Igor

PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.5.7 is available now Download link: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/picturestoexe-setup.zip (8 MB) Changes in this version * Fixed problem (5.6.0 to 6.5.5) with loss of details in lights and shadows in created H.264 video file (video file for PC & Mac, YouTube, Facebook, iPhone, iPad). * Fixed bug (6.5.0 to 6.5.5) with wrong title "No String" in Create menu called from the Objects and animation editor. * Updated German language file.

PicturesToExe Deluxe 6.5.7 Beta is available now Download link: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/picturestoexe-setup_657.zip (8 MB) Changes in this version * Fixed problem (5.6.0 to 6.5.5) with loss of details in lights and shadows in created H.264 video file (video file for PC & Mac, YouTube, Facebook, iPhone, iPad). * Fixed bug (6.5.0 to 6.5.5) with wrong title "No String" in Create menu called from the Objects and animation editor. * Updated German language file.

Thanks for the confirmation! I'll publish beta version now.

Xaver, Please try updated version 6.5.7 Beta: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/picturestoexe-setup_657.zip It should resolve the issue with loss in shadow details. Also it includes your suggestions for German translation. Please let me know about result. Thanks in advance!

Thanks, I remember about this problem with AVI file. Probably we can find another solution for this issue.

PicturesToExe almost never exceds 2 GB limit of system memory. Even for very hard slides memory usage is about 400-700 MB. For encoding video we run two processes (PicturesToExe and VideoBuilder) and both can use 2Gb+2GB of memory.

Xaver, You're right! I just tested on my Epson TW2000 and also see this loss in shadow details. On the computer I also reproduced this problem. The problem in encoded H.264 file. We'll investigate this issue tomorrow and will try fix it quickly. Thank you! This problem doesn't occur with MPEG2 video files created in VideoBuilder.

Xaver, Please read my reply regarding black level and details in shadows: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11627

Peter, Yes, Lin is right about different file size of two MP4 video files with same duration and size (1920x1080). It's because by default we use "One pass - Quality" mode in VideoBuilder. And you adjust "Quality" parameter. And like saving of JPEGs in Photoshop, file size depends on content of picture. A picture with solid color areas will give smaller file size. Also "Quality" parameter is smart - you can use same value for any size of video (640x480 and 1920x1080). It will produce same quality for final picture. In opposite, if you use "One/two pass - Bitrate" you have to adjust it according complexity of picture and increase bitrate for larger picture size. Xaver, I'll try to repeat your test with shadow (black level) on my HD media player connected to Epson TW2000 (high-quality 3LCD projector). I spent much time calibrating black level for DVD player and HD media player. I think I'm able to see this difference between black levels, too. Please use all color range for video from 0 to 255, Otherwise you will get faded picture. The necessary conversion from 0-255 to 16-235 is performing during encoding H.264 video file.

I see several ideas how to use Direct 3D mode for Menu show. In theory we can reduce video card usage applying several optimizations and tricks. It also should be under special option in Project options window, but it would be an unified graphical engine with minor differences. Anyway any changes should come not earlier than in version 7.5

It might happen if PicturesToExe or VideoBuilder processes still are working in background in hidden mode. Normally this should occur, but please check up with Task Manager, the secon tab for processes (PicturesToExe.exe and VideoBuilder.exe). But in this cause installer also is not able to update these files too. If Task manager shows nothing related with PicturesToExe, please try to delete ogg.dll file manually. And then install the latest version again.

Thanks, we will keep this option in the next version 7.0 And probably I'll find some replacement for this mode for further versions.

Thanks for your responses!

I forgot to mention that now we have to support two different graphical engines (two libraries of code) - for hardware acceleration and software engine (based on CPU).

Do you turn off (for some reason) the option "Use hardware acceleration" (in Project options | Screen tab)? I remember that was used for some menu like projects to call other slideshows and reduce loading for video card during parallel work of menu project and slideshow. Hardware acceleration (the mode by default) is required for smooth playback of slideshows. Masks, 3D transformations, Video clips on slides and Blur feature - all they require hardware acceleration. Should we still provide to authors of slideshows the possibility turn off the hardware acceleration? If you need this control on this option, please describe shortly the scenario how you use it. Thanks,

Thanks to all for your thoughts and comments! Jose, - Video files format accepted? At least all main formats. - Maximum length, if any? The limitation only with final size of EXE file (4 GB). But we're considering a variant to put video file near to EXE file (like folder of Mac slideshow) - Maximum video/audio bitrate? I think any reasonable values. - Variable opacity (video over a slide, fade-in/fade-out over slides on the back, etc.)? Video is object of slide. So you can apply any usual effects and transformations (3D, Masks, Pan/Zoom/Rotate, Opacity, Start time, Duration, Shadow, etc.) - Text over video? Yes, as another object over video object. - Mask effect (video inside a mask)? Yes, of course. - Border for video is possible? Thanks for good idea! Why not? - Creating a final MP4 HD file of finished project, no problem with such mix (slides/video)? Yes, no problem.

André, Please explain in more details why you think that audio features are not finished in current version? Version 6.5 has many new audio features that you can successfully use already now. It's infinite process - improvements of existing audio features and adding of new audio features. I have plans for many new audio improvements for at least several future versions. Video does not have more high priority than audio for us. Please see my two posts above.

Eric, It was our initial intention. But now it's dangerous to pause work on video clips support. We can forget about many important details related with video code if take a break for several months to make audio features.

We have a good progress with development of the next version 7.0 of PicturesToExe. I expect appearance of first public beta version in January. Support of video clips on slides took significant time. But we're trying implement this feature to PicturesToExe at highest level with smooth playback on wide range of PCs. It's a joy for me to see video in real time in PicturesToExe's slideshow with any effects - 3D transformations, Masks, Pan/Zoom/Rotate, etc. Due to complex work with video, probably we will delay advanced audio editing (global timeline with waveforms) for version 7.5. We didn't expect that video support will take so much time. Also version 7.0 will bring vastly improved picture quality. Two new features will appear for this. And they are already finished.

Will this problem happens if you open this project in version 6.5, re-save it giving another filename and then restart PicturesToExe to open again? If it possible please send us source files of original project which caused this problem in new version 6.5 Please use free www.mediafire.com service to upload ZIP file. Reply me in PM message through the forum if it's OK for you.

This problem happens because PicturesToExe supports WAV audio files which have sample size as 16-bit (standard value for all Audio CD discs). We plan add a support of these WAV files (32 bit and 24 bit) in the next version of PicturesToExe. I recommend you convert again MP3 to WAV setting 16 bit sample size. For some reason AVS Audio Converter converts audio files to WAV ignoring source values of sample size and sample rate and suggests 48 KHz and 32-bit by default. It better use original values from source files. All Audio CD has 44 KHz sample rate and 16 bit sample size. But if you have original file in MP3, I don't recommend convert this file to WAV.

Yes, in version 7.0 HD video clip inserted into Mask object with 3D transformations looks very cool. In real time and smooth playback We have a lot of work to finish it, but even first results are very impressive.

Please don't use email address support@wnsoft.com it's old email address which we don't use already three years and removed it from our website and PicturesToExe. It's neccessary submit a support ticket to contact us: http://www.wnsoft.com/support.htm

Next issue of "Recording News" (the magazine of the British Sound Recording Association) will include an article dedicated to PicturesToExe.

Please send me source files of project, picture and audio files (MP3). We'll check up for this problem.