Igor

I know that you're impatiently waiting Mac version of PicturesToExe. I'm sorry that we can't release it in time. My mistake in too early announcement of PicturesToExe for Mac. The work in progress but I really don't know how much time it will take. Maybe one or two years. If you need to switch to Mac, please use Bootcamp to load Windows or install PC emulator on MacOSX to use PicturesToExe. Or please choose another AV software. It will be honest to say that.

I apologize for this problem! I just sent again the email with your license key. Please let me know about result. Thanks.

Lin, That's right. In version 7.0 unsharp mask is a global option for all slides of a project. This choice is related with performance issues. In version 7.5 we hope to add individual unsharp mask options for separate objects.

Lozz, I apologize for this delay! I just sent again the email with the license key and a copy in personal message via the forum. Please let me know about result.

stonemason, Yes. Dave, Please see my comment above: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12810&view=findpost&p=82764 And I'm afraid it will complicate the program. Jean-Cyprien Unsharp mask will be applied at any zoom value in the Objects and animation editor. Moreover you will see unsharp mask in MiniPlayer in the main window of PicturesToExe and even in the Slide list. It's a result of the fact that we can apply unsharp mask on the fly in real time. So it doesn't matter how we display a slide (in Slide list, in MiniPlayer, in the O&A editor, or in EXE file) everywhere we use same high quality rendering (Bicubic interpolation + Unsharp mask). Partially I've replied on this question above. In version 7.0 unsharp mask can be applied for entire screen of all slides. Same value for all project. For individual objects you can adjust Smoother/sharper parameter to reduce unsharp effect. In version 7.5 we will try implement individual unsharp mask for individual objects.

Dominique, It really "Unsharp Mask", not "sharpen" filter. Unsharp Mask in Photoshop CS3 does exactly same processing. For more details please see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsharp_masking Almost for free. We use hardware acceleration for this. However currently in version 7.0 we did only unsharp mask for entire screen. It allowed keep good performance not depending on a number of objects. But we have an idea how to implement individual unsharp masks for particular objects in future versions. Despite this version 7.0 has a control of sharpness/smoothness for separate objects.

Jean-Cyprien, It possible to apply unsharp mask for a AV show with a rich animation. Unsharp mask amount should has lower value than for static pictures to avoid shimmering. However we did much work to vastly reduce shimmering of pictures with Pan/Zoom effects. Image resampling algorithms were significantly reworked in version 7.0 even if you don't use unsharp mask. Currently I don't know other slideshow software who use such image resampling algorithms and unsharp mask in real time.

We've implemented Unsharp Mask to future PicturesToExe 7.0 This feature works with same quality like Adobe Photoshop. Unsharp Mask in PicturesToExe works in real time. This means that we apply this filter on the fly 60 frames per second for your AV show. Why it better to apply unsharp mask in PicturesToExe instead of Photoshop? If you use a graphical editor to apply unsharp mask, you have to resize image to particular size and then apply the sharpen filter. It works well if you display the picture in its original size at same screen resolution. But if your picture is 1920x1200 and display size is 1600x1200? Picture again will be downsampled and it loses its sharpness. In PicturesToExe you put high quality source image. For example 2300x1533. Then the program downsample picture using Bicubic like filter to screen resolution (new for version 7.0) and then it apply unsharp mask. And display this picture on the screen as is without additional distortions. Users of any screens will enjoy watching your picture with unsharp mask as it designed for their screens natively. Watch demo here: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/Unsharp-Mask-PTE-700.zip (20 MB) I've used unsharp mask with amount about 40% and radius 1 pixel. Images came from Canon 350D and reduced to 2300x1533. This ZIP file contains two executable shows - with unsharp mask and without to see difference. Also you can compare two pictures in PSD file which has two layers (one with unsharp and one without). UPDATE: I think this new feature will be a great replacement for so called Original mode used by some users. UPDATE 2: I've used moderate amount value for unsharp mask to keep natural view of picture. You can apply more easy unsharp mask or even much more stronger. Illustration from Wikipedia. Three pictures (Original, with slight unsharp mask and with strong unsharp mask). Unsharping Mask: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsharp_masking

Daniel, One correction - the first beta will arrive not earlier than in two weeks. There will be one or several optimal formats of video files for best performance in executable show (EXE). If video in other format, PicturesToExe can convert video on the fly to optimal format for executable file (EXE). But we will provide a direct support of wide range of different video formats.

