Lin Evans

Hi Gerard, Snow animation is easiest for me to do by creating PNG files which have random white flakes or blurred circles representing snow. These should be varied in size so that the ones closest to the "camera" view are larger and those on the back layer are smaller. I usually use about three layers. Sometimes it's the same PNG file which is either zoomed to make it larger or played at original size to make it smaller. These PNG files are loaded as PNG Objects in the Objects and animations layer and usually are animated by emulating snow fall in terms of direction and varying speed. Perhaps the easiest way for you to learn this is to go to the PanosFX site, register, then download the free PanosFX Snowglobe Photoshop/Elements action. The download my free template from the same site and create a Snowglobe. Study the PNG files I give you with the template and you can then experiment by using them with other images. After a while you will probably want to experiment in Photoshop and create your own, but this will get you started. Here's a link to the PanosFX site: http://www.panosfx.com/ Once you have registered (it's free) then click on the link below: http://www.panosfx.com/index.php?option=co...8&Itemid=56 You won't be able to reach the link above until you are registered. On the above link you can download my PTE "template" and instructions which will get you started. Best regards, Lin

Hi Guys, I'll try to get something out this weekend in the way of specifics about how you can use masking. Tonight I have to deal with the death of my old and last horse, Nicky. Nicky was 31 years old and has been in great shape and acting like a young colt lately but his old ticker finally gave out and I found him tonight outside his stall. Nicky - 1977 - Dec 26, 2008 Lin

Actually, the maximum resolution for monitors is much higher than you think. In newer displays four megapixels (2560 x 1600) is readily available and even 9.2 megapixel (3840x2400) such as my ViewSonic VP2290b which I recently sold. Many of my clients use the four megapixel models and I make many shows at this resolution. Best regards, Lin

Actually, having each keyframe on a separate line could get really confusing when you have multiple keyframes and multiple objects. For example, sometimes in a complex animation you might have hundreds of keyframes for each object. If each keyframe were on a separate line and the time duration for the slide were quite long, you would have to scroll down many, many screens to get to later keyframes and in doing so loose the visual reference to those above. By using the arrows you can easily navigate from one keyframe to the next on the same line and you can get a visual representation of their relationships over time by their respective positions over the timeline. With them on separate lines you would have no visual reference for those far along the timeline in relation to earlier keyframes. The "secret" to moving about the keyframes when you have multiples which are very close together is to use the arrows and not try to "click" on individual keyframes. When they accidentally occupy the same space (time) they turn from blue to red. Of course this could happen on separate lines but I would think this would get confusing if you had more than a few. By having a separate line for each keyframe you would waste a tremendous amout of horizontal space because each line would only occupy a minute part of the horizontal space alloted. I can see how this might be useful, but only if optional. Photoshop is limited to something like 100 layers, and rarely does any complex image actually use more than a couple dozen, but not PTE. As I recall, JPD once made a puzzle which had over 600 layers with one object per layer. This might be difficult to keep track of if one couldn't have some visual reference for keyframe sequencing along the same timeline. Just my thoughts.... Best regards, Lin

What if you have 600 objects?? Lin

Yes, Project Options, Screen Tab, click beside "Tiled Image" then click on the "file" folder to navigate to desired file to be used as tiled background. Lin

The problem isn't with PTE but with the anti-virus software. False positives are not that uncommon with anti-virus software and need to be handled by the anti-virus software developers not by Wnsoft. There is no problem with the Wnsoft code which needs to be changed to accommodate defects in anti-virus detection. Wnsoft notifies anti-virus software companies whenever a false positive is discovered, the rest is up to the software developers of the anti-virus software. There is no need to be alarmed - the problem is "definitely" with the anti-virus software. Best regards, Lin

Project Options, Comments, Insert Template - then choose.... Lin

Hi Barry, Just install Flash 9 - download from the Adobe site free. Actually, for this type show the Flash version is about a good as an executable. There are no big zooms or long pans and the animation is quick enough that no jerkiness is visible at all - actually it looks great at full screen. The "majority" of younger users already have the latest and greatest Flash player installed. It's just we old geezers who are slow to the gate, so I suppose it depends on the audience you want to reach. Both Vimeo and Youtube now display higher resolution Flash and convert the MP4's from PTE automatically. Vimeo allows the user to determine whether they want the viewer to be able to download the original MP4 so actually it's a pretty decent system with broad appeal. The only thing I don't care for about Vimeo (and the new trend) is that they only support high definition in 16:9 aspect ratio which millions of users still have systems on which displays are anything but. Also the majority of digital cameras don't shoot in 16:9 meaning we have to crop our images and shoot with future cropping in mind to make a decent looking HD show as it is displayed on Vimeo. Best regards, Lin

