DVD slideshows?

[boxofrocks]

I have a nice little tool for CD slide shows called Pictures to EXE. I use it for proofs, and it's pretty good for any slide shows to be viewed on a computer. Downside is they can't be viewed on a Mac.

What tool do you guys use when doing a slide show on DVD to be played on a home DVD player? There are a lot of them out there, and some are probably too robust for me (read: big learning curve).

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

[dlbdata]

Proshow gold

[Jim]

I use Ulead DVD picture show. It's easy.

[bondarnes]

I also use PTE.

[Mark McCall]

Even though I wrote the Quick Start Guide for PTE, I use Producer (ProShow Gold's big brother) for all slide shows.

After show is designed, it's a once click operation to export it as Quicktime, Flash, AVI, Auto EXE, DVD, email or Online Show.

[Roy]

I've used ProShow Gold. Very easy to learn and not a lot of $$$.

[gregt1310]

Proshow Gold for me. Very nice program.

[Jay Henley]

I like proshow gold. they are in Austin. great customer support. If you have a problem, you can call and talk to support staff very easily. You dont see that very often these days.

[boxofrocks]

Thanks.

I actually have Ulead Video Studio 8--maybe I should dive back in there and see if it does slide shows.

I'm sure I could just import photos and do it like a regular movie--never thought of that. Not sure what the image quality would be, but worth a try.

Duh.

[Mark McCall]

Producer and ProShow Gold both support all video types too.
Add video clips to your slide shows.

Also supports layers and recognizes layered PSD's.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

Producer and ProShow Gold both support all video types too.
Add video clips to your slide shows.

Also supports layers and recognizes layered PSD's.

Great info, but here's a dumb question:

Why would I want to import a (relatively huge) layered psd file rather than a jpeg for a slide show (that will be shown on a standard res DVD on a poor resolution TV)? I'm sure I'm missing something here.

[Mark McCall]

Actually, TV resolution is sky high compared to the 72 dpi resolution of your computer monitor, but that's not why layering is cool.

With Producer and ProShow gold, you can move the layers independently during the slides time on screen.

Imagine importing a composite created with PS into ProShow Gold.
While that composite is on screen, you have the ability to make the individual photos in the composite move around, much like video editing software.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

Actually, TV resolution is sky high compared to the 72 dpi resolution of your computer monitor, but that's not why layering is cool.

Are you sure about that? typical full HD sets are 1900x1200 and scale the same way a computer monitor does. Back when I was in the video business, most older CRT TVs barely showed more than 600 lines of resolution. Slideshows, pictures, etc. worked better when knocked down to 640x480 72dpi prior to output. Of course, dpi is different than scan lines and/or resolution. After all, dpi is dots per inch. That is relative based on output size and size of screen your viewing on (ie, 1900x1200 on a 60" LCDTV is less dpi than on a 50"...etc. That is of course if I am understanding the way they are applying the term DPI these days to video. LOL

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

With Producer and ProShow gold, you can move the layers independently during the slides time on screen.

Imagine importing a composite created with PS into ProShow Gold.
While that composite is on screen, you have the ability to make the individual photos in the composite move around, much like video editing software.

Now that makes sense. Not sure about TV (non-HD) res being high, though. And unless I were making HD DVDs, I don't see an advantage to showing on a TV. For example--if you view your images directly from a camera on a TV screen--at least mine--they don't look as good as on my 1200x1600 monitor. Maybe I'm spoiled.

[Mark McCall]

Andrew,
I believe you've made my point.
DPI and resolution lines are different cats, but even lowly 600 line screen is comparitively higher than 72 dpi computer monitors.

Tom,
Strange indeed.
When shooting pic-a-pac work, we'll plug our 1/8" phone plug into TV's placed about 15 feet away at the order table. Sharpness is wonderful, but not required for what we're using it for. We're just using it for ordering purposes.