Barry Beckham

Yaughtsman I understand what you mean better now, but progress doesn't stop, the same thing was said at 6MP and look where we are now. It will continue to grow I think.

Yaughtsman I appologise if I am misunderstanding you, but those sizes I posted were not manipulated in any way. They are straight opened files into Photoshop from a Canon 5D and Canon 1Ds. I don't really know what you mean by The comment was an illustration on the camera progression, not what can be acheived by manipulation. Dave G The bottom line is that YOUR monitor resolution/aspect ratio should determine what you produce. Your images should be the same resolution as YOUR monitor (unless you go for "window mounting"). You CAN adapt your work to suit other aspect ratios and in your line of work is, I suppose, desirable. The trouble with this Dave is that we have been doing that for the past few years and in those few years technology has left our 800*600 and 1024*768 pixels shows a little behind. Size isn't everything, but a 1024*768 slide show looks a little lost on the screen I am now using. That is what prompted the thought and I suppose the question I am pondering now, will that continue and can I take some action now to build in some future proofing. Suppose I take my 1920*1200 monitor size image and prepare them in future at double size. I then get images at 3840*2400 pixels and although the show may not run super smooth at this size, as long as I can create the template show, it wouldn't matter that much, because this show would never be meant for showing. Once that was made, not only can I create any format I want, (PTE5.6 has made this less important) reasonably quickly with just a picture size change, but I have enough pixels to cope with perhaps the next flat screen monitors we may buy.

I hope you realize that I wasn't asking for any moderation in any shape or form. All I suggested that if those who post most, including myself, tried to keep in mind how easy it was to drift off topic. it would perhaps help.

Yaughtsman Andre was talking about a 12 Mb/image and I assumed he meant an opened image. I was just going by the images we have here from the original Canon 5D (12.7 Megapixel) that open up on screen at 36.4Mb. That is what the image size window says in Photoshop and the 1Ds (21 Megapixel) shows at 60.2 Mb These are both 8 bit images, open them as 16 bit and they double in size The New 5D captures around the same number of pixels as my camera so I assumed the new 5D will open up in Photoshop to around 60Mb, or close to it

André I think a resolution of 1920*1080 isn't a bad standard, but what I am not so keen on how much I would have to crop off the top and/or bottom of the images from my camera format. You have to cut off enough that it could interfere with the composition of some images. A bit like the effect we already get with 1024*768 and 1280*1024, but on the width rather than the height. I believe the resolutions of digital camera's will not go any further then the high end camera's of today (12 Mb/image), because of its limitations in storage and handeling on PC's I think we are way above cameras of 12Mb already and images of 30Mb on screen is not uncommon. The new Canon 5D Mk2 must be around that size and my 1Ds opens at 30Mb. My idea is to create shows well above these specs (as a template) and build in some protection for the future without having to remake shows later. Its not as though it is a quick process to put together a slide show.

Well, perhaps you could make a list of all those subjects that cause ponderous debate so I can avoid them. The last thing I want to do is offend. Or, you could not read them

Well, why add something to a post that is obscure, which you must know will go over most peoples heads? How does that help a discussion?

Xaver I wasn't complaining, just starting a discussion point. I am not sure there is an answer because most established members are good folk who are genuinely trying to help. I am just not sure we always do that as well as we would like. Al forums are the same from what I can see. I think the experienced members should make a bit more effort trying to stay on topic and if we all remain concious of the potential to drift, perhaps it won't happen quite so often. Me included

Have you noticed how difficult it is to stay on topic on forums. I wonder how that effects a newer user of PTE who asks a question on the forum and needs help. Swamped by good natured people all trying to lend a hand? Then sorting through all the off topic stuff, that their inexperience may not tell them is off topic? I wonder how many people have asked a reasonably simple question and within days have been tearing their hair out in frustration?

Dom I hadn't seen that information, but even that size is not out of the question to make as a standard show, but probably a bit premature for 7,680 x 4,320. Take a camera recording 6 Megapixels it would fit the bill quite nicely for what I suggest, using the files at full size from the camera. A Canon 5D Mk1 about 60% of full size and a 1Ds Mk3 at 50% size. Its just that it would be nice if I could bring some of my older shows right up to date with regard to size. I wish I had thought of this a while ago. I have attached a little flow chart here as I may not have described the thoughts I had as clearly as I thought.

