LumenLux

Thanks Tom, I'll look at these options. For the most part, I currently do use Irfanview for my batch sizing, but am specifically interested in batch process via PS or PS Elements.

I often use Save for web as I think it yields excellent quality. But does someone have an automated routine for using it for batch processing many images for PTE?

One thing I failed to mention Dan - Of all your nice pictures, I think maybe one of the best was the one presumably taken by your wife! The one of you sitting with chin on hand looked like a nicely-shot candid portrait. Like you, I learned years ago, that when shooting activities, the people shots are what the participants want to see. And often the participants are your main or only audience. You take boy scouts into the most beautiful scenery in the world, they will still want to see the goofy face when they jumped in the lake. The scenic vistas are recorded more for the photographer's personal satisfaction. Now with digital, we can often take enough shots of both scenery and people to then exercise our discretion later as what is useful for the specific purpose. Couple summers ago, our family camped a few days in Goblin Valley. I first made a quick PTE "experiment" with Igor's then-new animations features.StrangeLand.zip Then at the end of the year, I did similar to yours, a family year-in-review, utilizing mostly entirely different photos of the same trip. This family version was probably 25 minutes long. Now over the years, occasionally I will go back to the stock of photos, choose one, and try to tweak it into a piece of art worthy of a wall. Lots of ways to enjoy good stuff/photos.

Dan, I'd say your PTE family album is an unmitigated success. Good work. It's long been my contention that part of PTE's greatness, is it's usefulness to so many varied purposes. Sure we all enjoy the near perfection or the striving for photographic or AV excellence that is possible in our efforts. But many of us, like you, get huge satisfaction in using PTE to deepen the memories and appreciation of our lives beyond the camera and pc. So with that in mind, I'm sure you can be pleased with this presentation. That said, even to this "outside" viewer, it was an enjoyable trip. I enjoyed, found fitting, all your music choices. I think your occasional use of text, and movement, is useful to your intended audience as it both informs and breaks up the routine a bit - always a factor in a longer (by necessity) show. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.

Mark, this is very nice in the larger format you have done here. I enjoyed your original presentation, but this really seems to have more impact. Your beautiful photography can shine in this size and clarity. From your description, can I conclude you were able to do all your sightseeing via car or foot, instead of by snow coach or snowmobile on your April visit? We had planned to be in Yellowstone this very weekend (today), until we got the real $ numbers in our head for such a visit, even though we are only about 6 hours away! Your presentation makes me think to consider a "just opened" date this Spring, similar to yours. I have previously visited Yellowstone in July, when, as your narrative suggested, not even a tent spot could be had. We've also been on Memorial Day, when we had all the non-benefits of winter cold, but not the beauty of abundant snow. I have to say from your photos, that snow-wise, you picked a very good April! Thanks for sharing the experience.

Lin, you, and this topic contain a wealth of useful info. I agree with both your tech analysis and your sentiment on monitor/sensor ratios. I quote above, the one statement where I may not understand your intent. If Don is attempting to not oversize his images and file sizes, is there any reason to "adjusting the position" and thus keep the larger file size? Or are you suggesting this as a convenience with little sacrifice via the larger file?

This forum excels with less arbitration/moderation than any I have ever seen. Even this discussion stands at a very "high level" in terms of respect among the participants. As suggested, any form of communication carries a risk of misunderstanding. Sometimes there might be less conflict if things were mis-understood. The thing that remains clear is that this forum exists for communication among the members. We should continue to welcome any discussion that a writer intends to be helpful. As the purposes of sharing a presentation are many, it should be up to the poster to indicate any expectations or desires relative to his shared work. If we are really "in tune", all discussion here will serve to improve our own work - at least in our own mind.

I enjoyed this fine work also. And in this case, reading the information first was very helpful. Thanks for the well done presentation.

Congratulations Sam - on this superb presentation. Everything I observed was precisely perfect to my understanding of your many intentions. Your photography was so good, that only you could create such a presentation that would add to the photography. While the "moving" escalator was appreciated, it only reminded me of how many other subtle touches you made. The alignment of elements between slides and transitions has a very positive, cumulative, effect. From your familiar style slides at the start, to the climactic finish - wonderful.

And to "the Dom" - a wish, a hope, and a prayer, - for a Merry Christmas and a year of peace, and joy!

I really enjoy this amazing presentation method. As complex as it appears to be, is it possible as template? I especially like the vertical sliding gate that announces each city. Your creative talent and technical skill make a great combination for us all to enjoy and admire.

Great work Lin. I've been enjoying Jesse Winchester ever since he jumped countries long ago. Even so, I was not aware of the other artists who jumped onto this song. As good as your PTE skills are, I was at first not sure I'd stick around for 10 minutes. But I was wrong. I soon found I was contemplating both the messages of the song and the creative elements of your presentation. (mesmerized?) As often, with your presentations and demos, they lead my mind. Over the years, I've observed some of my photos seemed more interesting when presented as labels on CD's. Something about the circle boundary vs. the normal rectangular shape of photos. So now my thought - Have you tried using your rotating globe to frame individual photos for possibly portions or even an entire presentation? I'd love to see what you might do that way.

