ronwil

Yesterday in “Pinned: PicturesToExe v5.00 beta #2” I wrote: “In my experiments with 5.0 Beta#2, I have been reconstructing our AV Group’s Intro for our annual presentation to the Club in the autumn. It involves outline portraits spinning through 360 degrees ending up in a position around the Club logo. (It was these portraits, which prompted me to ask the question and receive an answer in a recent thread of how to name them.) In my original version of the Intro, composed in 4.47, I used the Object Editor, an invisible mask over individual portraits and “Run application or open file” to open that persons sequence. ”At the moment whilst the Button, Images etc are there in the tool bar, is it intended that the facilities available in 4.47 be included in 5.0 once the gradual development has been completed.” Igor answered “Buttons, Hyperlinks and Text objects are not included to beta #2 and still not actions like "Run application". We're working on these functions.” This was very re-assuring, as it is a facility I always use when producing introductory sequences to my shows. (In the past I have uploaded examples on the Beechbrook site. As an interim measure I have worked out a method for overcoming the present situation once “Main>Show settings>Close show after last slide” is activated in 5.0 and if my understanding is correct this might be in Beta#3. The method is as follows: I started in PTE 4.47 (I didn’t bother installing 4.48) using my chosen background for the Intro produced in PTE 5.0. With Objects editor on the background I placed an “invisible button”, 100 pixels square, in the top right hand corner and with a right click>Properties>“Run Application etc. etc.” selected to run the [intro}.exe produced in PTE 5.0. I then placed a similar button in the bottom left hand corner but this time opening the image of the outline portraits in position around the Club logo, This previously was set up, as in my original version of the Intro, composed in 4.47, using the Object Editor, an invisible mask over individual portraits and “Run application or open file” to open that persons sequence. It has worked albeit I had to use ESC on the 5.0 intro. Ron [uK]

Thanks Igor, I appreciated that Buttons, Hyperlinks and Text objects could not be included in this early stage of development of 5.0, but it is reassuring to know that it is part of future developments. Ron [uK]

Two excellent sequences Paulo with good sound backing. It doesn't look like Duxford to me with the close proximity of the boundary hedgerows. I might suggest the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden, Biggleswade, UK. Ron [uK]

So what is Cover Screen, Adda? Ron [uK]

thedom I am wondering if the reason you are not getting a response to your question is your use of the term "cover screen mode" and whether it is the translation from your mother tongue, which is causing a problem for someone to give an answer. The term is not familiar to me as part of my PTE software. Ron [uK]

In a thread started by Lin on 1 May headed "Beta 5 Tutorial, "Beta" of tutoral", your question cropped up then on 2 & 3 May and I quote: LumenLux on 2 May - "I'm wondering if you have noticed one characteristic of the zoom in and out feature. My observation is that (at least in some instances) a long duration zoom makes more "progress" in the first few seconds than in the last few seconds. That is the zoom rate slows as the duration increases? Maybe this is just my perception but I am curious what you or others or Igor might be able to explain." Admin on 3 May - "It's only visual effect. Currently Pan/Zoom are linear with constant speed." ADB on 3 May - "I think the zoom speed is an optical illusion if you start zoomed in and zoom out for example objects initially appear closer and feel like they are moving faster but as they get smaller the visual rate of change is less so the zoom appears slower and vice versa if you start zoomed out then zoom in.I have seen the non-linear zooms in some other programs which speed up initially then slow down and vice versa depending on where you start from, I think Igor will implementing this in future." I hope this helps. Ron [uK]

In my experiments with 5.0 Beta#2, I have been reconstructing our AV Group’s Intro for our annual presentation to the Club in the autumn. It involves outline portraits spinning through 360 degrees ending up in a position around the Club logo. (It was these portraits which prompted me to ask the question and receive an answer in a recent thread of how to name them.) In my original version of the Intro, composed in 4.47, I used the Object Editor, an invisible mask over individual portraits and “Run application or open file” to open that persons sequence. At the moment whilst the Button, Images etc are there in the tool bar, is it intended that the facilities available in 4.47 be included in 5.0 once the gradual development has been completed. No doubt Igor will answer this one (by the way thank you to you and your team for this excellent development of 5.0) or maybe Ken will point me to where my question already has been answered. Ron [uK]

Ken Unable to open the project. Error report reads "Title for 5.png missing". Off to bed now. Ron [uK]

That's strange I added a thank you to Dave and Lin two and a half hours ago for their quick sponse and it hasn't recorded. Thanks again any way Ron [uK]

The Objects I insert in the Visual Editor come up with the titles Image 1; Image 2 etc. I have noticed that with some of the PTE folders, which members have made available for us to see, the images have been given names. How is this done please? Ron [uK]

Another clever demo. Well done Al. On the subject of retirement, I have been retired for exactly 23 years and widowed for 16. One disadvantage is the content of my HD which gets bigger and bigger, as does the pile of paper. As I said to my daughter-in-law yesterday, for every two pieces of paper I put to waste I add another three. Ron [uK]

thedom Your request about transparent text on a black background or text mask. I spent some time in Photoshop working out how to do this and report to you in the last post. Did you try it and was that what you wanted? Ron [uK]

