Best DVD Slideshow Software Out There?

[capturedexpressions]

I have ProShow Gold and was thinking about upgrading to Producer. I just didn't know if there was another product out there that I didn't know about. I seen one that had animated intro screens which I like but the transitions were not as nice. Any recommendations?

[liza]

I think David Jay has one called "Show it." I don't have a link to it, though.

[kBair]

here's the link.
http://www.showitfast.com/

[R. Lawrence]

I recently bought showit pro, and I like it. I don't own any others, so I really can't offer any comparison with other products.

bob

[tim]

With ShowIt you have to pay for every DVD produced, so I just use it for web shows. I use ProShow Gold from www.photodex.com for my DVDs, it also does web shows the same as showit, but showit is probably a little easier to use.

[carpenter]

I also use and recommend ProShow Gold

[canotographer]

I have just purchased showitweb pro. Mixed feeling here... yes, it's an easy-to-use program... you just need to pick a folder and pick a song...a few clicks of the next buttons and then you wil get a slide show. Well...the thing is if you want to do some serious music/photo editing, mixing or matching, you can only do it via the manual record option which means you need to time it yourself by memorizing the music notes, breaks, picture orders and you need to guess (or stop clock) how long you want each picture to show...Very elementry and inflexible type of editing capabiltiy.. making the job extremely inefficient.

It doesn't give you a real control panel for sound and picture. I mean the type of control interface that allows you to match the frames with the music second by second with charts and splitter. And the image management page is not impressive either. First, it's slow...second, it's not easy to locate the pictures in that page becuase it shows no file name! Also, moving pictures to the exact locations you want in one drag is hard sometimes especially if you have a larger amount of pictures to show.

The songs in the library of the showitweb are very limited but I think it's better than proshow gold which I do not see any song provided in the trial version.

One thing you have to know is that the image quality will not look the same in the slideshow because the program will resize your image file to something very small ( it asks you to stick with 600x400 size, otherwise the slideshow won't run smoothly)... and the original picture quality will be affected.

For the DVD option... I really don't like the idea...Because the image quality is already limited by the program... what's the point to get a slideshow on DVD with downgraded image quality...

For a $200 price tag, showitweb is kinda disappointed so far...Mainly becase it's not pro enough for that price...

I may actually try proshow gold later.. I am looking at the interface of it .. . at least it gives me an impression that this is a better program.

[DAVIDJAY]

Canotographer - You're right that speed and ease of use are what Showit Web is all about and I understand that you just bought the program and so as you dive into it I'm sure you'll see that you can actually do the things you're wanting to.

You can match the pictures to the beat easily simply by tapping the beat on your mouse as the song plays and then if you'd like you also can make specific adjustments in as many drags as you want by unlocking the timeline. :) Again, checkout the video tutorials and you'll see the features are there.

You also have full control over size and image quality and we just give suggestions based on what most computers can handle. Showit Web can display full screen slideshows and if you or your clients computer is good enough then give it to'em. :)

DVD quality - again, you really haven't looked into the program much and so I'm kinda frustrated by your "review" - The program makes another set of high res pictures simultaneiously to be used for the DVD's.

Also, with any other program you have to buy the music you use so the 10+ songs we provide with Showit Web is indeed a benefit.

I hope this clears some things up.
DJ

[canotographer]

Thank you David for your advice.

[Wedding Shooter]

David - is there a reason why you can't provide the facility for your programme to allow the user to create a DVD? This is really a deal breaker for me with Show It.

Otherwise a great product.

[eslaydog]

David - is there a reason why you can't provide the facility for your programme to allow the user to create a DVD? This is really a deal breaker for me with Show It.

Otherwise a great product.

I second this. Good product, but it really should be able to burn to a DVD.

[DAVIDJAY]

We certainly understand that not everyone wants to outsource this but there were two key reasons why we chose this route.

1. I spent two years trying to figure out a good way to get DVD slideshows to my clients this and it was a consistent hassle trying to get all the different pieces to work together and so I believe photographers should be spending their time building their business instead of processing orders and dealing with the hassles of authoring DVD's, printing labels, and then packaging and shipping. It's just not a good investment of time in my opinion.

2. Support - you may be able to do this on your own but there is a large group of photographers, myself included, that can't and don't want to be bothered with it...and so outsourcing it is the best solution instead of trying to teach and train people who aren't setup for it and really shouldn't be doing it anyway.

It's become a great selling point b/c every other slideshow program forces you to fulfill the products yourself whereas Showit Web allows you to make money from the slideshows without doing more work.

Do you really want to be spending more time behind your computer? :) Get-FREE - enjoy your life.

Rock on!
DJ

[Borderfox]

I use Proshow Gold and have tried Producer, but I will be sticking to Gold. So easy to use and cant get the product done very quickly, maybe this is due to my background in IT though.

[davidfig]

...and so outsourcing it is the best solution

Does anyone know the cost to have showit-dvd.com produce a dvd from showit-web?

or do I have to sign up to find out??

[Wedding Shooter]

We certainly understand that not everyone wants to outsource this but there were two key reasons why we chose this route.

1. I spent two years trying to figure out a good way to get DVD slideshows to my clients this and it was a consistent hassle trying to get all the different pieces to work together and so I believe photographers should be spending their time building their business instead of processing orders and dealing with the hassles of authoring DVD's, printing labels, and then packaging and shipping. It's just not a good investment of time in my opinion.

