David Jay Showit slideshow question and imovie question

[islandphoto]

I am interesting in buying showit slideshow software and I had a few questions:

1) Can you make a full-res slideshow as well as a websize show?
2) How easy is it to use?
3) Is the acutal Ken Burns effect incoorperated to it?
4) Is it mac and PC compatible?
5) How is the quality when viewing on a television screen?

Thanks so much :)

p.s. right now I'm using iphoto and imovie but I am limited because in iphoto: I can't figure out how to add more than one song to the show and in imovie: I can't figure out how to add the kens burn effect. Any reccommendations?

[coreypolis]

I am interesting in buying showit slideshow software and I had a few questions:

1) Can you make a full-res slideshow as well as a websize show? you can set it to any custom size you want, but keep in mind it'll be a bigger file and will take a long to download
2) How easy is it to use? extremely, very untitive
3) Is the acutal Ken Burns effect incoorperated to it? yes
4) Is it mac and PC compatible? yes
5) How is the quality when viewing on a television screen? haven't tried, but should be fine, tv's are very low resolution



in showit you'll have to add 2 songs together before hand in a mp3 editor.

Keep in mind its designed for web use, not full dvd. It can be used for that, but its a secondary feature.

[islandphoto]

thanks for the tip... what do you use for full res slideshows?

[Wedding Shooter]

If you want more than one song in iPhoto - simply create a playlist in iTunes (call it slideshow) and put the songs in it in the order you want them to play. Than in iPhoto select that playlist. Should start playing the songs in order of the playlist.

You can simply export it to iDVD if you want to create a slideshow for clients.

Whole process is really only a minute or two to set up. Processing will take longer - but it is set and forget basically.

Cheers,

Chris

[islandphoto]

Chris, wow! Thanks! That sounds easy. Is that what you do?

[tim]

How do you make a DVD out of a ShowItWeb 2.0 show?

[coreypolis]

How do you make a DVD out of a ShowItWeb 2.0 show?
not easily. MAC's have a 3rd party program that can do it, PC's are stuck in screen capture devices. There will be a outsourcing option soon, but its a bit pricey.

Thats why many simply offer the online version or do a seperate program for DVD. You can also put it on an ipod.

Or make an autorun cd for the computer.

[Wedding Shooter]

Chris, wow! Thanks! That sounds easy. Is that what you do?

Yes it is - clients love it. It is not uncommon to see the eyes of the bride mist up when they watch it on their TV for the first time.

So quick and easy to do in iPhoto/iDVD. Just have an image ready to chuck onto the menu in iDVD so it looks really slick. If you need more info PM me and I will try to help.

[islandphoto]

But you can't do the ken burns effect in idvd can you?

[islandphoto]

never mind... I meant Imovie. Do you use imovie?

[Rick Rosen]

p.s. right now I'm using iphoto and imovie but I am limited because in iphoto: I can't figure out how to add more than one song to the show and in imovie: I can't figure out how to add the kens burn effect. Any reccommendations?

If you want to add more than one song import the songs into Garageband, combine them and export as one. Keep in mind though that iPhoto and iMovie reduce the resolution of your images when they import them. The programs are not designed for professional use.

I would suggest that you take a look at FotoMagico. It is an awesome program, very easy to use, for creating high resolution slideshows in a Mac. All the Ken Burns and transitional effects are there. From the slideshow file you create you can export for the web, iPod and DVD play on everything from standard TV to high definition HD. I am assisting them to market their program here in the states, they are in Germany. You can find more information here and also see samples I have created and download a demo version:

http://www.rickrosen.com/fm

Please feel free to email me if I can answer any questions.

Happy shooting!

Rick

[motion_projekt]

You can use ken burns among other things in Final Cut Studio.

I use that for slide shows...

heres a link to one...that i used with Final Cut.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=739563726

heres another one that i made with final cut to simulate ShowitWeb...
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1558010677

[islandphoto]

Thanks for those links - the slideshow looks nice :) ONly critique I have is that the photos aren't crisp clear - could be myspace and I doubt it is that program. Overall it looks good - do you have the show posted anywhere else online?

[motion_projekt]

no sorry...the files are 1GB in size...


I mainly use Final Cut Pro for making slide shows and videos. Usually pictures aren't as crisp as they should be because of Video Quality. There is so much you can do with Final Cut, its amazing. Utilizing it with Motion, LiveType, and Soundtrack, it's truly awesome. I know its made more for video, but in all honesty pictures say so much more.

