PSE7-Correct file extension for slide show

[Carl Lesesne]

Hello All-I have a trial version of PSE7 that I am using until my registered copy is received. I am in the process of making a slide show to be shown via dvd players after it is developed and downloaded to a dvd. I have a PSE 7 quide that provides instructions for creating a .pdf file extension but I believe this is good for the computer but not tvs' and dvds'. If I am correct,will PSE7 or PSE 6 assign a file extension compatible with tvs and dvds or do I have to make the assignment? What would be an all around selection? Thanks.

[ATR]

Carl,

With Photoshop Elements you can create a slideshow via Organizer and its Slideshow Editor. You cannot output your creation in its creation form. So, we then get into how to output.

If all you have is Photoshop Elements...................

If you want to have playback of your slideshow on a TV via TV/DVD player then:

1. You can output your slideshow as a VCD (video CD), this is a lesser quality product than a DVD-VIDEO (your slideshow on a DVD disc in the DVD-VIDEO format). You will need additional software to get to your DVD-VIDEO if that it what you want.
a. A workaround for this is the following. You could output your slideshow via Save As File Movie .wmv where the .wmv version of your slideshow is saved to your internal hard drive. Then you import this .wmv version of your slideshow into a software such as Nero (Nero Vision application with DVD-VIDEO plugin) and generate the DVD-VIDEO there.

Keep in mind that the DVD-VIDEO should play on your DVD player. But, not all DVD players support VCD, some do, some do not.

2. Instead of the Photoshop Elements to .wmv to Nero and DVD-VIDEO route, you could integrate Photoshop Elements (slideshow creation) with Premiere Elements (DVD-VIDEO generation). If you were using Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere Elements 4 OR the latest versions, Photoshop Elements 7 and Premiere Elements 7, you could bypass the .wmv species and use the Send to Premiere Elements output to send an "as is" version to Premiere Elements for further editing and finally the DVD-VIDEO production.

Bottom line: A slideshow created in Photoshop Elements is not going to get out of the Organizer as a "creation". To generalize, it going to become a .wmv to get out or go the "as is" route with the Send to Premiere Elements output if you have Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements integrated.

You need to check out the numerous threads on similar topics here.

Let us know if you have further questions.

ATR

[Carl Lesesne]

Thanks for the information ATR. I downloaded the PSE 7 user's manual. There are two file extensions for Slide shows- movie and .pdf. I will go through your reply carefully because one could make many mistakes in this area without having a clue. Thanks again.

[ATR]

Carl,

This will all come together once you read more, explore, and experiment. I often try to be comprehensive in my replies which can be overwhelming.

In my reply, I omitted mention of the .pdf output route because you asked about the TV playback.

Also, if and when you use the Save As File (Movie, .wmv) output, remember to make sure that you are using the correct File Size (also known as .wmv profiles). If you are creating a VCD, then that needs to be set to the VCD profile (NTSC or PAL) depending on your location. If your slideshow is aiming at DVD-VIDEO, then that needs to be set to the DVD profile (NTSC or PAL) depending on your location.

Another important consideration is the pixel dimensions of your photos in your slideshow. Oversized photos (and especially a lot of them) can create problems with the writing of the .wmv and other problems which I will not elaborate on now. Make sure that the pixel dimensions of each photo does not exceed 1000 x 750 pixels. You can check out the size in Photoshop Elements Full Editor, Image Menu/Resize/Image Size.

Is there any reason for your questions about file extensions? There is no movie file extension. If you go the Save As File (Movie .wmv), the file extension will be .wmv. If you go the PDF, then the file extension will be .pdf. If you have Premiere Elements 4 installed along with Photoshop Elements 6 and you go Send to Premiere Elements, the slideshow does not go to .wmv, it goes "as is". Once is gets into a Premiere Elements project, that Premiere Elements project has a file extension of .prel. From that Timeline of that Premiere Elements project (.prel), you can export (burn to disc) your slideshow to the DVD-VIDEO format on a DVD disc which should have playback on a TV/DVD player.

There are more details, but I will stop for now and let you compile your info and organize your thoughts.

ATR

[Carl Lesesne]

Hello ATR-Relative to file extensions,I wanted to make sure that I donot select the incorrect file extension. I will check the file size.However,I did not use my max but I could have selected a file size still too large. I will be making a movie dvd with auto. I want to play it in most tv/dvd combos without problems. Thanks very much.