3 files with my perfect audio files I had given it in the first place. Why they have to mess with my audio so much I'll never know.
For full screen slide shows with the ability to export to the web out of the box Iview is a solid program as I have been through all of them going WAY back to the days of Kai's Power Show some 15 years ago.
I think Flash and SSlides have their place in the market but this isn't one of them in my opinion. But hey! Whatever floats your boat right?
Tree |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 2:12 AM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> michael, kinda rude to say soundslides has a "stupid interface". just because you don't like it doesn't give you the right to call it stupid. and what are you talking about soundslides destroying audio files, are you sure you know what you're doing? maybe your problem with soundslides isn't the program but the connection between the keyboard and the chair. |
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Chris Halper, Photographer
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Toronto | On | Canada | Posted: 5:19 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> I approach slideshows from a video editing angle and use Adobe Premiere. You can output as a video file and go to web, DVD, tv or anything from that point.
It is nowhere near automated. You have to drop in every image separately, but the slideshows can really stand out if you approach it knowing what story you want to tell.
You get complete control over timing, pans, zooms or crops and you can also integrate effects from other programs like photo morphing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93yWr5ek8hI |
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Dirk Dewachter, Photographer
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Playa Del Rey | CA | USA | Posted: 5:45 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> I am with Chris Halper on this one but the learning curve for Premiere is pretty steep, although from what Robert is describing he just wants to show the images in the best quality without fancy fades and transitions or the "ken burns" effect and I think that Premiere Pro would be great for that. Not sure if Premiere Elements can do this.
I use Premiere Pro to create custom slide shows for my weddings that are designed for the customer's ipod. All I do to them is add a black screen at the beginning and end of the slide show for the intro text and credits. Each image can be individually manipulated in size (with some controls similar to photoshop). You can set each image with a default runtime or change the image viewing length depending on your timeline.
I run both PC and Mac but do this in Premiere on the PC side, I just got Final Cut Express but I haven't played with that yet. Robert, I have an upload of one of those files at www.mediamax.com because it is about 15MB. If you are interested in downloading that give me a call or send a private email. That one is done entirely on premiere with a simple fade from image to image, i added a 5% or 10% "ken burns" effect to the image all cut to the length of "their" song. |
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Ben Chen, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 5:59 AM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> Hi, Robert, I have been doing slide shows both on the web as well as live at weddings for about one year now. Take a look at 2006 Favorite Wedding Images in my blog area, http://www.socalpixels.com/blog/. I do use lot’s “Ken Burn” effect (the movement of slides) and I like it. I am not familiar with Photo to Movie but most programs will give you an option to pan and zoom or not. Lastly, yes you can add music to iView Media Pro easily. Just drag a MP3 file next to the thumbs and it will play during the slide show. Ben |
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Billy Precht, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Las Vegas | NV | USA | Posted: 6:12 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> Robert,
I use pro show producer, it gives you a lot of control over the slides. You can control the duration each slide is on the screen and sync the music to the slides for added impact if you want. Its a bit pricy but I feel its worth it. You can look it up at http://www.photodex.com/ |
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Michael J. Treola, Photographer
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Neptune | NJ | USA | Posted: 10:44 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> Chuck,
OUCH! I actually think you are rude and need a little soap in your mouth! And my dislike of certainly aspects of a program doesn't give you the right to attack me. That was simply uncalled for.
Just let me say this. I use sound slides for all of newspaper work. I think the interface is fine and the products I'm able to produce with the program are very nice. I do not think the interface is appropriate for a full screen slide show and this is what I was referencing. I don't want an overlay on my screen when all I want is photos and nothing more.
I do take issue with how the software handles audio. Say you throw a voice over track at it that is so perfectly clean you couldn't make it any better. As SS "processes" the files it is definitely doing some major compressing to where you then have serious "artifacting" with the files when it's finish. This happens each and every time I use the software. Perfect audio going in..... not so good coming out. Having a couple friends who are audio engineers for a big sound studio confirms all of what I hear. Studio monitors and a trained set of ears don’t lie.
So when I'm finished I now have to replace all exported audio_hi/audio_lo mp3 files with my original MP3's that are perfect. And since there is no way of controlling audio in SoundSlides except for importing them I fail to see how my perfect audio going in but not coming out has anything to do with me operating the software. I followed their audio guidelines and this is what I get.
Finally before you question my audio skills I guess you should know I'm as trained if not better in this field then I am a photographer. I'm confident of my audio skills that probably exceed that of pros working full time in this field. I don't need to list my credentials to prove anything to anyone. My work speaks for itself.