[song4themoon]

How much does the program cost?

[motion_projekt]

How much does the program cost?


If you're talking about Final Cut Studio then, New, its $1,299.

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/

i lucked out when i got mines. I already had a copy of Motion that i was using with iMovie...this was around the time that Apple had come out with their Intel Core computers. Everyone who had a part of the Final Cut Suite was able to upgrade to the Universal version of Final Cut Studio (FCS) for only $200. For a full version. It was awesome.

This program is really great. Its an investment, but one that will work for you in the end.

ShowIt Web is roughly 199 i think

On a, I actually chatted with David Jay about his program. He said that he was using Final Cut Studio, and then made this program to do make making slideshows easier. Which of course it does, but in all honesty i love the flexibility and robutness of Final Cut Studio.

However, when it comes down to it, it all depends on what you want out the program, the type of product youre trying to create, and how much youre willing to spend.


Hope this helps.

//Happy Shooting

[DAVIDJAY]

Using Final Cut to make a slideshow is kinda like pounding in a nail with a shovel. :) It's just not the right tool anymore.

[linarms]

Using Final Cut to make a slideshow is kinda like pounding in a nail with a shovel. :) It's just not the right tool anymore.

I'm not a ShowIt user (yet!) but totally agree with this. No way am I going to spend that much on a program and only use 1% of its features.

[motion_projekt]

Using Final Cut to make a slideshow is kinda like pounding in a nail with a shovel. :) It's just not the right tool anymore.

Which is why ShowitWeb is so awesome...although when you do use video mixed with photos...it does alot better...seeing as FCS was made for it.

Still awesome awesome program.

[EOS mE]

How much does the program cost?

showit web lite is $99 and pro version is $199.

http://www.showitfast.com/

[DAVIDJAY]

I agree - photo and video is very cool! Checkout this mix of photos and videos from the wedding I shot last weekend!

http://brettaustin.com/video/sorenson.mov

[Banbert]

Just back from our third wedding and the second one we have used showit web for our slideshow at the wedding, same responses as the first one we used it at, which breaks down into "wow/thats amazing" and "when the heck have you had time to do that ???"

My shooting partner keeps trying to convince me to run a Mac slideshow full screen instead of a showit slideshow much smaller but I think he is coming round to the idea of it working better smaller, people group round it and also when you havent had time to edit shots or look at them for any length of time showing them full screen isnt always a good idea I dont think... and the timing to music makes all the different imo

Just adding first dance shots now and changing the music and our clients will be able to see it on our blog when they are nursing their handgovers later today ... party was rocking when we left, weve driven 150 miles home but I bet they are still rocking in the very kewl barn where the wedding was.

One of the best uses I have found for showit is when you meet potential clients the day after you have just shot another wedding, I have a new client meeting later today (after some sleep). Show them your usual portfolio of shots etc and maybe they will ask about recent stuff you have shot or you offer to show your latest stuff if they dont, at which point you fire up the showit slideshow from the day before and they sit there amazed at how you manage to turn it around so quick and hooked in to you already..... least thats what happened after the last wedding anyway :)

DJ, ive seen you mention full screen option a few times in previous posts for showit but I cant see it in the app, I am on the latest 2.6 update, looked on both mac and pc versions but cant see it, is it a released feature or something your testing ?

[Banbert]

I agree - photo and video is very cool! Checkout this mix of photos and videos from the wedding I shot last weekend!

http://brettaustin.com/video/sorenson.mov


DJ, Just watched the video, thats stunning, awesome blend of video and photograph!! Thats just the sort of thing me and my shoting partner talked about having a bash at when we have the photography nailed (thats a long way off but we even regd a few domains for it a while back :) ) ..... thats a bloomin high benchmark your setting there though !!!

[motion_projekt]

DJ, awesome stuff. You're truly a photography god.

[islandphoto]

Wow! That show is amazing!!! Great use of video and photo - each time I saw a video of a new scene, I thought - what a cool photo it must have been and then wala - there it was!

[Rhinotherunt]

DJ, all I can say is WOW!!!

You have some sick skills!

Does the software allow the user to export to DVD without using the online service? I did not read the FAQ, but if it is in there sorry for doing a repeat question.

What I like to do is create my presentation in KeyNote and export as a movie. Of course my audio does not embed into the Video doing this. Do I have to export to a certain resolution for the DVD as well? I would like to be able to have the ability to create DVD's with 16x9 dimensions and nice and clean. iDVD stinks!!!