Lin Evans

Hi Gary, Logically zero make no sense. A "cross-fade" option with zero time is not a cross-fade. Defaults are there for convenience. There is no value in having "zero" where zero has no meaning. In fact having a zero in cross-fade would be illogical. One had just as well have a tick box that said "no cross-fade" with a "zero" in it. Pretty useless don't you think? I think you fail to grasp the significance of "default" settings. Most people who want a cross-fade will be quite happy with 5 seconds. If you put in zero it not only negates the intent of "cross-fade," it "forces" the user to put a value in if they want a cross-fade. Best regards, Lin

Hi Peter, Yes, it's true that we can make "templates" but for something as common as a background image one shouldn't need to do so. Also, not everyone "wants" to use the same settings for each slideshow. For example, when I make shows for clients, I may use anything from 4 megapixel to 1024x768 resolution and one of several aspect ratios depending on the type of material in the show. So creating multiple personal templates would probably be counter productive. The reason I posed the question is so perhaps we can give Igor some guidance on useful changes. Background image sounds reasonable as does User selected image. I'm not sure that "number of tiles across and number of tiles down might not be confusing to a new user. But that's why I believe we need to discuss it. The border "Save and use by default" is a nice feature. Does it apply "only" to the individual show, or does creating the "Use by Default" apply it to future shows? If after doing this it is applied to future shows, that would not be a good thing, I think. Often I much prefer making my own frames (borders) and it would be a nice feature "for me" to be able to apply that frame automatically to each slide without adding the same PNG multiple times. As for the drop shadow, right now there is no feature to define it for "all slides" but you can define a "preset" which can then be used each time without re-entering the multiple values. What I had in mind was being able to "choose" from a user created preset and have those values automatically applied to all slides in the show. Also another feature under consideration is keyframing for drop shadows. It would be very useful, especially for more sophisticated animations, if we could keyframe drop shadows on a single slide. For instance, as a slide is panned, the shadow may change greatly depending on the apparent source of light. We need a way to not only keyframe drop shadows, but also rotate them to mirror reality during motion. Of course we can approximate this using multiple slides, but that's a rather kludge work-around. Best regards, Lin

A while back, I was creating a slideshow for a friend and I wanted to use my own JPG image for the background. The slideshow had about 160 photos of art work, and I wanted to use an image I had taken of white sand. I had enlarged the image considerably to get the appearance of "white stucco" and it made a nice background for the oil and acrylic paintings which were the subject of the show. I also wanted to apply my own PNG frame and set a common drop shadow for each slide. In all, there were many steps because "I thought" that I had to insert my background photo on each slide then set the drop shadow and add my PNG frame, adjust it to fit the photo, etc. I made the suggestion to Igor that it would be helpful to be able, for example, to set a common size and color for a "border" and apply it universally, to be able to use a background jpg of user choice and apply it universally and to be able to universally apply a selected profile drop shadow across all photos by clicking an option. Igor told me that it was possible to apply a user selected background image universally by choosing the "tiled image" then setting the numeric percentage to 100. I didn't know this and I'm pretty familiar with PTE's functions and options! After discussing this, Igor asked if there were a better English phrase to describe the function now called "tiled image" and I suggested "User selected image" as a replacement for tiled image. Igor suggested possibly using 100% as the default which is now 20%. I thought it would be reasonable to ask for user input about possibly changing the title from "Tiled image" to something else such as "User selected image." My own experience tells me that a full sized jpg, png, bmp, etc., is more "commonly used" than a tiled image so that it would be more "intuitive" to use a term like "User selected image," but it thought it would be helpful to get input from the forum about this.... I think that the other issues such as universal drop shadow and universal color and pixel size for a border should go on the possible "to do" list for development. It takes a lot of time to type in the numbers for color (requires three entries) and pixel size for each individual image. I think there should, of course, remain an option to be able to vary this per image, but certainly it would be a huge time saver to be able to have universal values applied for all slides without the need to perform the task multiple times. Likewise for drop shadows. Best regards, Lin