Congratulations Igor! Your software continues always on course of greatness. And your ability to involve your loyal users means you always have an army of us who enthusiastically spread the word to the world. Thank you always!

I like this for a template. I am smiling and asking myself what makes it appealing? The template cuts off edges and corners, uses screen space for white edge border. A person must exercise eyes to follow the movement. At some level, I joke, but really do ask myself - The presentation format IS appealing, I would just like myself to understand better why. (My compliments also on photography. Every photo has great impact, ie very nice photography which matches well your template.)

Though I am not involved with this company, I thank you for the thorough report. It's valuable consideration for all of us.

Admittedly, and intentionally, my first comment was made before watching your presentation. So I was really commenting on the discussion, rather than your show. Now, having watched your AV I would like to further comment. With anything we experience in life, our individual perception is based on everything the individual has experienced heretofore. To me this is part explanation of why a single event, or a single AV, can stimulate so much varied thought. Now, having just viewed Moods of Lakeland, two observations rest on top of my thorough enjoyment of the presentation. 1. The photography is very fine, beautiful, and interesting. 2. The music you use adds value and appeal to your photos. I think though all your photos are wonderful, not all would hold place in your personal finest work gallery. But by presenting in an AV, you effectively use this music to grow the resultant satisfaction for the creator and the viewer. Well done. My being acquainted with the music was no obstacle to my enjoyment. Would other music work as well? Sure. For someone. Would other music diminish the satisfaction. Of course. For someone. In my opinion, the benefit of your AV is the satisfaction, the enrichment that an individual can receive/achieve. The benefit of this discussion is that each of us may be more aware and therefor more effective in our choice of sound for our AV's. Thanks for a great view and an obviously effective stimulus.

I like this kind of conversation that brings out the different opinions without asserting "right or wrong." Very interesting. Agreeing Lin, with your assessment, I would just add - I think the cementing of music to particular images, views, etc. came about via MTV! I think for many viewers, the flashy/slashy video imprinted on the minds so strongly that the music was impossible to separate for those that had watched! So I think Maureen, I would I would hesitate to change your music unless you conclude that it detracts from your AV. I think even those commenting that it seemed "out of place", would not claim it detracts. Personally, more and more, I try to judge my own photography as I would judge a dog. That is - does my dog, or my photo, do what I want it to do ? I think this may also work well for our AV efforts.

This is fun use of your skills. Thanks for sharing this.

Congratulations Dom on such a presentation! I think this one shows well your artistic and creative talent as well as technical perfection. What kind of setup are you using now for such fine close-ups?

Yes and Yes, thanks. Also, perhaps Igor could easily confirm or clarify.

Yes Gary, I'm sure the over-sized files are part of the problem in my case. But the over-sized files (on the 2nd laptop) ran just fine, complex zooms and transitions included, until the point in the show where the 2nd music file commenced. I think that is the straw that broke the camel's back. I think Igor has always suggested more consistent playback can be expected by using a single music file. My understanding is that PTE ties everything to the soundtrack. It may be that the program has to do massive calculations at the start of each mp3 file. Then, if the pc processor is already taxed to the brink with large photos and complex transitions, the recalculation of the music is the killer. (Typically, I use photo files of 300 - 500 mb, and occasionally larger for zooms, etc.)

Gary, a recent experience compels me to add a caution or reminder here. I am not refuting or challenging your request, but would caution you and me in the event the feature were added. I had recently an unusual (for me) opportunity to present one of my PTE shows to about 300 people. A few days before the presentation I realized my laptop would not handle the show. For some reason, when I made the show two years ago, I had used the full size files from the camera. On playback now on my laptop, any zoom would not work, and many of the traditional fades would be handled as cuts so as to keep up with the music. Luckily I was able to borrow two other laptops. I tried the most likely laptop first. This laptop made it smoothly over the troublesome zooms and was smooth on transitions. However, as I let the rest of the show run, I realized it was now showing only cut transitions and was playing catch-up with the music - probably even skipping slides if necessary. Further diagnosis lead me to believe all the trouble was being caused because I had used two separate mp3 files! Fortunately, the third laptop was able to process this OK and I did not have to attempt to re-do the show. On other occasions, I have tried to use multiple mp3's and then as a late step, merge the mp3s into one. But when timing needs be absolutely precise, a late merge can be a real set back. One possible conclusion for us may be to continue to use multiple mp3 files initially, and keep better external notes so that Igor's blue-line separations are more helpful. Or, if he could just add numbers to the blue-line markers, that alone could be quite helpful.

It was my experimenting with a calibrator/monkey that launched my current round of color trouble. It just seems that dealing with printer, monitor, and I forgot - graphics card, that there are too many "moving targets."

I will look into all of the above. Thank you.

I am sorry to confuse the issue. My comment is not directed to PTE program. It is directed toward monitors on which I show PTE AV's. It is a renewed pain, as I once again can not get proper/consistent color between monitor and home printer and retail print kiosk.