OH! I think the very problem with this message board isn't the message board itself but the connection between the keyboard and the chair just to throw this back at you. With the amount of time we administrators have spent lately babysitting this place because of people who like to attack others and then some is the very reason we are thinking of doing away with the message board for good. We’re tired of the behavior in here. Grow UP! You (and everyone else for that matter) can chew on this for a little while.
Tree |
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Michael J. Treola, Photographer
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Neptune | NJ | USA | Posted: 10:55 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> Beck,
Sorry for hijacking your thread. I hope you've made some progress here for the better. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any more help. I'm done with this message board. I'll stick to running the site from the back end only now.
And people wonder why you and others I highly respect don't come around here no more. I wouldn't either but I have to keep this place running..... for better or worse.
Tree |
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Kent Miller, Photographer
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Peekskill | NY | USA | Posted: 11:51 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> Thanks Tree,
I find some great info on the boards. I just have to overlook the other stuff.
Robert,
Check out http://www.fotomagico.com/
and http://www.showitfast.com/
They may have something you can use.
Best of luck.
Kent |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 1:11 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Robert...do you have an Intel Macintosh? If so there are some killer PC programs that will do exactly what you're looking to do...
here is one I put together a few days ago (FYI it's a 32MB download...)
http://contrastphotography.com/proshow/clearview_freshman_e.exe
Done with ProShow Gold...and lots o Ken Burns effects :)
dbr |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 1:12 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Ooooops...if you dont have a windows machine don't download that file...it's a peecee exe file and wont run on OS X (Macintosh)
dbr |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 6:29 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> michael, I wrote this and was going to send it to you via email and copy to the other sportsshooter administrators but after rereading your earlier post I decided to put it in the public area. I realize I will probably get the "inappropriate" and "off topic" police on me but wow. we're a little sensitive heh? attack? sorry you took so much offense at a common term which I use about myself when I have problems using computer programs, which is what I was alluding to. joe weiss, the creator of the soundslides program is a close personal friend of mine and I think what you wrote in the thread was inappropriate. soundslides, no matter what you may think of it (although you said it was stupid but you use it all the time) has made it possible for technically impaired folks (such as myself) able to jump right into the multimedia arena, newspapers around the country that probably wouldn't attempt multimedia are now in the fight because the program is so simple to use. that said I would like to say, yes, you sound like you must be pretty sharp on the audio part of things but come on. you're acting like the sound coming out of a couple of computer speakers has to be the same quality as a home stereo. it doesn't. it's like the quality of digital files from cameras. although we all want the best files possible, lets face it we're not having our photos printed on high gloss thick stock paper. same as with the sound aspect of soundslides. I'm sorry you feel like you're "done with the message board" and "tired of the behavior in here", but people have, will and always disagree about things, I actually think that is the second best thing about this message board, the first being the knowledge that's exchanged. feel free to respond any way you wish.....thread, email, phone call.....pipe bomb...8) kiddin!!!! |
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Andrew Dolph, Photographer
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Medina | OH | USA | Posted: 7:33 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Mr. Beck, et al ...
Your posting reminds me of a somewhat painful and telling moment during the second VII seminar held in NYC. John Stanmeyer was called to the stage to present a portfolio of images from Bali, set to a soundtrack of traditional Balinisian music. He made his best attempt to synchronize his slide-show from Photo Mechanic with a playlist in iTunes. It took a couple attempts and some very fanciful key strokes and a push of the mouse button. After a few failed attempts due to not having enough fingers — and Mr. Stanmeyer possesses all ten digits — it worked.
I distinctly remember a few groans from audience members, and a few of us whispering to one another — something along the lines of, "Man, there's got to be a better way to do that."
So, Robert, I sympathize with your plight and any feelings of despair and frustration you may be going through in finding the appropriate program. (Is there a support network out there for photojournalists suffering from multimedia production woes?)
For me personally — a recent graduate and first-time staff photographer — this moment in time is a frustrating one. I'm just getting used to juggling daily assignments with personal work, and starting to really enjoy the story-telling process outside of acadaemia. It's easy enough to assemble multimedia presentations using SoundSlides, courtesy of Mr. Weiss's forethought and time. However, after producing a few shows and having some discussions with far more seasoned veterans out there, it became painfully obvious that in order to produce an essay, or worthwhile story, that I would need to think outside the template that Mr. Weiss has so graciously provided to our community.