Thanks for all the replies, but doesn't the topic drift easily. I think I am reading one thing when its something completely different. I shall have to learn to keep up better Xaver, sorry I don't understand your post. JRR I remember getting hooked on Kia Power Show in the early days before I tried PTE, I don't know if any of you discovered that, but I am sure some did. I was turned off a little by the 800*600 size limit, but I think I will make my shows differently in future, more like I described earlier. I suppose the only problem may be some of my shows where every image and fade is created individually starting with image 1. Montages maybe somewhat different to produce at high resolution to scale down later, but I suppose the only way to see is to try it.

Yaughtsman Your missing the point a bit, this has nothing to do with RAW whatsoever.

Thanks for all the replies, but perhaps I didn't make things as clear as I thought. I am only interested in image/slide show sizes and what the general consensus is among the more knowledgeable user of PTE. If we all had a crystal ball, then I suppose this question would be an easy answer, but from what I read there is quite a variation in what you all choose. The question, "What size images should I use in my slide show" Has never been an easy one to answer, too many if's and but's. However 5.6 has put right some of those and I am coming around to this line of thought. Create everything at high resolution. I am now working on a 27in Dell 1920*1200 monitor. It will be a while till I exhaust that, (I hope) and even then I doubt we will go much bigger as the desk size starts to become a factor. The monitor does have a great deal of WOW value when a slide show created at 1920*1200 is displayed on it. If you followed one of those shows with an older 1024*768 show it does tend to look a little small. Now a larger size doesn't mean much if the show isn't good, but on the assumption that the show is a good one, a larger slide show does look pretty good and also has the edge on the smaller one, when all else is equal. As you have all said it also looks pretty good on smaller monitors too, although we have to accept the black bar top and bottom. So, for the future my thoughts are make my slide shows at full resolution. Here's my thought. Make the shows at full resolution from the images as they come from your camera. (Obviously this will depend on the camera and pixel count) The image sizes from my current camera are 5616*3744 and that is a very large file, but I could cut that in half and still have 2808*1872. If I made my slide shows at half size (2808*1872) I would still have enough resolution to cover my monitor resolution and a fair bit to spare for future eventualities. Now, I know what you’re thinking here, that many PC's will not handle the file sizes and they probably would not, but those of us who know PTE well could make the show at these sizes and on completion we could save all the components of that show. (Save to Zip perhaps) Now it is a simple matter to make a copy of the entire show and reduce the resolution of the images to whatever you want at the time. Even changing the format wouldn't be out of the question or a long drawn out process. Its just that I would love to have all the shows I have even made saved in this way now, but of course I haven’t because I didn't think to do so at the time. They would be saved OK, but at the resolution they were created at. Does anyone else see some merits here or not?

Thanks Peter But what size do you create a show? Lets say you have shot the high res images what next? Create them to fit your monitor, retaining format 1024*680 ? What if you have different sized monitors in your home, which one do you choose, the largest perhaps? Do you consider that in a couple of years time you may have a monitor twice, three times the size of the one you have now, do you take that into account while making a show now. In time we are all likely to be using widescreen monitors, so do you take that fact into account when making a show now. Do you ever consider making all your sequences at 1920*1080 the HD resolution. ??

I would be interested to hear what experienced PTE users on this forum would say if asked the following question by a new user of PTE and someone new to slide shows and AV. What size slide show should I make? And then Why ? Now I already understand most of the discussion that this topic could generate, but perhaps we can steer clear of that. So, for this poll I am interested in you as an individual, your personal thought process and why you choose the slide show size you do. As a secondary point, do you like to fill your screen with the slide show, irrespective of the resolution of that screen?