Hi Peter, I think the way this is designed to work in PTE is that you have some really nice flexibility, but one needs to understand exactly how it works. If you do not want or need a fade in on the beginning of your first music selection, then there is no reason to us cross-fade on the first selection. If you do tick crossfade for the first selection, you will get a fade in on the first song "and" a fade out as the actual "cross-fade" happens with the second selection. If you already have a fade in on your MP3 track, then there would be no advantage, but rather a disadvantage, to tick cross-fade for the first selection. It is "possible" to achieve the cross-fade by using fade-in, fade-out and offset by putting the two songs on separate tracks. Also this would work fine if both selections had fade-in and fade-out already embedded in the MP3. In other words, there are more than one way to achieve identical results. The thing which confuses many is the relationship or perhaps "functionality" of the offset versus start time. The start time "always" refers to how far into the music selection one wants the tune to begin. That is somewhat counter-intuitive to some. The offset always refers to when along the timeline you want the tune to begin. I know you already understand this thoroughly, I'm only reiterating for other readers. It would be nice if we could do this "visually," but I don't think it's really a big deal if we can't. I think what needs to be done is to carefully "explain" how it works via the documentation, tutorials and so on. The problem is that we have people experimenting then becoming confused and posting that things are not working correctly when actually it's a total misunderstanding on the part of the individual about how it is "supposed" to work. A while back one of our French users posted a nice tutorial on using the sound, waveforms, etc., but I think perhaps it wasn't thorough enough and also was not publicized sufficiently. There is always the issue of new users coming on to the forum with the same questions over and again. I'm not certain what the solution is, but I know we need to somehow "point" new users at the tutorials section when they first register on the forums. Myriad question which I see every week are quite adequately addressed in the many tutorials available, but users are not aware. Maybe there should be a "READ ME FIRST" screen which informs all new registrants that they "should" avail themselves of all the available help. The fact that the "Tutorials and Articles" section is subjugated to the Frequently Asked Questions means that some simply don't see it. Perhaps it deserves its own section? Best regards, Lin

Hi Gary, If the drum beats are "eliminated" in your system, there is something wrong outside of PTE. If you use a very "long" crossfade such as the 10 seconds I used for the quick demo, the volume is "attenuated" as the song fades in but data is certainly not eliminated. If you change from a 10 second crossfade to a 4 second crossfade there is virtually zero difference between having or not having a crossfade as applies to the beginning of the background song. I would imagine that the reason for this is to make "crossfade" universal. There is no way to apriori know whether a particular music selection is going to be used as the "fade out" or the "fade in" so both the beginning and end of the selection are affected. The beginning is faded in and the end is faded out. That way regardless of where a song is placed (in position one as the fade out, or position two as the fade in) there will be no abrupt start. Best regards, Lin

Hi Gary, The "crossfade" has absolutely no effect on the beginning of the first mp3 on any of my systems. The sample is fading out in the early part of the first song because of the the reasons I explained in my other post. I did not want to play the entire song and have multiple slides. I only used two slides to show you how to do what you asked. " In my sample I used duration because I didn't want to alter the mp3's for the short 30 second slide times." I used a fade because I was ending the first song in far less that its full version. As I explained, you don't need to deal with duration if you are using the full length of the MP3. If you already have a fade at the end of the song, you only need to set the crossfade to identical times on each mp3 selection. I can't say why you are experiencing some "difference" in sound. I hear the full drum beginning on all my systems, so apparently there is something unique to your system which is changing that - it's not PTE. If you find it works better for you to use offset on your second slide and use two tracks, then do it that way - whatever works best. Best regards, Lin

Hi Gary, You don't need "offset"- the purpose of that is to vary the "start" time of your audio from the start time of the show. What you need is to set a fade out for your first song and a fade in for the second then set them both to crossfade for identical durations You use both on a single track, then if you "need" to, set the duration accordingly. If the entire song is to play then fade out, you need not be concerned with "duration." In my sample I used duration because I didn't want to alter the mp3's for the short 30 second slide times. Here is a sample for you to look at: http://www.learntoma...ample/gary2.zip Best regards, Lin

John, As with all other images in PTE, just click on the "handle" on the side you want to change and hold down the shift key while you drag it. You can make the mask container any rectangular shape you want. Best regards, Lin

Ideally, you would go back and shoot the lid straight on so you don't have to distort the shape to make a rectangle. On the other hand you don't really "have" to distort it to a rectangle, but it does make it easier. Best regards, Lin

