bmccammon

This is a really nice offer and has some great potential that I'd like to test. Could you provide some idea of the easiest way to get from the MPEG output of PTE to the size requirements you have for the WMV file (512x288). I have a converter that will generate the WMV file but it does not allow me to specify the dimensions of the frame. Do you have some software recommendations that aren't several hundreds of dollars? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Welcome to the forum. I've used PTE for about 5-6 years now and am currently using version 5 to produce wedding slideshows for my clients. I produce a DVD slideshow of their images but put a copy of the ".exe" file on the DVD as well. I also convert the PTE MPEG file into AVI or MOV formats for Mac users. I figure that the time is invested in getting the slideshow together in the first place and that providing a means for people to share on TV, PC or Mac just sweetens the deliverables. PTE Version 5 offers great qualities and capabilities. I've been run off other forums for suggesting that ProShow Gold or Producer have keen competition. The market share in the wedding photog industry sure seems to be with PSG or PSP. PTE is gaining notoriety and will gain strength as users find out how good it is and learn about this forum of helpful people from around the globe. A long answer to your question. No, I don't use PTE just for DVDs but I rely on it as the basis for delivery in a multi-platform world. Best regards, Bruce

As a wedding photographer I get my share of indoor, low light photography challenges. I'm a Nikon shooter and don't know the options out there for the Sony camera that you and Lin are discussing but in general I think you'll be very pleased with a moderate zoom lens in the 70-200 mm range IF it is an f/2.8 lens. I use ours to shoot wrestling, soccer, and lacrosse when my grandson is enrolled. I suppose that with high ISO you can rely on an f/4 or f/5.6 lens but the f/2.8 has been a work horse for me for several years. It is extremely versatile. If you can manage the money adding IS (Canon) or VR (Nikon) will aid in low light captures. If the Sony camera offers any lenses with image stabilization you should give serious attention to that option. Good luck with your purchase. You'll certainly enjoy the new camera and all the opportunities that the kids/grandkids bring you. Best regards, Bruce

It may also be that the transition timing is longer than the one second display interval.

try saving the screen captures as BMP files rather than tiff. The BMP captures I get from Freestone are quite good when the original screen image is clear and detailed. Like Lin says, if the original screen image is not good you'll end up with a good capture of a poor resolution original. Good luck.

Hi Gilber. My recommendation would be to open Photoshop CS3 and then click on FILE, select "scripts" and then select "image processor". This will open a window that will allow you to specify the directory that has your JPG (or RAW) files, the output directory you want to store the converted images in, the size of the JPG you want (I'd recommend 1024x768), and the quality of the JPG file to produce (7-10 works fine; smaller number produces smaller file sizes). Then click on "run" and go get a cup of coffee or do some errands as CS3 processes the whole folder for you. The files that are output will be stored in a subdirectory named "JPG" in the directory you specify for the output. Good luck.

Take a look at the example sequences shown via Lin's link to the Casio prototype site. Sure looks to me like a 20-30 second slow-mo playback of a short event can be very effective in a wide variety of lighting conditions.

A DVD slideshow is a standard deliverable for my bridal clients. Extra copies are extra cost. I put a copy of a 1024x768 .exe of the same slideshow on the DVD for use on a PC. We try to premier the DVD show to clients on our HD TV so they can see it at its best TV quality. I have yet to have a client complain about the DVD show. With PTE v5 we are able to introduce effects that were not possible before. Thanks to all of you who have shared your templates and skills with the PTE community. I may not contribute to the forum frequently but I monitor it daily and learn from all your exchanges and examples.

Thanks for the information Lin. Sports shooters will love this camera. Personally, I'm thinking about waterfalls and wildlife. I'll be tracking the release of the camera.

I agree entirely and think that Patrick's addition is a good one. Thanks for summarizing this so nicely.

Ahhh.... I get it now. the name is "EmptyDesk" and not "ClearDesk". I guess I should have explored all the links more closely. Thanks again b

Thanks Ronnie. I did that but still don't see "Cleardesk". Here's the Quick Links list that I get at the site. Very interesting. Quick Menu Alarm ASCIIvalues Beyondo BootStatus DOSname EmptyDesk EuroConvert FontPage HEXwrite HTMLcolor HTMLlink InTime IPaddress Lodger Mince PCLoupe PIXresizer Recase RecycleNOW TABS2spaces TempLAB TXTcollector XSLaunch

Sounds like a useful program Ronnie but I don't see it listed in the free programs offered at the Bluefive site.