Thanks for the good wishes guys and gals We are settled now, that is all the big stuff is done, but we now need to turn the new house into a home, but I guess that will come naturally in the next couple of years. More from Australia soon I hope

Some of you may know may know that we recently emigrated from the UK to Australia and to keep our family and friends up to date we have created 3 slide shows. They are best watched in order. For those who know us and are interested they can be found at the link below http://www.beckhamdigital.co.uk/freestuffdigslidesw3.htm All three slide shows were created to fit my new Dell 1920*1200 monitor, but the shows should work fine on smaller screens. However, those who do have large flat screens will see the full Monty, so to speak. There are no fancy techniques, just simple slide shows.

Pwear Not sure where you got that Redlands link from, because I took it down a few weeks ago. Redlands CC had some problem or other and the demo was cancelled. _______________________________________________________________ However we do have a growing list of lecture dates now:- I am doing a dedicated 1 hour PTE demo at Noosa Camera Club on 11th May. This is an intro to the software and making a show. I have a 4 person Seminar here in Budermin on on the 22nd April dedicated to PTE and all the creative stuff and three places are still available here http://www.beckhamdigital.co.uk/smallgroup_list.htm I am also at Ipswitch CC in Brisbane on 28th April where PTE will feature. I have a 2 hour lecture at Bribie Island on Sunday 3rd May where PTE will feature I have an evening lecture at Wynham Bayside CC in Brisbane on the 12th May I have another at Mt Gravatt CC, an evening talk on the 13th May I have a Photoshop 4 person Workshop in Buderim on the 24th May http://www.beckhamdigital.co.uk/smallgroup_list.htm We are also at Caboolture on Monday 8th June for a morning lecture on the 8th June Those interested in Australia will know where to find links to venues etc.

I did some work with Cinescore for a little while, but I have never heard a piece of music automatically generated that can come close to something produced by a musician and when we start to talk AV, I doubt I would ever use such music. Generally speaking, computer generated music lacks the charm and appeal that we need in Audio Visual and if every other avenue of music was shut off to me apart from computer generated, I would give up AV altogether. In my view we only have two main componants in AV and quite often the image side of that partnership is not that great. The last thing we should do is start to put lack lustre music to those images. A recipe for disaster............... Anyone who does not want to pay £2.50 to use a good bit of music royalty free can buy a license to use music for non profit (If they are PAGB affiliated). That is the way to go, not computer generated. Before anyone jumps to the defence of computer generated music remember I said " Generally speaking" and if great music of this type is out there I am willing and ready to be corrected.

Phil You have a great way with words, you should have been a poet

Its OK guys I now feel better after that little rant You see I used to work in the thick of all this nonsense in the transport industry and here is an interesting story. We employed specialist roofers to fix the roof of one of our bus garages and their own safety representative never fitted his safety harness and fell injuring himself. We were charged by the H&S police for not providing a safe place of work. Now how does that work when you emply experts in the field? It follows that if you employ an electrician and he does not turn off the power and electicutes himself, you could be charged? Why do you think the transport system is so bad in the UK, because, left to the H&S they will gring it to a stop with so many rules and regs that in the end you just can't operate. Put a sticker on yourself and its done.

Have a look at Sony Cinescore, the attached link to a piece of music was created by me with that software. www.beckhamdigital.co.uk/beckham.zip I suppose that means I own the copyright

Forgive me guys, but this is hogwash. I would use some stronger descriptions, but I don't want to offend anyone. This is an English disease that has been caused by the Health and Safety Police and their tragic followers. Well, the Health and Safety Executive have to justify their existance some how. It is sad, but this affliction strikes down the dim witted, most inadequate and stupid people in society especially targeting those who do not have the ability to think for themselves. I think people with the same disease were around many years ago and said they were just following orders, but still went to prison from what I hear. The disease makes these people SO stupid that all you have to do to defeat them is put a white sticker on the underside of your kit saying " Tested 11/03/09 BB" Then they skip away happy as Larry.

The way I work, the renaming files is not necessary and in fact is not required. Renaming files and getting them in a sequential order is fine for beginners who need that disipline at the start, but I don't need it. I will be in and out of Photoshop and PTE all the time, creating images, using them, removing them from the PTE slide list. I will have so many examples in there that it is troublesome to find the image I want. Of course there are ways round it, but how much easier would that button be. Show/Don't Show

Oh yes, I forgot the information on there. Location now correct