Igor

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.

Jerry, Please let me know what exact version of PicturesToExe you're using? You can check version number in the main menu | About PicturesToExe window. We've solved similar issue with PicturesToExe 6.5 under Windows 7 in one recent update. Please download and install the latest version 6.5.7 from our website - www.wnsoft.com

I didn't think of that. Interesting idea. This is already done. I can publish sample show to illustrate it.

potwnc, - For producing of an executable slideshow (EXE) we re-encode video and you will able control quality and bitrate parameters (auto or manual settings). Probably even we will support several formats without need to convert source video files. This is not a final information. - For video output (DVD, H.264 video file, YouTube/Facebook, etc) we use original video files from a project to render picture of a slide. Thereby you have only one conversion to final output format. It's a difficult problem without clear solution. There is a common situation when size of source video doesn't equal to size of output video. Also take in attention tranformations of video object (Pan/Zoom/Rotate). Even difference of 1 pixel in sizes or position will destroy right transfer of interlaced video to output video file (avoiding de-interlacing). 1) So you need to use de-interlacing option for source video (automatically by default). PicturesToExe will take care about right transfer of any source video to final output format. 2) Or you must disable de-interlacing option and then take care about right size of video object and its position. In other words keep same pixel size, aspect ratio and no animation for video file. In this case it possible to rightly transfer interlaced video through all stages and receive output interlaced video .

After I read comments on French forums I decided update this demo video slideshow. Now it's 24 MB file: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/show/Video_and_Pictures.zip Previous variant (38 MB) was larger because 2nd slide had 38 second's video but actually it used only 10 seconds. So I've converted a source file again. Both variants (old and new) use 5 mbit bitrate for video clips. HD ready quality 1280x720 30p. We didn't finish work to find optimal bitrate and parameters of compression yet. One of current tasks is to reach best smoothness of video playback. We already can support 60p video and interlaced video with good de-interlacing.

Eric, We didn't think yet should it be in Deluxe or Standard version. Ralph, Currently video playback in version 7.0 Alpha requires video card which fully supports DirectX 9.0 or later. It's all desktop video cards manufactured since 2003 year. And Intel video cards since 945GL (GMA 950). We use hardware acceleration for playback. Probably we will write a special code to support more old video cards. Currently you can see greyscale video on such old video cards.

My first very simple and short demo to illustrate video capabilities of next version 7.0: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/show/Video_and_Pictures.zip I used old video recorded with my compact camera without image stabilization. I'm sure that modern DSLR cameras will allow create excellent video slideshows with 1080p video.