Lin Evans

Hi Ron, Thanks! I'm still scratching my head over why some experience sound issues while other's do not. I suspect it's just a resource issue, but you have plenty of video RAM so it must be some other interaction such as load speed. I did combine the two music tracks into one mp3 which "may" make it better. Best regards, Lin

Thanks much! Yes, I didn't color correct so I could see the change points more easily. Of course the resolution change is pretty apparent too because I didn't have sufficient focal length overlap and had to push the original beyond a prudent zoom to match the secondary and tertiary images. You might also see the white vehicle magically appear in the driveway to the right of the stack. I could have cloned it out on the final zoom in frame, but I thought I would leave it in as a "marker". The driver "snuck" up on me between frames - LOL. Best regards, Lin

LOL - your old eyes are about as good as mine! It's actually a ground squirrel. Yes I've been trying all sorts of permutations to try and alleviate that "jerk" on the stop. "Smooth" on the non-linear does it very well, but then I have the annoying "glitter" on the slow start of the zoom. I've even tried patching in another slide to start the zoom then trying to fade with opacity control into the already zooming pano but my head is hurting from too much "thinking" - HA! I may work this one out yet, but still "cogitating" (or is that "codgertating"? - my wife would comment here) on the probabilities. Note: I'm still smarting over my 65th birthday this month. Sigh.... Lin

I doubt there is any way to make it work with DVD because running an executable file is contingent upon having a computer to "interpret" the "execute" command. Since DVD players only understand a limited command structure such as what is programmed into your remote control, interpreting a command unique to the DOS/Windows operating system is outside their venue. Perhaps some day DVD players will have a "mini-operating system" compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix, etc., but probably the demand for this type thing will have to be sufficient to persuade the manufacturers of its worth before that will happen. Best regards, Lin

Hi Gary, Thanks! It sounds like the NVIDIA 5600 has no problems with the RAM load. I suspect it takes at least a 128 meg card to run this one smoothly so the 256 with a good GPU handles it with no problem. Best regards, Lin

Actually, the support is fantastic. Issues, bugs, etc, are frequently solved the same day. Email sometimes doesn't get throught in a timely way so the developers visit the forum every day - Remember in Russia it's a day ahead and usually opposite time from the U.S., etc. The forum is a large part of the support here. I'll repeat my question from your other post. Go into Video Builder and click on Help and then on About and tell me what it says. It would appear that you may not have loaded the key in the correct place, i.e., through Video Builder rather than from the main screen. Lin

When you go into Video Builder, click on "Help" then "About" - what does it say? Lin

Thanks Peter, I've "fixed" the issue with music change, I think. It "shouldn't" pause there - probably a resource issue. The abrupt changes are because of using linear in the first slide (long pan and reverse) but I had to do that because "smooth" causes excessive shimmer on the beginning of the pan. I've played with curves, etc., and changing in custom to start with linear then go to smooth but too much shimmer remains in this case so I just kept linear. I did put a "stop" before reverse when at the end of the long pan which somewhat ameliorates the "jerk" at that point. I think this one is on the "ragged edge" so it will probably only be suitable for 128 meg video. Cor just responded and had difficulties in places both with sound and with video so the 64 meg card is not quite up to the task. Once I get the parameters worked out for something which will work I'll publish my findings. Best regards, Lin

Hi Cor, Thanks - that's exactly what I need to know. These are almost all indicative of being on the ragged edge of RAM in the Video Card. Sound hiccups, "pulling in the middle of image" jumps, jerks, etc., are caused by loading and unloading of files because the card can't quite keep up with the amount of RAM load. On my 128 meg Radeon 9800 Pro card it's all smooth without any noticeable jerks or sound interruptions, but on several of my systems with 64 meg video I get a variety of "strangeness" - LOL. The "shimmer" is something I can't really do much to control. It's caused by sharpness in the images. When the speed is low, it's not as noticeable but only because it happens quickly except on pans. Using "smooth" on long slow pans will exacerbate any "shimmer" when the pan starts or stops so on the first pan across the very long pano I used linear. This accounts for the abrupt stop and at the reversal to zoom toward the stacks. Stopping before "patching" in slides eliminates some of that for the close-in zooms, but can't stop it all. Using the "blur" feature helps somewhat with the "shimmer" but if the viewer is using an LCD monitor it's nearly impossible to stop it completely without simply having blurry images - something the competition does and which accounts partially for their lower quality images. It's a mixed bag; you either get nice sharp images with shimmer or soft images without shimmer. No free lunch I'm afraid so something we need to "design around" when we make slideshows. A long while ago I discussed this with Igor and perhaps in the future there may be a way to institute a temporary "blur" to soften the images while moving then a quick return to the sharp image when motion stops. Something possibly for the future. Best regards, Lin

