Do It Yourself Slideshows and Photomontages
You want to join the do-it-yourself movement and make their own slide shows and photo montages. Today, everyone from kids to seniors is signing onto their computers adding their photos and producing everything from gift cards to slideshows.
Of course for those in the know, those of you who are web programmers can produce your own quick JQuery or Mootools to produce simple slideshows. Or if you aren’t a programmer there is always the Google search to find the correct path.
While searching online for ways to do your own slideshow, you will come across everything from online services, programs that give you more creativity leeway and of course the more professional software that promises greatness. Of course with anything, whether it is the simple online services of professional software, there is always a degree of learning or as it is referred to as the learning curve. With the simple online services for some people the learning curve is very low. These types of people have a bit of knowledge of the computer and can navigate around any new online service. Then there are the programs you must purchase, download, install and then read the instructions before you can get started. The learning curves on those programs climb higher than the online services. But the trade off is that these programs offer more bang for the buck. Of course with the professional software you can imagine that the learning curve is quite steep since everything that is offered with the medium paced software is more complicated and more in-depth. This is because there is even more that is offered with new terms to learn and a lot of times new ways of completing the task. Of course the end results are as they should be, professional.
You ask what are the simple online services that offer slideshows? Here are just a few-
• Shutterfly
• Flicker
• SmugMug
• Slide
• Smilebox
How to pick photo slideshow programs
The best software programs for slideshows are easy to use, have lots of features, have great support and produces great looking results. Look for programs with these attributes:
• Easy to use- easy to install & quick to learn or figure out and begin using right
away
• Great features – Drag and drop movement of your photos to storyboard,
preview option to play your slideshow, templates for special occasions, text for
chapters and captions, timing options on the show, transitions, music, offer HD
and widescreen.
• Sharing Slideshow – email, CD, DVD, YOU TUBE, FACEBOOK (or other social
network areas)
• Support – Good help section in the program, online research areas, phone
support and email support
• My Memories
• DVD slideshow builder
There is a lot you will need to know for the process of making professional slideshows or photo montages. When we first started the process almost seven years ago we thought to ourselves how hard could it be? It wasn’t too long before we found out that we needed to get a deeper education on all facets of making a do it yourself slideshow video. Not only did we have to learn the software for making the slideshows but we also needed to know all about DVDs, music, sounds, special effects, photo & video editing as well as know all about the hardware and other software that is needed. It has been a long, exciting non-stop lesson ever since. We never go a week without learning something new. Many times the learning process is thru trial and error. The slideshow software learning process for the first few programs was fairly easy but then we wanted more control over the slideshow. We wanted more WOW in our slide shows. Therefore we found ourselves deeper into that learning curve as we gained deep knowledge of the more professional software programs such as Adobe CS3, Adobe Elements, Adobe Premiere, Producer, audacity, Imgburn, Nero, Moyea and more. There are so many programs to use: Programs for special effects, music or sound effects, photo editing and of course video editing. On top of that you need to know your equipment and supplies. One of the most important and intensive studies we did was on the subject of DVDs. Not all DVDs are equal in quality and performance and not all DVD players can play all DVDs. Having the knowledge on why and how to get them formatted/burned correctly so there are minimal problems is key to the success of your do it yourself slideshow or photomontage.
The one program on our computers for awhile and used in business for company slideshows is the Power Point program. This is also an easy way to produce a slideshow but it is limited to photos and documents. For those who have been using Microsoft products for awhile such as Word or Excel Power Point is a bit more complicated but worth reading the instructions if you want a simple slideshow presentation. These files can be sent via email but you need to send in the format that includes the viewer for those people that don’t have Power Point on their computers. Not everyone has Power Point. It is included in the Professional version of Microsoft Office.
There are other programs that you might have on your computer that you can use for making your slideshow. We have worked hard on the video tutorial to help you learn how to make your own slide show or photomontage on your own computer with a program you already have.
Making your own slideshow or photomontage by using our tutorial you will be in control of making your personal story with photos and videos. This process takes your photos from your event that you have loaded to your computer and combines those personal photos with your video clips and music (you have also loaded to your computer) into a video production. Making your own slideshow enables you to make your own personal touches. Being able to show the video production on the computer or on CDs or DVDs on the big screen helps to make the event even more special.
Click here to see How to Make a Slideshow
Amazing Memories - P.O. Box 1595 El Segundo, CA 90245-6595 • Phone: 310-918-6260
Kizoa was tried out awhile back and it was great because it was free! It is really cute with trains, planes and air balloons floating around the sky while you upload your photos to their online service. I guess to entertain you while you wait. It was fairly easy for us to use but then we have been working with computers since 1980s. With Kizoa you can make easy slideshows that you can share with others if they too sign up with Kizoa. They also have some cute special effects you can apply to your photos and you can burn the show to a DVD but you must first upgrade and pay $49.99.
Shutterfly is easy to use and offers the ability for you to make a photo book to share online with your family and friends. Of course everyone who wants to share your photo book or photo albums must join Shutterfly. The good thing they offer is the disk of your photos for backup-you load all your photos online and then order a back CD which you store somewhere else for a backup just in case your computer at home goes crazy and loses your photos. Of course you can also pay for a slideshow of your photos on a DVD (for a price). You have 6 types to choose from.
Picasa is fairly easy but we had to worry whether the DVD slideshow we made would work at Aunt Mary’s house. It seems they have to work on DVD formatting/compatibility issues on the program.
Ok, the so-called easy slide show sites are great and sometimes easy to use but restricting to your creativity and you want to be able to do more! You want to take it to the next level and find software and do it yourself totally. That way you have complete control of every aspect of the slideshow (that the program allows) from start to finish. Sounds great! Now to find the program that fit your needs-
Some of today’s slideshow photomontage programs are easier to use than in the past. The programs have features such as being able to drag and drop you photos from your computer files into the story line, music syncing as well as being able to add and edit transitions. Of course all the programs feature ways to share the new slideshow online or burning a DVD.
Our step-by-step tutorial will help you gain quick experience on a program you already have on your PC computer (MACs have similar program) with Windows XP, VISTA or Windows 7 operating system. Once you master this program you will then be able to make your own slide show of your fabulous event or family history photos, videos and music.
While some websites have PDF tutorials we believe that you need to see a video of someone actually doing the process that you are trying to learn. We have the video tutorial available below. Follow the directions and in no time you can produce your own slideshows!
Do you have questions on how to make your own slideshow? Please send an email and we will answer your questions quickly!
Click here to see How to Make a Slideshow
