Slide show question

[BrendaC]

I have PSE 4. I was going to work on a slide show. Is there a limit to the number of images I can put in one slide show? Can I burn this onto a cd? I haven't worked on any slide shows so I don't know anything about them. I am at work so I can't look at any of my reference books. Thanks so much.

[mom to 4]

Brenda:

I think my very first slide show was done in Elements 5, but I cannot imagine that it is much different that v. 4. It seems to me it was very simple and straight forward. I also don't remember any limit, but then I probably used only about 50 pics just because I was just trying to get used to it. it seems to me at the time there were burning issues and John Franklin posted very good directions on buring the slideshow through Nero. I have Nero on my pc (it came bundled and FREE) and it is FABULOUS! my suggestion is to just throw a bunch of photos together and play with the slide show. Do it as an experiement when you are not pressed for time.

Let me know if I can help you. You may also want to duplicate your post under the premier elements section. Someone there may have a more intelligent response than mine, they probably are making slide shows all the time and may well have started out in elements.;)

[BrendaC]

THanks Colleen. I edited some of the wedding pics and they look o.k. to me, brought them to work to show some friends and they look red! I won't be doing a slide show of them that's for sure!

[mom to 4]

You have them handy on your disk. Use them just to test the program. You don't have to share it, use them just to gain knowlege of the program. Heck, the bride and groom would be thrilled to have it anyway ... they're not going to care if it is a great slide show.

[BrendaC]

I guess you're right. I'll practice when I have some time, not sure when that will be. I still have to edit the portraits and reception, I hope they turn out better than the ceremony! I HATE inside weddings! I wish I could say no.

[ATR]

Hi Brenda and Coleen,

I am jumping in to ask if Brenda has Premiere Elements 2 (or 3) as well as Photoshop Elements 4.0? And, my persistent question, if you have Nero, does it offer DVD-VIDEO option in its Nero Vision Application?

Brenda, depending on what you have, then Coleen, the other forum helpers, and I can read you the drill regarding the works.

ATR

[BrendaC]

Nope, just PSE 4. Do you need something else?

[ATR]

Brenda

With just Photoshop Elements 4.0 you can create a slideshow and produce a VCD "Video CD", that is your slideshow on a CD in the VCD format. Most people are not all that thrilled about its quality, but you can play it on a TV/DVD player that supports this VCD format.

If you are not interest in the traditional slideshow (transitions, music, pan and zoom, etc.), you could always use Photoshop Elements 4.0 to enhance your photos and then burn the enhanced images to a CD with the burn software that came with your DVD/CD burner. That way gives you a jpeg CD, sometimes called a photo CD/picture CD, which most TV/DVD players will play and should give you excellent quality.

The goal of most people is a DVD-VIDEO for TV/DVD playback since its quality is superior to the VCD. To get there from where you are at:

(a) Create your slideshow in Photoshop Elements 4.0 and when you get to Output Options, select "Save As A File"/"Movie File (.wmv)", and set the File Settings to DVD NTSC or DVD PAL depending on the location. Then you can take this saved .wmv and get your DVD-VIDEO by using Nero Software and its Nero Vision component if it has the DVD-VIDEO option.

(b) Another way would be to have Premiere Elements also installed on your computer and use the Photoshop Elements/Premiere Elements integration to get your DVD-VIDEO.

If you just want to show your slideshow on a computer, that is something else which I can go into another time.

ATR

[cats4jan]

I have both - but I prefer Nero for ease of use in burning DVD's.

As for quality - right now, I have no opinion. It's been some time since I tried to make sample disks to compare quality.

[BrendaC]

ATR,
Thanks for the information. I will print it off for future reference. I would like to create a slide show for the football banquet. Maybe one for a wedding too. Is Premiere elements something you buy seperate then? Is it expensive? What is better Premiere or Nero? Thanks

[mom to 4]

Brenda:

Excuse me for jumping in, but just in case ATR isn't on for a while, I thought I would let you know what little I think I know.

Premiere Elements is a software program for making slide shows. Nero although it says you can make a slide show is limiting for that and I only used Nero as my burning tool.

You can make a slide show in elements 5 for sure. that is what I used for my very first one and it was fine. I then moved up and bought Pinnacle Studio, which I LOVED! Pinnacles downfall for me was how sensitive it was to other things on the computer. I know Shari uses Pro Show Gold and she loves that. Now that I have my mac, I have a whole new world: imovie, idvd and Final Cut Express. Phew, I have lots to still learn.

Personally, I would only use Nero as a burning device. I cannot direct you with any real knowledge about Premiere elements....check out that section of the forum. Give Shari a PM about Pro Show Gold.

My only real advice here is to do some research before you buy a new program. I think you can certainly start out in Elements and do a perfectly fine job before you venture into something stronger.

That being said, I am sure someone will give you reason why elements isn't the way to go to begin with. In advance.....No offense taken if you disagree with me....I just want Brenda to get good advice from ALL of us and mine may NOT be the best;)!

[TonyW]

The first thing to do before thinking about buying anything is see what came with the computer for DVD video burning from wmv files. Many come with the software - mine came with Sonic that will do it. But if you really get into slide show making a stand-alone program is well worth having and ProShow Gold is one of the best around IMHO.

And if you're lucky/unlucky enough to have Vista that will do it too.

Tony

[mom to 4]

Good advice Tony!! I didn't know you had Pro Show!