Hi Brian, You don't need a mask at all. What you do is take your image of the vehicle into Elements (I have Photoshop, so instructions will be similar). Once you have the image opened, determine the size in pixel dimensions. Copy your vehicle to the clipboard. Open a transparency of identical size to your vehicle picture and "paste" the original image over the transparency. Why there were areas of partial transparency, I can't say. Perhaps it's because of the method you used in Elements to create the transparent windshield. Transparency is "indicated" by the checkerboard pattern. Where it is pure black and white there is 100 percent transparency. Where you see color in the checkerboard, there is partial transparency. Next use the eraser tool and "erase" the area of the windshield(s) which you want to see the background through. Save this file as a PNG. Then open PTE, put the PNG transparency image on the layer above the background. What will show through the "windows" of your vehicle will be what is on the layer beneath. Then simply manipulate the layer beneath. I will send you a project file done this way so you can see how it works. Give me a few moments. http://www.learntoma...vehiclemove.zip The above is essentially the same project as Xaver sent you. The vehicle has transparency on the windshield in front and on the right side leaving the rear view mirror which you want to see. The transparency allows the layer beneath to show through in the areas where you see the checkerboard pattern that represents the alpha channel. You create it by simply using two layers in Elements. The lower layer is transparency and the upper layer is your vehicle. You erase the areas of the "vehicle," i.e., the windshield which you want to be able to "see through" and this allows the image beneath (the animals, grass, etc.) to show through. There is no need for a mask at all unless you want to get a little more sophisticated and run the rear view mirror view inside a mask. If you want to see how that would be done let me know and I'll create a sample for you. Best regards, Lin

Hi Peter, There are a couple ways to approach this. The "easiest" way is to incrementally use rotation and 3D transforms to position the lid visually throughout the rotation. This would entail making a PNG object with transparency for the top and bottom of the lid from the two images (closed and open). The move the center visually to the apparent center of the rotation point on the rear. By using equally spaced keyframes, you then rotate and adjust the XY axis throughout the opening process. This way you won't have to "build" another side view, but it would help the realism if you did. As David says, it's essentially the same process as a "cube" or more like a "cereal box" which is rotated on the re-positioned center. You might ask Dom for a little help, he does the "box" thing very well and does lots of them. A little more on this. Think of your lid as simply a rectangle in reality, but with transparency where the dimensions are not regular. So you "create" your rectangle using the visible side top and bottom of the lid. The other three sides are unimportant so could just be transparency rectangles. In essence you are simply manipulating a rectangle with a re-positioned center of rotation. This way you are not "creating" a false lid, but using the actual lid from the "thunder box". Best regards, Lin

Hi Luc, Could you tell us which version of PTE you are using, what your default settings are, which OS you are using and which video card? The image works fine on my systems as shown below:

Peter, Ich stimme voll und ganz! Es wurde mit viel Mühe, dass die deutschsprachige Forum erstellt wurde. Bitte, deutsche Sprecher, verwenden Sie es zu Ihrem Vorteil! Bitte verzeihen Sie meine arme Google Übersetzung ... Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Lin

What was confusing me was all the partial transparency inside the vehicle. I use Producer which works very similar to PS Gold in that regards, but all the partial transparency wasn't making sense. The only place any masking would be needed for Gold or Producer would be in the areas of the windows, not on the steering wheel, etc. What I would do would be to make a small mask for the mirror, place an image inside to be manipulated, remove the steering wheel and replace it with a PNG overlay so it could be rotated a bit as the vehicle moved. Then add keyframes randomly and give the vehicle rotation and up and down motion to simulate driving over rough ground. Not too much work to add lots of realism... Best regards, Lin

Hi Xaver, I posted before I looked at your sample, then we posted simultaneously - LOL. After looking at his sample, I was scratching my head about what he was trying to achieve. The only remaining thing other than your sample which may need to be done is to put a small PNG file with a mask on the rear view mirror so that the view changes as the vehicle apparently moves forward... Best regards, Lin

Hi Brian, In looking at your construction, I'm perplexed. You have nothing inside the mask at all and you have transparency - but not full transparency - inside the vehicle in places like the mirror, steering wheel, etc. If what you want is to have the outside image zoom and see that from within the vehicle, you only need full transparency on the front winshield and you don't need a mask at all. If you will post the original from inside the vehicle without any alterations, I'll quickly make a sample for you which I think might help you get your head around the concept better.... EDIT: Never mind - Xaver has done it perfectly - if you haven't downloaded his example please do so.... Best regards, Lin

