Lin Evans

Hi Peter, I suspect that your assumption about "programming complexity" is indeed correct and why this wasn't an original feature along with the other inherited features of the parent/child relationship. It would be a nice addition if it were possible to implement without too much effort, but I suppose that creating features more commonly used might have higher priority. I think perhaps getting those who have been asking for multi-track visuals on sound, etc., might be at the forefront of the next wave of improvements. Another area in which many would like to see implemented is text effects. Once video is ironed out, video sound controls are improved and expanded and sound features in general are improved, I suspect the development team might start working on more esoteric features such as you suggest along with some improvements in implementing "smooth" animation controls. I've often wondered why it wouldn't make more sense that when one chooses "smooth" motion that the individual keyframe groupings (separate here and glue here) were not defaulted rather than having to do it by individual mouse clicks. Then the "option" could be to change them individually, when needed. At least we do have an alternative means of achieving group opacity available, even if it isn't necessarily intuitive. There are also some types of masking which the competition has available that PTE doesn't yet support which might be nice to have. Best regards, Lin

Hi Jean-Cyprien, That's the way I've always done it and it works fine. I guess it could be helpful from a resource perspective to inherit opacity, but the mask works very well for me. Best regards, Lin

Hi Andrew, Sorry, I missed your post earlier! Master and Linked are found by selecting the video in Objects and Animations then look on the "Properties" tab. You don't need to worry about timing for the video, it will just continue to play in the background and the still slides can have whatever times you assign to each. The only thing you need be concerned with is to match the total still slide display times to the video run time you have either set via offset, start/stop or left at default. Best regards, Lin

Hi Andrew, You can't do it that way. You would have to mute the video sounds, extract the sound track(s) and add it as an mp3, etc., then use the audio waveform feature to turn the sound on and off. There is no provision for turning on and off video sound or audio via keyframe.... Best regards, Lin

Yes, of course. Or you can have stills rotating in the background while the video is playing. Just set the video in Objects and Animations "Properties tab" as Master on your first slide. Next copy and paste the video into each slide being sure that you have the slide on the top layer and set the properties for the video to "link" to your master video. Be certain you adjust the timing for total slide displays to correspond the the video run time. Best regards, Lin

Hi Boogie, There is one slight issue you may have, and that is that there may be a very slight "seam" between images. There used to be a feature with PTE where you could set the display to be slightly less "precise" and that would eliminate this seam, but this feature doesn't seem to be available in the Version 7 beta. There may be a work-around for this, but I've not yet discovered how to completely remove this seam. Perhaps one of our other users has a suggestion.... Never mind, I just found the solution - turn on "Low Quality of Resizing" on each image in the "Properties" tab of Objects and Animations and you will have no visible seam.... This feature is still available in Version 7 Best regards, Lin P.S. If you really want to make the "slice" easier than by using Photoshop, you could download and install the freeware PhotoScape here: Using the "Splitter" feature of PhotoScape is "much" easier than doing it with PhotoShop and it's incredibly fast. http://www.photoscape.org

Hi Boogie, I agree, the most resource saving way would be to divide the large panorama into sections. Actually, you can use the "slice" feature of Photoshop to do this in such a way that there will be perfect alignment of pixels on the edges from segment to segment. Then if you stop on one of these "slices" you can then resume the pan from that point. My suggestion would be to make the slices each at least half again larger than the horizontal width of your intended display. Then when you start and stop you can use a "Push Effect - right to left" to seamlessly continue the scroll between segments. Set the scroll time for each segment and the push effect to the same times. Best regards, Lin

Hi Jeff, That's another "False Positive" from AVG - this crops up every so often, gets reported and AVG takes care of it in their next version. Too many people have already watched this show for the threat to be real. Which version of AVG are you running? Best regards, Lin

Hi Fergy, What I would suggest is taking one of your executable files and playing it on another computer. If you have sound, then the issue is with your system and not with the files. I doubt that the problem is other than a setting on your computer. It's not feasible that the beta would affect your settings, but there are other possibilities. First, if you could tell us what operating system you are using, then perhaps one of us can help you unravel this mystery. Best regards, Lin

Hi Gerry, You won't be able to do it that way with PTE. This type 360 panorama is designed for QuickTime with manual controls. PTE can't display that type mov file in the say way as QuickTime or players designed to allow manual control in real-time with movement. The only way you will be able to do it is as I described in my demo, by creating a "flat" or "planar" rather than cylindrical 360. If you stitch as I described, you can then place the 360 degree horizontal view pano in PTE and run it in automated mode, but you will not have manual control and you can't display a cylindrical 360 in the video mode of PTE. The only way you could use a video for a 360 degree panorama is to shoot it in video mode from a tripod and display that video. Another way you "could" display a 360 degree panorama (including 360x360) would be to place the separate image into a "cube" and display it that way as a "cubic" panorama - in the same way as described in QuickTime 5.0. I have tutorials in the tutorials section on how to create cubes so having six square images containing all the geography for your 360x360 pano could be displayed in that manner. Best regards, Lin

