davegee

Hi Brian, What are the comparative figures for "Blue Ray" DVD? DaveG

I think that we all probably knew what you were doing Alex, but I offered you an alternative way which would give you exactly what you want using the other connections on your TV and computer. The HDMI and VGA connections between computer and TV will both give superior quality when compared to a DVD version of a PTE show. Until Blue Ray is more widely available (and affordable)......... DaveG

The Sony Bravia, if it is reasonably new, should have a HDMI connection which will allow connection of a suitably equipped laptop or desktop and will allow viewing at full resolution (in your case, probably 1920x1080 but possibly 1360x768 - your TV manual will tell you which). If you use the VGA connection the width will be restricted. On my Sony 26" the HDMI resolution is 1360x768 and the VGA resolution is restricted to 1280x768. So, in my case I make shows at the 1360x768 resolution, connect via HDMI from my laptop and it is, as you said, stunning. I no longer see the point in making high resolution PTE shows, reducing them to PAL standard (720x576) for a DVD and then have the TV resize the whole thing back up to the resolution of a 40" TV monitor. Once you have resized to PAL you don't get any of those lost pixels back! It's the same thing as watching "normal" TV broadcasts on a HD ready TV - when compared to HD broadcasts on HD TV it's no contest. Hence the loss in quality. DaveG

Tony, It might be an advantage to use 1024x768 and "original" mode for the screen grabs in place of the default "fit to screen". That way they would be OK on the laptop and be readable (albeit smaller) on the larger monitor. I presume that you will do the 1024x768 screen grabs on the laptop? I have more or less the same setup as you: 1920x1200, 1200x800 and 1280x1024 monitors. To complicate matters further, when connecting to my TV via HDMI, the required resolution is 1366x768. DaveG

Bill, You might need to explain what you want to achieve in the slide shows? For instance, do you want to start with a full frame and zoom into the sitter's face? That would involve a certain amount of both Pan and Zoom. I would suggest that no PZR effects would be better for you. I don't think that an automated or randomly generated show is going to give you what you want. Take a look at Lin and Jeff's tutorial and maybe that would help you get started? DaveG.

Go back to the shows on the D drive and create TEMPLATES. Transfer the Templates to the C drive and they will recognize the image files. Ken, This is a recurring problem - could the solution not be "pinned"? DaveG

Set time for slides to maximum (5000Sec?) and click on Set For Existing. DaveG

Thanks Peter. DaveG

Hi Peter, I have been analysing the various components and cannot see where the Black Slide project file fits into it all. Could you explain a little (or did I miss an earlier post?). DaveG

Thanks Peter - I knew that you would get there in the end! I have not tried it yet but will do sowith my Vista laptop asap. NOW, let's hope that Igor doesn't do anything silly with the Windowed Mode. There was a suggestion regarding Windowed Mode a while ago - can't remember too much about it but I remember being concerned! DaveG

Hi Peter, I don't want to spoil your Eureka moment BUT, I'm getting a flash back to the (Hidden) Taskbar between shows in XP - haven't tried it in Vista yet. When I downloaded the zip file there were no Gradblue and no Gradred EXE files. I created them in the same folder to continue. Have I missed something? If you are up to sharing this would it perhaps be possible to update your zip file to a working model and re-post? Thanks, DaveG

Hi Jeff, Sorry for the delay in replying - I have been walking my little legs off in Austria for two weeks. I went back to the beginning and read your original post again. The Disable Scaling would work if you resized to 1152x768 (3:2 aspect ratio) to suit the height of your projector (losing a little on each side as you suggested). However on your 1280x1024 monitor you would have a black "line" all around - you can't have it both ways. By the way, the correct settings would be Full-Screen and 4:3 (NOT 5:4) assuming that projection is the ultimate objective? DaveG

Agreed - it is confusing, as Barry points out, to have to enter information in the CUSTOMISE dialogue for AUTHOR when in MESSAGES you might have set it to MODE or RESOLUTION or ASPECT RATIO. DaveG

Agreed Barry - changes made in the MESSAGES dialogue should immediately show in the Customise dialogue. I wonder if this is the BUG? DaveG

Here's a nice use for the Start Up menu DaveG

It is VERY relevant Ian. I am surprised that it happened and it does prove that someone is watching! However, I made the point earlier that if an instantly recognisable voice or instrument(alist) is used then trouble could occur. I would also point out that Cat Stevens - Stephanos Demetre Georgiou - Yusuf Islam - is not the copyright police but could invoke their assistance. DaveG

You can debate the ethics of this forever - this has been going on since Barry were a lad. Can ANYONE HERE who has been chased down by the copyright police PLEASE step forward. Once again, if it worries you................... DaveG

A lot of people I know in the AV world will not shoot anything but Landscape and crop to the same aspect ratio as their camera for the reasons that you have found. DaveG

A Harry Potter cloak? How's the weather? DaveG

I agree with Barry - if it were in the centre of the screen with a white line all around and blank space top, bottom and sides it would be superb. I have shied away from mixing portrait and landscape in shows because of the difficulties it presents when having to use the white line. DaveG

Hi Xaver, I will be in Innsbruck soon - not too far away? I will look for you! Ken, I must admit that it was not easy to spot, until Xaver pointed it out. Bookmark it!! DaveG

Barry, I think I see what Xaver is saying. If you alter, for instance, "AUTHOR" in "MESSAGES" to BARRY BECKHAM it will change the Author title in the start up screen to Barry Beckham. The CONTENT of the box remains untouched - blank until you put something (in "Customise Start up window"). Also I think the changes only occur when the show is previewed. So if you put Barry Beckham in place of Author in Messages and write "is going to Australia" in the Customise etc Author box it will read (on preview): Barry Beckham - is going to Australia. DaveG

I totally agree with Peter and nothing should be done to compromise Bill's position. DaveG

Tony, Taking a PRACTICAL viewpoint, there are masses of cover CDs of music on cheap labels of INSTRUMENTAL background music which when used would be IMPOSSIBLE to identify. If you want to use an instantly identifiable artist (vocally or instrumentally) then you are giving yourself problems. Personally, I don't use/like vocals in AVs unless the MUSIC is the main part of the show and the images just help to tell the story. Classical pieces by obscure artists on cheap labels like NAXOS or music from some of Barry Beckhams CDs seem to be the best way forward. The copyright police are not worried about our little efforts - they have much bigger fish to catch. But if it worries you............. DaveG

Hi Peter, Your post above reminded me - you were going to update us on the results of your research into Menu Systems. Did I miss it? Best wishes, DaveG.