Hi Greg, Another feature which would really be useful, at least for some animations, is the ability to not only "clone" multiple keyframes simultaneously, but also "reverse" them. I found it quite tedious, for example, when making the venetian blind animation to have to copy/paste hundreds of keypoints in reverse their order. After creating all the keyframes to "raise" the blinds, I needed these same keyframe in reverse order to "close" the blinds. It was copy/paste, copy/paste, etc., one at a time for pull cords (3), pull handles (3), blind slats (15) and each had settings for pan, zoom, rotate and 3D transforms.... It would have saved hours of tedious work if I could have copied the entire set, reversed and pasted. Likewise for any animation where things open and close - doors, windows, levers, switches, etc. Lin

Hi Robert, Hi Robert, Thanks much! It was a fun project and one which the difficulty of making is probably largely unappreciated by most. I'm sorry to hear that Moises (Morasoft) has left the forum, his input and extremely well thought out sequences and animations will be greatly missed. Obviously, there are many uses for a tool like PTE. Animation and the creation of various objects is probably not of consuming interest to most who currently use the product, but the things learned by pushing the boundaries of possibilities and incorporated into PTE will, I believe, eventually be appreciated by more as younger users become interested and join the cadre over time. I think that often we older folks tend to get "stuck" in the past and fail to open our eyes to the changes happening around us. There will always be a place for conventional sequences and well thought out constructions which tell a story and bring the beauty of the world to us in audio and visual splendor; but concepts like video and animation, which are currently and primarily the realm of younger enthusiasts, will eventually filter their way to older users, at least to most of us. Interestingly, some of our now departed illustrious members such as Peter Coles (AV Peter) were very interested in learning and using animation to enhance the AV experience. Even one of our oldest members, Ron Wilkinson (Ronwil) was learning animation and doing quite well with it up until a few days before he passed away a few years ago. Hopefully, there will always be room for all our interests with this great product and it will continue to flourish as a tool of choice for a wide variety of audio/visual interests. Best regards, Lin

Project Options, Comments Tab, Insert Template (bottom of window in blue and underlined), Picture Name With Extension, Click on "Set for Existing Slides," then click on "O.K.".... Best regards, Lin

Hi Ken, One of the problems with large shows. Unfortunately, there is really nothing I can do other than make a postage sized video to reduce the bandwidth considerations. It "could" be converted to high quality Flash which has much greater compression, but I lost my super expensive Flash FLV with preload conversion software with my system crash so now have to use MP4. The freeware Flash conversion software actually makes a larger file than the MP4. The file size is about 196 meg so the only thing those with limited bandwidth can do is start and immediately pause and let it buffer long enough to play without interruption. Best regards, Lin

Hi Erik, After reading the linked thread, it's pretty obvious that the boys over there have no clue about hardware rendering and your needs. PTE is rather unique in that it uses the GPU rather than the CPU which is used by the vast majority of other presentation slideshow software. What would be a good thing for you to do is to check the specific testing on the GPU you have chosen. The mobile variant is always less powerful than the desktop version. If you click here and look up your card, however: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/ You will find that the G3D rating on your chosen nVidia card is 1016 which is quite nice and should perform well with about anything we can throw at it with PTE. I believe the advice which the youngsters are giving you on the forum is faulty. Stick with the dedicated GPU if PTE is your primary use. Best regards, Lin

Hi Guys, Thanks - a bit of a workout for a video card - less than optimal systems will probably experience stutter on the snowfall in the last scene, but modern video cards will probably play it smoothly. I posted a video version link today Friday 13 January..... I'll repeat the video link here: http://www.lin-evans.org/experiment/experiment.htm Best regards, Lin

Hi Peter, For a "clock" type animation, the position of the hands would then need to be modified at each keyframe. In the past, I have created a clock which ran for an extended period by doing something similar, but there is still a lot of manual work which must be done. It would be a great feature if we could just copy and paste keyframes using the hold down CTRL key Windows Copy feature, but that is disabled in PTE on the timeline. Best regards, Lin

Hi Tony, Right now I don't believe that is possible. It would be a nice feature, however. Best regards, Lin