Ken Cox replied: "... although it is not recommended. i run avg with bu from ca and whenever ..." I'm able to decipher much of you coding Ken but "bu from ca" has me totally stumped. Would you mind clarifying? Thanks.

You can specify 8 bit or 16 bit in the Adobe Raw Converter before opening a file. If you open it as a 16 bit file you can quickly make it serviceable for PTE by using the "save for web" option which will convert it to an 8 bit JPG file. Good luck.

Welcome to the world of PTE and its user forum. You'll find a lot of help here. If you click on the "project options" button and then select the "effects" tab at the top of the window you will see a couple of little boxes in the upper right corner... one has a check mark in the two boxes, the other doesn't. I'd click on the box that does NOT have any checks to "deselect" all the effect selections in the list below. Then simply check the box "enable transition effects" and select "fade in and out" to make that the transition for all your slides. Good luck on your project.

You'll probably get a lot of advice and questions about your setup. Here are my initial thoughts: 1) get the free upgrade to the latest version of PTE and consider going to the deluxe version if you have need for DVD burning 2) use MP3 files for the music 3) combine multiple sound tracks into one using a sound editor such as the free Audacity or many others Good luck

You can change the effect duration for all slides in a presentation by clicking on the "project options" button at the bottom of the screen and then selecting the "effect" tab. The duration is set near the bottom of the effect screen. You can do the same thing for a single slide by clicking on "customize slide" then "effect" and setting the duration to what you want, e.g., 8000 for 8 seconds.

I find it interesting that BeckhamDigital is the contact listed for PTE.

I fully appreciate how much work it takes to write a tutorial and then to ask for review and make any changes that may be needed. Your work is clearly appreciated by many. Thanks Ronnie.

First, I think that the answers I and others gave to the question about how to synchronize music and slideshow duration apply to version 4.48 as well as version 5. I think that HOW a function is referred to (eg, "auto spread slides along music") has changed but the basic functionality has NOT changed. I'd have to agree that a manual would be advantageous once version 5 hits a stable point in production. The "moving target" problem is real. A manual can't be developed before v5 is stable. The need to have a manual in multiple languages is a real problem as well. Major corporations such as Adobe or Microsoft can afford to work in multiple languages but that is clearly not the case for Igor and WnSoft. Communication in this forum is remarkably well done given the multiple languages that participants use. My hat is off to those for whom English is not their first/dominant language and who make an effort to phrase their questions in English. I can't imagine myself trying to ask Igor a question in Russian or make a comment in French. So, who prepares the manual, how it is distributed (pdf, hard copy, web-based, etc.) and how to deal with multiple language needs may be too much hurdle to jump. I think a series of PDF articles dealing with parts of PTE and that have been subjected to testing or validation by people who frequent this forum may be all that we can really hope for. It would help a lot if they were organized and stored in a way that follows the structure of PTE and are easily found without having to perform and dig through search results. I'll admit, too, that I read and absorb answers or threads that use complete sentences rather than those that just use phrases or fragments or an independent link to some other thread in the archives. I say this to support your point that this forum is not the "end all" for answers or the natural way for everyone to get information. The forum IS a rich resource that involves many generous and creative people who help others with answers or creative examples/templates. Forum participants who take the time to fully develop an answer and express it clearly and completely seem to have a great deal of credibility as forum leaders. Comments like "do a search and you'll find a lot of answers" are, I believe, not overly helpful.

First, I think it is best if you combine multiple sound files into one track. It just seems to simplify the whole synchro process. Google "Audacity" for a really capable and FREE sound editor if you need one. Add the sound track(s), click on "timeline", then click on the button "timed points" (version 5), then select "add timed points". Your slides will be spaced evenly across the duration of the soundtrack. I've never tried to do it with multiple sound tracks but I'm sure others will add their solutions. Good luck.

sure doesn't seem to work in CS3 Ron. ICO is not an output option that I see. Ideas?

You could make your icon in CS2, save it as a jpg or png and then open it in IrfanView to save it as an icon. Not a direct solution but it should work. Good luck.

Thanks Lin. B