Slideshow creation software

[jdc2000]

I am looking for some software to create a simple slideshow. Requirements as follows:

1. I would like to be able to superimpose a caption over some of the images, WITHOUT editing or altering them in any way.

2. I would like to be able to create a CD or DVD that will autorun and play the slideshow, WITHOUT requiring the installation of any software on the computer running the show.

3. I would like the images displayed in their native resolution, not as a 640 x 480 movie format file.

4. I would like the capability for the viewer to be able to pause or advance the images without being stuck with waiting the default amount of display time for each image.

5. I would like to be able to have the CD or DVD contain the slideshow executable and related files, and the original image files plus any associated files not part of the slideshow.


I have been testing out Magix PhotoStory, but I cannot figure out how to do what I want with that. Irfanview does not seem to have the ability to superimpose captions without editing the images. Any ideas for a software program or package that can do what I want would be welcome. Thanks.

[photolady]

I used Windows Movie Maker to create slideshows. It's lets you superimpose text on the images. You can resize the images to whatever you want. It will do what you want for #2.

Not sure about #5 though. Can you explain further what you mean there about executables.

[jdc2000]

photolady -

I don't want the slideshow CD or DVD to require the user to have to install any software on their computer, or have any specific software installed. Whatever software is used to control the slideshow must be on the CD or DVD and run without installation. The software and autorun files need to be added to the CD or DVD when it is created. In addition, I would like to be able to include other files that are not part of the slideshow, but contain related material that might be useful on the CD and DVD as well.

[photolady]

As for needing other software to play them after finished with WMM, I didn't. These discs will play in a standalone dvd player or on any computer.

But I've never needed to add additional files but surely one could do that. Instead of having WMM burn the slideshow, use any burner to burn the movie/slideshow adding your other files at the same time.

[jdc2000]

After looking at Windows Movie Maker, it appears that there are several different versions that are not completely compatible. I could not find any info on making slide shows with it either, it seems to be more for video editing which I do not need. I also did not see anything about being able to save the slide show in any format other than a video format, which is not what I want. I am looking for something that will actually display .jpg or .bmp or .tif images with superimposed captions, rather than creating a video format file out of them. Maybe I just didn't find any info on how to do this.

[Steve R Jones]

I'm no expert - but I believe Power Point can make a self running exe file slideshow.

[photolady]

I was going to suggest PowerPoint also. Or if you don't have Microsoft Office Suite software, you could use OpenOffice's Impress presentation software.

[General Winters]

3. I would like the images displayed in their native resolution, not as a 640 x 480 movie format file.

Even a full high def monitor is only 2 megapixels, 1,920×1,080, so if you want to display photos they will have to be reduced in size for display.

[jdc2000]

I thought about using PowerPoint, but I don't what that will do to the images. I have a copy of 2007 that I will try installing to see what happens. It shouldn't take too long to test. My guess though is that the stand alone slide show file will be too large to actually view if the image resolution is good enough to see the details.

I realize that the images will have somewhat reduced resolution, however, they are all .jpg images, so they should be OK on most monitors. 640 x 480 is too small to really be usable if you want to dee the details though.

[jdc2000]

After some further investigation, I have not been able to find a way to make the slide show work in PowerPoint without requireing the user to either have PowerPoint on their computer or installing the M$ PowerPoint viewer on their computer. If it was possible to run the PowerPOint viewer from the CD or DVD, that would work, but installing software is not a realistic option. Some users won't be able to install software.

[photolady]

You could try asking on this forum. It deals with all things video and may help you also.

www.videohelp.com

[Steve R Jones]

Create a Photo Album with PowerPoint and Distribute
http://www.ppt-to-dvd.com/learningce...ribute-it.html

3. Share with people who don’t have Microsoft PowerPoint installed.

Sometimes, our recipients don’t have a Microsoft PowerPoint installed on his computer or you have a different PowerPoint version from your recipients. Then you can package your photo album presentation to CD.

[jdc2000]

Thanks, Steve.

Unfortunately those options either create a low-res movie or still require the installation of the PowerPoint viewer.

[jdc2000]

After more searching, I have found this. I will be checking it out later this week. It looks like it willdo exactly what I want, if the description and review info are accurate.

http://www.imagematics.com/N_PE/PE/Pe_Product_Page.htm

http://www.imaging-resource.com/SOFT/SMPE/SMPE.HTM