Hi Ken, I temporarily lost the file which I had uploaded to my server. Must be senility setting in - LOL... It's back up and the link is working now. Best regards, Lin

YES!!! Things will be fine! Please enjoy yourself and get some well deserved rest. Best regards, Lin

Found it! Linked now. Hi Folks, Still trying to find the practical limits for panorama zooms, pans, etc. This one may be overkill but that's the only way for me to find out where practical limits are. I've used the techniques of "infinite zoom" in this. I haven't color matched the pano to "patch" slides but have decided it will work satisfactorily especially if the transitions are not done while "moving" in pan or zoom but rather when temporarily stationary. I would appreciate any feedback about smoothness, etc., not concerned about the aesthetics - just a quickly thrown together project to test practical limits for RAM, pan, zoom, etc. About 58 meg zipped executable... Not for 32 meg systems - will take at least 64 meg video card... http://www.lin-evans.org/pte/lostfile.zip Lin

LOL - Al, get some coffee! Actually, you apply it once on the first slide and it functions for all slides. Best regards, Lin

Hi Patrick, Two observations: First, you very well know that your frustrations are primarily because of your hardware limitations. A program which uses GPU power works best with a reasonably up-to-date GPU. That is no mystery. Second, you also know that you don't "have" to pay to create a DVD with version 5 any more than you did with 4.xx - you only have to pay if you want the convenience of authoring your DVD via Video Builder. The standard version outputs an AVI just as it always has. There is nothing unfair or unreasonable about charging a small fee for a very nice convenience added to a product which is totally optional - you don't have to buy video builder. Best regards, Lin

Hi Moelwyn, Sorry you're having issues and I hope you find a satisfactory solution with a "competitor's" product. It will be interesting to know how you make out. As a fellow professional I find it most unusual however to wait until a project is due to attempt to learn to use a tool, and find it a little odd that you couldn't find a work-around for what seems a relatively simple issue. Using new software is a bit like using a new camera; perhaps best to practice a bit before the acid test. I can sympathize with your plight, but your solution may be less than practical and your expectations perhaps unrealistic, however it's all part of a learning process. The "sync to music" issue sounds very much like a user error in understanding since thousands are using this program with no problems in that regard. I might caution you to visit the forums and read the comments about bugs, issues and so on with the "competition's" products before reaching the conclusion that perhaps a "bug free" solution awaits you with another product. Of course this doesn't ameliorate your present concern so wishing you the best. Best regards, Lin

Hi Fred, I think the "solution" for now would be for you to continue using the latest beta which worked with hardware acceleration with your card. Perhaps in the future you can upgrade the Matrox to another card, but this is one of those cases where a "proper" code which detects a card not able to comply with standards and disables the hardware acceleration and will work for the best in "most" cases, is detrimental to your individual situation. If you don't have the beta's still installed, let me know which worked correctly for you and I'll post a link. I have most of them and can save Igor the effort of going backward and reposting a link to one of the older versions. Best regards, Lin

Hi Harry, The first thing which anyone will need to know "before" making a video card recommendation is the type of "bus" which will be used on your new computer. Actually, to be more specific, if you could find out which motherboard (brand and model) then it will be much easier to make a recommendation about the video card. Older style computers had AGP (Advanced Graphics Port) slots for a video card which were designed for that particular type card. Some very powerful cards were made for the AGP slot such as the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. These formerly very expensive cards are now available for around $100 and do a very good job with demanding PTE video shows. PCIe has replace many of the AGP designs and there are a number of very good cards designed for this environment. I would suggest reading this - and perhaps have your future son-in-law read it also: http://www.ehow.com/how_2007372_buy-video-card.html Lin

