Interactive Slide Show?

[ralber]

I'd like to create a slideshow which I can include on DVD which also has a couple of .mpg clips. I've edited the clips and created the DVD menu structure using VideoStudio 8 without any problems but now I'm looking at 100+ images which I'd like to also present on the DVD but I don't know what software to use to create a slideshow.

I know I can use VideoStudio to create a rolling slideshow, but I'd like the viewers to be able to manually advance or hold on an image, jump to the beginning or end, etc.

Any suggestions?

------- Rick Alber

[Bob Hughes]

I just saw your post
I have made a few DVD slide shows. My last one was over 400 slides. My DVD remote control allows me to pause, fast forward & fast reverse as well as magnify. In my case it was a trip, so my chapters were by day. I used music from the area as a background.
It was very well received by all trip participents. I also included all the images on the DVD
Bob

[ralber]

So what program did you use to create your DVD slideshow, Bob?

------- Rick

[THoff]

In UVS, I would add the still images using a duration of say five seconds (set this as the default before adding all the stills), and render that to an MPEG file. The file will contain scene change information, with each still image considered a new scene.

You can then create a new DVD project, and add the MPEG file. In the Share stage, click the checkbox to add chapter menus, and instruct UVS to use the scene change information in the MPEG file to create the chapters.

What this gives you is the ability to skip forward and backward through the images in the slideshow using the DVD's remote control, as well as direct image selection using the chapter menu.

The only downside is that UVS does not permit more than 99 chapters, so that's the most images you can have in such a slideshow.

[IronMike778]

I have had great results mixing pictures and video using 'frame based' as the field and saving as a constant bit rate at 6000.

[kebrinton]

But Bob Hughes (above) had 400 slides! Not just 99, the limit.

Since he organized his slideshow by day-of-travel, he probably didn't have 99 days of travel, and each day was a chapter.

C'mon, Bob! Let us know!

[jchunter_2]

Mike,
Our earlier tests showed that video image sharpness is significantly reduced if you re-render video that was captured as either Upper or Lower Field First - as Field Based. Maintaining consistent Field Order resulted in sharpest video.

Keith,
What is this 99 slide limit? I have never run into it.

[rwindeyer]

Not to detract from VS8 (which is a wonderful editing program); I use MyDVD for burning. This has a slideshow module; pictures are treated differently to movies. Each slide is a separate chapter, and the result is crisp and clear.
Version 5 had a limit of 99 slides per slideshow; in version 6 that has been increased slightly - to 999!
You can of course put more than one slideshow on a DVD. Even if using VS8, you should be able to have a menu (slideshow 1) with a submenu of 99 chapters. At the burning stage add another video file (which you have prepared earlier) with a submenu of 99 chapters - and so on. Set the thing to play all menus without returning to the main menu and you should be right.

[Bob Hughes]

Rick,
Wow I thought I was answering a simple question. I don't understand most of the project setting. Here is what I used
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereoframw type Frame-based
frame size 720 * 480
variable data rate 800
speed = quantity 100
Audio format LPCM audio

and of course I use VS 8

My slide show was set to 6 sec intervals

I have tried a number of ulead programs and find this meets "most" of my needs.
Next I hope to try convering some of my old 8MM movies but that is another story.
you can mail ne at bohughes1@yahoo.ca
Bob

[ralber]

And I thought I was asking a simple question. I think I've got enough info now to get a decent slide show done using either VS10 or MyDVD.

Thanks to everyone!

------ Rick