Hi Igor, In my opinion - toss it out, we don't need it... converter sounds great and a much better way to go. Best regards, Lin

LOL - I'll put some sausage on those windmill blades so that dog will point in the right direction! L

Hi Ian, Great stuff!! Loved "Morning Has Broken" as well - perfect fit for Cat Steven's beautiful melody... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Lin

Just for Ken - HA! http://www.learntomakeslideshows.net/sample/ha!.zip L

Hi Barbara, If you have Photoshop CS or better, go to PanosFX - http://www.panosfx.com/ and register, then go to http://www.panosfx.com/index.php?option=co...8&Itemid=56 You have to register and sign in to get to the second link, so copy and paste it in your browser and go there "after" you have registered on the PanosFX site rather than try to link from here. Download the SnowGlobe Photoshop action and my template if you want to animate with snow. Then you only need to follow the instructions on the PDF to animate your own image inside the snow globe with falling snow. Best regards, Lin

HA! Ken can't see the lights on the windmill blades so I think I'll put a magnifying glass on them.... Lin

LOL - You got ta go see that eye doc again and get him to up the ante on your new glasses. - better yet, I need to put a "magnifying glass" on the last image - dem blades got lights! HA! L

Here's your "alternate ending".... Look for additional lights in windmill windows and on windmill blades, ending in "snowglobe".... Best regards, Lin http://www.learntomakeslideshows.net/sampl...tsalternate.zip

Hi Bob, Thanks for the kind words and feedback. Threads like this help with not only the original question (lights or no lights) but also with cross-cultural understanding. We are all products of our environment and perhaps in some small way this helps to broaden our horizons and open our eyes to differences in perceptions based on our individual experiences. Best regards, Lin

Hi Tom, Great idea! Best regards, Lin

Hi Ralph, Thanks for the useful feedback. Thankfully, PTE is a tool which serves many different aesthetic tastes and can be used in many ways. This last show was one, and aesthetically pleasing shows without, as Patrick refers to them, "fancy animations" can easily be done which will play even on older systems with minimal resources too. Best regards, Lin

Hi Patrick, The only transitions are fades so if there is "stuttering" it is probably the lack of hardware rendering capability. If you mean the snow fall animation is stuttering, it's also your video card which is not up to the task of properly rendering the PNG animations. As for the aesthetics, that's a subjective evaluation which "may" be colored by your hardware limitations, or not. If snow falls "upwards," it's indeed your hardware - LOL. I think over the last couple years we have been down this path with your system hardware limitations many times. It's unfortunate that you don't have a modern graphics environment because you do not see what others see. With PTE you have the "choice" of allowing retrieval of images with a decompiler, or not. By default encryption is on, and I didn't change the default so you are correct that a screen copy will not separate the PNG animations from the images, but that's not the purpose of my presentation or question which is whether the Christmas lights are preferred or not by the majority. I'm not certain what you mean by "falling snow... a great step backward...." It's only one of many possible animations which can be very realistic providing your graphics environment is up to the task of properly rendering the motion. Perhaps in the future when you replace your present system you will be able to at least see what is intended rather than what I'm certain is a real "mess" on your screen. Unfortunately, everyone does not sequence to the least common denominator so perhaps a "caveat" should be issued to not waste the time of those with older systems. I will do this in the future for you. Thanks for the feedback, Best regards, Lin

A few days ago I posted a link to a slideshow demonstrating various snow techniques and have now made some additions in terms of Christmas lighting. Just wondering which way most would prefer the show. Links below to each (about 12 meg). 1. Without Christmas lights http://www.learntomakeslideshows.net/sample/letitsnow.zip 2. With additional "gingerbread" http://www.learntomakeslideshows.net/sampl...tsnowlights.zip Would appreciate suggestions, preferences, etc... Best regards, Lin