Hi Harry, You may want to do a search in the PicturesToExe forum for "Flash". Over the past year of so I have posted a few detailed descriptions of using Flash to convert your PTE slideshows for web use. For an inexpensive solution Riva Producer Light along with the free Riva encoder can be used effectively to create Flash FLV slideshows. There are two types of Flash (Flash SWF and Flash FLV) which differ a geat deal. Flash SWF is suitable for short slideshows which don't run over about 8 minutes total, but sound synchronization beyond about two minutes is highly problematical. The reason I say 8 minutes is predicated on the assumption that you will be using 29.97 frames per second. There is an absolute maximum of 16,000 frames on any SWF slideshow. When the show reaches 16000 frames it stops, period. So at approximately 30 fps, this means 30x60=1800 frames per minute. Times 9 minutes = 16,200 so nine minutes would exceed the 16,000 frame maximum. With Flash FLV there is no limit on frame numbers and no issues with sound synchronization. Also it's easier to set up a preload for progressive download (sends a percentage of file to users machine before play begins). Flash has a "progressive" mode which is similar in execution to a "streaming" movie except it actually resides on the viewer's hard disk and is spooled from that location rather than "server side streaming" where the show is streamed from the web server. If users really want high quality Flash, the Flash 8 is much smaller in file size without loss of quality. This is availalble via On2 Technologies Flix Pro or Flix Standard. The major differences other than cost (Flix Standard is cheap, Flix Pro is expensive) for most people is the fact that Flix Pro can have a cutomized player which is created with each Flash movie. Flash 8 is also available via Sorensen Squeeze and as an OEM product (maker O2 Technologies) via Wildform's WildPresenter Pro. If you want to link her to a sample, here's a link to the "infinite zoom" test show I posted to earlier done in Flash 8. The image quality is quite good but the pans are a bit jerky compared to the butter smooth executable, but at least she can see how it would work.... http://www.lin-evans.net/kachina/kachinazoom.htm Best regards, Lin

Hi Jean Claude, BRAVO!! Thank you very much - this is perfect!! Lin

To Igor and Development Team, Congratulations!! Thank you from all of us for the hard work and dedication culminating in the finest presentation slideshow software available! You can be very proud and now take a well deserved break. You have greatly exceeded our wildest expectations. Best regards, Lin

You might try the freeware "Picasa" from Google. It's very powerful and does what you are asking. http://www.picasa-2007.net/download.php?lang=US Lin

Hi Mike, Perhaps this might help. Every ISP which I've been acquainted with over the years has a feature called "web mail" which is a service that allows you to reach emails from their site from anywhere in the world by logging on to the ISP's web site then looking for the "web mail" or "email" link. Once you click on that link it will ask you to enter your user I.D. and Password and then you can easily retrieve any emails you have received. Best regards, Lin

Hi Colin, That's the nice thing about the new "non-linear" zoom and "perspective correction" in PTE 5. You can tailor the zoom to any curve desired so can control the apparent speed with near infinite precision. It's actually the "transition" points where the difficulty arises. I'm hoping for a separate "zoom-in" and "zoom-out" control in a future version to facilitate making an apparent continuous zoom. Actually when I first posted, I wasn't too concerned (still not) about the continuity of the zoom as appearing to zoom a single huge image at constant speed so much as the ability to string relatively seamless matched images together to go from extreme wide angle to extreme macro on the same subject. My original intent was to be able to show closeup detail in areas from panoramas such as the Cliff Palace sample I posted. I would like to be able to shoot the initial frames for the stitched panorama then connect a series of longer focal length lenses to get photos which could be seamlessly dropped in at desired places on the slideshow to show extreme detail. Fortunately I have lenses going to optical focal lengths of as much as 1600mm (with 2x tele converter) and telescopes which I routinely use with various digicams to shoot at focal lengths of up to 6000mm with good light. I can envision, for example, being able to literally show the whiskers on a mouse or pika setting on an adobe brick at Cliff Palace in one of the rooms, and this done from the zoom off the stitched panorama. Admittedly, it's more than a bit of a grandiose experiment, but I think it can be done. On the topic of using the same image in stages - yes, actually I did that in my Kachina example. I interpolated a very good, well focused macro with Genuine Fractals (for edge sharpness) to get better than 1:1 on the closeups. The original macro was used then the interpolated and cropped version then back to the original in the slideshow. That's one of the very useful things about the SD14 - the ability to enlarge without serious loss of quality. I had several photos taken with it displayed at PMA in Los Vegas this year which were larger than A0 print size which turned out very well. Best regards, Lin