To accomplish this, Joe has created SoundSlides with what equates to an "open-source", in which lower-thirds and other default characteristics can be tweaked. The caveat, of course, is that you need to know Flash (comfortably), and probably have a good handle on HTML/CSS coding.
http://soundslides.com/wiki/doku.php
Here's where I begin to cringe and internally argue with myself about the ability of a photographer to survive in our market with our without varying degrees of multimedia knowledge. For the more experienced shooters out there with families and greater commitments than work, how do you allocate the time to learn these advancing technologies? Do you sleep at all? Do you dream in code?
SportsShooter member Mike Fagans, a staff photographer at the Watertown Daily Times has addressed some of this issues and more, on his blog: (Note, if you read into a few of the responses from his postings, you'll "hear" me getting a little frustrated and stressed out with my current position, and I might be getting to that point now.)
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=4011
http://postmanfan.blogspot.com/
The point is this:
I can't achieve a balance between daily assignments, personal projects/long term documentary work, and multimedia. Maybe it's just a personal issue ... Maybe not. How do you folks do it?
Finally, I do recognize that it is possible to create very meaningful and effective multimedia presentations with the simplest of tools. It requires finding and sinking one's teeth into a really great story, having the newsroom support to engage such a project, and the skills to execute the production of a story — no matter the medium. Perhaps it's time to slow down just a bit with the evolution of our technology? I do feel a little guilty for perpetuating the acceleration of technology within our medium, but that seems to simply be a bi-product of being a consumer and someone like me wishing to keep up with industry standards.
Imagine if we had all said "no" to digital, or "no" to television. The evolution of our society would have taken a very different path. We've done some extraordinary things with the digital medium, but perhaps it's time to slow down just a bit, and refocus upon good story telling.
(I've stepped down from my soapbox.)
Thanks.
- Andrew |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 7:50 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> I have to agree with this comment.
michael, kinda rude to say soundslides has a "stupid interface". just because you don't like it doesn't give you the right to call it stupid.
I'll take all the inappropriates and off-topics that you care to give. |
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Ian L. Sitren, Photographer
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Palm Springs | CA | USA | Posted: 7:53 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> I have SoundSlides and I like it. Simple and easy to use. My enthusiam for learning new software is somewhat near that of wanting a career as a crash dummy. So for me a simple interface and drag and drop are a big deal. Download the program and within minutes, you too can be an expert.
With that said I also use the various "i" programs on the Mac too. Next I think I might try Final Cut Express. Hey Dirk help me out on that one.... |
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Rod Mar, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 8:11 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Michael,
I, too, have to take exception with your comment.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE APPARENTLY REALLY HURT THE FEELINGS OF SOUNDSLIDES!!!!
I know we all learn in kindergarten that "sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me".
But still, calling a piece of software "stupid" is beyond being mean.
It's insensitive, it's rude, and it's completely uncalled for.
How do you think Soundslides is feeling right now?
WHAT IF SOUNDSLIDES WAS YOUR BROTHER, OR YOUR BESTEST FRIEND EVER AND SOMEONE CALLED IT'S INTERFACE OVERLAY "STUPID"?
How would you feel if you were MS Word and someone called your features "bloated" and "fat"?
Or if you were Adobe Photoshop and someone called you "complicated and overblown"?
I think I speak for all software when I tell you that your name-calling of non-animate objects is uncalled for.
This is a professional message board of UTMOST SERIOUSNESS. There is absolutely NO room for the kind of adjectives like stupid.
Words like "stupid" have no place in kindergarten, nor in the workplace.
Your unprofessional attitude is driving good professional journalists from this message board.
You, Mike Treola, threaten to bring down our entire industry.
You're probably the kind of person who occasionally refers to his computer as "slow". A better term, and one less-offensive to your laptop might be "speed-challenged".
Just think about it, Mike.
THINK before you type.
If you don't, do you know what happens?
The terrorists win. |
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Andrew Dolph, Photographer
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Medina | OH | USA | Posted: 8:16 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Rod,
That made me giggle. Thanks dude.
- a |
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Michael J. Treola, Photographer
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Neptune | NJ | USA | Posted: 8:21 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Thank you Rod! Who would have known a stupid little word would cause such an uproar.
In the end though I think the terrorists have already won!
Tree |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 8:24 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> rod, I tried to click "funny x 1,000,000" but it wouldn't take. thanks for making my sunday night. that was great. regards, the totally serious and straight faced chuck "I never met a computer I couldn't screw up" liddy |
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