It was too good an opportunity to miss "shades of Xaver?" Best regards, Lin

Hi Gerrit, It depends on what you mean by 360 degree panoramic. Let me try to explain: You can take overlapping photos and arrange them so that 360 degrees of horizontal coverage is achieved. The "last" photo and the first photo can be the same. Then use photo stitching software to stitch these into a very wide panorama which covers 360 degrees in the horizontal direction. You could then play this large horizontal panorama in PTE as a 360 degree scroll but it would not be the same thing as a 360x360 degree panorama. With PTE there is no way to have Active control over the scroll like you can do with Java or with some of the other web software designed to let the user scroll about and see a complete 360x360 degree view. These always have perspective distortion and require specialized software for that purpose. If your 360 degree pano is made into a VIdeo, you can, of course, display the video in PTE. Here's a quick sample of a 360 degree horizontal panorama done by stitching overlapping photos to achieve a horizontal 360 degrees.... http://www.learntoma...noslicedemo.zip Best regards, Lin

Hi Dave, Actually, there is - sort of...... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subpixel_rendering Best regards, Lin

Hi Xaver, If they are good ones - go for it!! Some of them we don't get in the U.S. Best regards, Lin

Hi Xaver, Are you speaking for all the people in Germany, or just for yourself? LOL... Lin ]

For those who didn't see the 6/08/11 America's Got Talent - (I don't know if this is broadcast in other countries) this young lady from Denver, Colorado (27 years old) electrified the judges and audience with her version of Ave Maria. The audience and judges simply didn't expect this operatic voice to come from this girl. Lys lost her very supportive fiance in an automobile accident two years ago and didn't think she would ever sing again. For the sake of the world, she changed her mind! This is an encapsulated video from Youtube for convenience. http://www.learntomakeslideshows.net/demos/lysagnes.zip (about 27 meg download) Lin

Hi JFF, Yes, you will need to recreate the video. The program won't remove the watermarks from already created shows. Best regards, Lin

Hi JFF, I'm sorry that you fail to appreciate the situation and the mistaken identity: "The content of your original message and your "handle" combined with this being your very "first" post made it appear you were one of the regular PTE forum members posing as a customer. " I've already apologized, so I'll not do it again. No one asked you to "justify yourself." PIcturesToExe and Video Builder are two different programs which work together to allow features which PicturesToExe alone does not offer. Your PicturesToExe code key is good for all future versions just as advertised. Had you visited the forum in the past, you would have understood this because the developers have patiently explained it numerous times. Video builder simply adds additional power for creating high resolution video formats. Also, I would suggest you consider downloading PTE Version 7 beta 10 which is a fully functioning and stable beta version which allows you to include video clips in your slideshows. You download it here: http://www.picturest...deluxe-70-beta/ This beta version of PTE 7.0 can co-exist with your current latest PTE version and will create its own icon and folder. Please visit the forums as often as you have the opportunity because here is where you will learn not only news about developments with PTE and Video builder, but also have the opportunity to gain access to free tutorials and information which can help you better learn to use the product. Best regards, Lin

Hi JFF, You'll have to excuse my little attempt at humor - you couldn't possibly know why it was so funny, but let me try to fill you in. We have just had an extended conversation about issues with loading keys and with customers who, for one reason or another, have difficulty.using the program. One of the main things we discussed was users who wait until they absolutely "must" have the program for some "deadline" then need immediate assistance. The content of your original message and your "handle" combined with this being your very "first" post made it appear you were one of the regular PTE forum members posing as a customer. I downloaded and purchased the Pics to Exe program years ago and keep having the problem with it asking for my activation key. (years ago and not solved yet?) I was emailed a zip file with an exe to run which I have tried to run again but it is still asking me for a code. Says I need to upgrade to deluxe? I use this program quite infrequently and I recall having the same issue last year but it was resolved at the time and I can't remember what the solution was. As usual leaving it to the last minute to create a slideshow for a friends birthday and it has trial version splashed all over it. I don't want to pay again but can't work out what I am doing wrong. So, you purchased PTE "years ago" and have not solved the problem..... You "recall" having the problem last year and it was "resolved" but you don't remember the "solution".... You left it "to the last minute to create a slideshow" ..... Your handle is "Just for Fun".... This combination of information was just too unreal and too pertinent to our recent discussion to not assume it was a practical joke by one of the regulars. I apologize for the humor at your expense, but If you read the threads we have just had about these very type issues, I think you may better appreciate the "mistake." Go here to read the threads which are relevant: Best regards, Lin

ROFLMAO - Love it !! Lin

A friend linked me to this video - I just put it into an executable - these are some fantastic talented kids from Italy and Sicily . Worth a look folks - if you're not already familiar with them: Presenting, Il Volo.... http://www.learntomakeslideshows.net/debbie/ilvolo.zip (about 35 meg) Lin

Hi Brook, I have emailed the developers and they will get the email as soon as they get to work. It's about 5:40 am right now, their time, so they will get this message in a few hours and get right on it. It's "possible" there may be a resolution later tonight so check your email..... Best regards, Lin

Hi Brooke, I will email the developer, but they are in Russia and right now with the time difference it will probably be a few hours before they can respond, but they will get right back to you as soon as they get the message. I'm confident that by tomorrow morning your issue will be solved. Best regards, Lin

Hi Brooke, Let's try that. I haven't actually seen a key for a few years so am working from distant memory, but I think you only want the part for Video Builder - Let's try and see what happens... Best regards, Lin

Hi Brooke, You should have two separate product keys: one for the main program and one for Video Builder. First be certain that you are copying and pasting the correct key. If you did not receive two keys, please respond right away and Alena will get right back to you. Best regards, Lin