At least two weeks before the first beta. We're testing PicturesToExe with a wide range of different video files now, writing convertor for simple video editing. Also we're finishing works for audio part of video playback. Another challenge is an exact audio synchronization between video and audio. By the way, video files can added by two ways. As an object in the editor. And the file list in the main window displays pictures and video now. You can simple drag and drop video file into Slide list. The duration of this slide will be equal video clip's duration automatically. So the conception of "main image of slide" will be extended by "main video of slide". For video object it's possible to adjust border, canvas size, edge antialiasing.

Hello Annabelle, I've replied you in that topic: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12782&view=findpost&p=82574 Did you receive the email with license key I've sent you yesterday? I sent the second email right now. Please let me know about result. Thanks in advance!

I'm very glad! Thanks for confirmation.

Yes, we've sent you email with a key for VideoBuilder. I just sent this email again. Did you receive it? Please let me know.

Sorry for this delay! Please check up your email box, it should arrive now.

Hello Annabelle, I'm sorry about this problem. Probably the email was moved to spam folder in your Gmail account? I just sent again your license key.

I apologize for late response! I missed this topic. Indeed the picture sharpness should be exactly same for video as for executable file for same conditions. If you output H.264 video at 1024x768 it should be equal as you watch this slideshow on 1024x768 screen resolution. But there are several important notes: 1) DVD video (720x480 or 720x576) may has lower quality due to applied filters for TV screens. I've removed some of these filters after resting PicturesToExe 7.0. 2) If you create AVI video and use high resolutions (1024 pixels of width or higher) please uncheck "Smart anti-flicker filter" option in AVI output window. This option was intended for DVD output usage. If you create HD video, turn this option off. I'll disable this option by default for next version 7.0 3) Even if video file has excellent quality, sharpness of video picture depends on video player software.

We're sorry about this problem! I just sent manually the license key to Roland Oudet.

Version 7.0 will include improved resampling of images (in real time) which works almost as Bicubic resampling in Photoshop. And also two options for picture sharpness control (in real time).

Barry, Did you try "Save and Use by Default" funtion in the Properties tab of Image object? This will automatically add border to all new images. Once you finished, you can add temporal image object, ucheck border option and call again "Save and Use by Default" and then delete temp image object. Audio noise during work in PicturesToExe can be caused by a problem with audio cable or inside computer. Some integrated audio cards with analogue connection has this issue. I've faced with this similar problem several years ago when I scrolled down page in Internet Explorer.

It's a simple omission in previous version, because technically it has support in sound engine. I'm sorry about this missed feature. We'll add Offset parameter to sound comments to the next version (7.0).

Also you key use additional keys on multimedia keyboards (located above usual keys).

Daniel, The text message explains that user needs to upgrade to Deluxe version to use Mac output. We've added some new features (currently they all linked with output) to Deluxe version. However you can see that we continue add a lot of new features to Standard version. Regarding license keys on Windows 7. OK, we'll work this moment in the next version to show warning if there is no access to a file with license key.

Daniel, Probably there was no access to that file which contain license key under another user account? If you're using version 6.5.7, please try to open license key file in Notpad and copy then paste into registration window of PicturesToExe. Will it help? Output for Mac requires Deluxe license. PicturesToExe shows only one warning during a session of running program.

John, Please see my post and replies in this topic: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12650&view=findpost&p=81632

Bill, Video clips support for Mac isn't ready yet.