First of all Robert, I must say that I found "Strange Land" as a sequence most enjoyable in its own right and not necessarily as a demo. The moving fades I found particularly pleasing. As regards my anticipated future use of the facilities offered by 5.0, I see in it a useful tool for creating intros to shows and sequences, but wonder whether they might give a wrong impressiom to an audience who might then expect some movement in the rest of the performance. I would expect to use the facilities in the body of a sequence only when it serves a purpose and enhances the production. Most of the sequences I have seen in the past by AVers using ProShow Gold have been spoilt by an excessive use of the programme's various features. At the moment we PTE 5.0 users are experimenting and familiarising ourselves with what it has to offer and I am sure once we settle down we might expect some stunning projects. Ron [uK

Adding to what Lin has said I often use yellow as the basic colour for my text, before blending options, which doesn't show up well on the chequered transparent background. So I create a duplicate layer of the background anf fill it with a solid colour. I then add my text and use the blending options to my taste. When this is finished all you have to do is to deselect the duplicate solid colour layer and you have your text on a transparent background for saving as a *.png file. As regards the question by "thedom" about transparent text on a black background or text mask. You could create the text as above, using a solid font, then using the magic wand tool select the text. Rasterise all layers - Layer>Rasterise>All layers. Now use the eraser tool over the text and you have the text selected in outline. Deselect the duplicate solid colou layer and you have the text selected in outline on a transparent background. Inverse selection - Select>Inverse and fill the background with the colour of your choice, not forgetting the islands in the centre of a's, o's, p's etc. Hope that helps. Ron [uK]

But wouldn't this need conversion of the slide to a *.png image? Ron [uK]

I have been following the thread on map routes with great interest, for in the past I have produced map journeys by creating stage images in Photoshop and using "Page effects" in PTE as a means of changing direction. I like Lin's example, in a separate thread, but doesn't it rely on the route being in one general direction on the map, in the example from top to bottom? However, you will probably assure me that this can be adapted with extra underlays. I am finding 5.0 a real challenging and therapeutic experience, thanks to the knowledge which is flooding out from the Forum. Thanks to all. Ron [uK]

I have been following the thread on map routes with great interest, for in the past I have produced map journeys by creating stage images in Photoshop and using "Page effects" in PTE as a means of changing direction. I like your example but doesn't it rely on the route being in one general direction on the map, in this case from top to bottom? However, you will probably assure me that this can be adapted with extra underlays as I appreciate this is just a "simple" (there should be a smiley here} demonstration. I am finding 5.0 a real challenging and therapeutic experience, thanks to the knowledge which is flooding out from the Forum. Thank you Ron [uK]

Peter, your post of today at 10.56 am contained only a quote of my earlier post at 8.35 am. but no message. Like Roger I have a copy of pte447.zip on file, but it can be downloaded also from the WnSoft site as it is the latest full version on general release. Version 5.5 beta #2 is for members experimentation and report. Ron [uK]

Good morning Peter, I see that you have been burning the midnight oil. I am reluctant to give someone of your calibre any advice but I will ask the following: 1. When downloading Version 5.50 beta#2, did you put it in a separate folder so as not to overwrite your Version 4.46? If not do that and re-unzip Version 4.46, if you still have the Zip file, in its original folder. If you no longer have the Zip file you will need to download it again, but you will find the latest version is 4.47, but I believe it contained only minor changes so I too had not bothered with it. 2. As regards your trying to start a preview from a given point, you don't say which method you have been using as there are a few, two of which are: A. Right click on the slide in the Slide List and select "Start preview from the current slide" at the bottom of the dropdown menu; and B. you can perform the same action on the selected image in the Llight Table. Best wishes Ron [uK]

So which gave the correct colours, sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998? And who says which colours are correct, you, me or Joe Bloggs? The portrait used in my avatar was taken by a former President of the Royal Photographic Society. Are the colours correct? Ron [uK]

I have tried this today. In Options>Screen>Screen options against "Fit slide to screen" I have changed "Custom" to "4:3 PC/DVD". The flashing lines have disappeared but the zooms start with a black band top and bottom gradually zooming in to full screen. This latter effect is nowhere as intrusive has the flashing lines. I hope this helps. Ron [uK]

A really clever piece of work. It also took a long time to download on my "superfast" Broadband connection. I went downstairs and watched the second half of the Watford v Leeds soccer playoff while I was waiting Ron [uK]

Andrew I have tried the following on the images so far with no real change in the appearance of the line: 1. Re-sized the images in Photoshop up and down 2. Increased the canvas size in Photoshop in black 3. Increased the size in "Objects and Animation" I have also removed the music with no change. Ron [uK]

Well done Guido at least Andrew can now see what it is. I failed and as Ken has said I now see it is a flash, because the duration of the image is swift anyway. Whilst the sequence was playing back my grandson came on the phone on another matter and he had experienced a faint blue line across in Photoshop. Like me he too could not recall how he got rid of it. Ron [uK]

Andrew The white line is more than a flash. It is a fine white line which stays on the screen almost the full duration of the image. It is something which, on a few occasions, I have experienced in Photoshop. I cannot recall how I got rid of it, but probably by using the History file and stepping back until it disappeared and carrying on from there. In Photoshop and the ruler activated, the image would hang on a line stretching across from the zero point of the ruler. Thanks for the info on the 6600. Ron [uK]