2. Support - you may be able to do this on your own but there is a large group of photographers, myself included, that can't and don't want to be bothered with it...and so outsourcing it is the best solution instead of trying to teach and train people who aren't setup for it and really shouldn't be doing it anyway.

It's become a great selling point b/c every other slideshow program forces you to fulfill the products yourself whereas Showit Web allows you to make money from the slideshows without doing more work.

Do you really want to be spending more time behind your computer? :) Get-FREE - enjoy your life.

Rock on!
DJ

David - while freeing your time up is great. Burning a DVD is not a hard job. You just select output to iDVD, or whatever and than mess around with a menu for 5 minutes and burn. The label might take another 5 minutes. You can just leave the computer to burn. Plus it is almost instant - with your process I have to wait around for the DVD to arrive.

Surely you could offer the choice. Than the photographer can decide to burn the DVD themself or send it off to you to do. Choice is better than no choice right? That's why we like Canon - they give us the choice of three crop factors to choose from:)

I agree that it is great to have a service through your software for those who are challenged by the process - but surely you would sell more if the option was there to do it yourself.

Cheers,

Chris

[DAVIDJAY]

:) Authoring DVD's and printing labels for the disk certainly takes a good bit of time (even if everything works right) ...I think you're oversimplifying the process...not to mention the fact that you still have to receive the order and process it and package and ship.

All things you really shouldn't be wasting your time doing. Outsourcing this and all order fullfillment is a much better route.

Cheers,
DJ

[mizuno]

Outsourcing this and all order fullfillment is a much better route.

For your business model. :cool:

[canotographer]

Oh, one more question.. what's the refund policy for showitweb by the way... not intend to do that yet but just in case I want to...Or.. I don't have that option here either?

[Wedding Shooter]

:) Authoring DVD's and printing labels for the disk certainly takes a good bit of time (even if everything works right) ...I think you're oversimplifying the process...not to mention the fact that you still have to receive the order and process it and package and ship.

All things you really shouldn't be wasting your time doing. Outsourcing this and all order fullfillment is a much better route.

Cheers,
DJ

Hi David,

All my packages offer a slideshow of their photos - it just gets picked up by them along with their proof album (so there is no hassle with taking orders, etc...). I might also deliver it if I am going to go over their album proof with them. It is all part of that personal touch that would be taken away if stuff just came in the mail.Perhaps your business model is a little different where you are dealing with people in other countries or across state borders. But many of us have a local business model that is also working well.

Anyway, the process for me is not that complicated - discs already have a label on them (I buy the printable ones). I have preset label designs on the computer ready to go. I just put the disc in the printer and press print.

All that is missing in the process is an export to DVD option that I can use to send the file to my DVD authoring programme - that is just a couple of button presses in iPhoto or FotoMagico. I am sure that many photographers would find this an excellent addition as a choice in your software. There has already been a few threads where this has been expressed by people other than myself.

How about surveying your software customers - send them an e-mail asking them if it would be a useful feature? You can still offer the send away to get it done option. As expressed before it is a deal breaker for me. I would pay extra to have the functionallity in Show It.

As we say here in Oz - no worries. Just giving you some feedback on what would make a great programme even better.

[4g63photo]

Does anyone have any recommendations for Mac software?

[mizuno]

Does anyone have any recommendations for Mac software?

FotoMagico (http://boinx.com/fotomagico/overview/)

[islandphoto]

I think showit is great. I was apprehensive at first because of the DVD thing but honestly - I don't really put the shows on the web to sell them and if they sell it's just an extra bonus. It makes it so easy to quickly put together a slideshow for the web that the client can email to their friends and family. I just think it's a really powerful marketing tool in that respect.
canotographer - I don't think there should be any reason to return this product. That is why they have a demo version, so you can see if it works for you or not. Just my 2 cents.

[Rick Rosen]

FotoMagico (http://boinx.com/fotomagico/overview/)

I use and endorse FotoMagico in my studio. I have been creating slideshows with FM and other programs for well over three years. What impressed me so much about FotoMagico when I discovered it (their marketing could be better here in the states) was that the program creates a slideshow using full resolution image files, it does NOT reduce the resolution of those image files like many other programs do. The value of this approach is that you can create a slideshow and then use it for any application that you want. You can export the show from FM for the web, iPhone, iPod, and DVDs, even 1080P HD. I don't have to take the time to create a show for the web and then either pay someone else to make a DVD or create the show all over again in another software for my own DVD. I believe that Pro Show for Windows does the same.

I have created many slideshows for the web or DVD in literally five minutes or less. Exporting them then takes some time and can be long (30-60 minutes) because FotoMagico exports in full resolution imaging for maximum quality and it takes time for the computer to process those image files but you can let it do so in the background and continue to work, even creating a new slideshow. As a comparison iPhoto and iDVD for example both reduce the image resolution to speed up the export processing. They don't make web shows either.

I look at the DVD "DIY VS Outsourcing" issue this way: If I can create one slideshow for the web and present it to my clients and then simply reopen it and export it for DVD sales AND I can create the slideshow quickly and easily why would I pay someone else to do that and not keep the entire revenue in my studio? If it took me hours and hours to make the DVD or required a significant purchase of equipment or software which it doesn't then I would weigh that against outsourcing and outsourcing would be the way I would go.

I do outsource my proofing with online viewing and certainly do outsource my print orders but when I can create a slideshow for the web and DVD play in as little as four minutes (I've timed myself) then I'll do it in house.

There are a number of DIY options; FotoMagico for the MAc and the Pro Show family from Photodex for Windows, IMO, are the ones to check out.

Disclaimer: I do assist Boinx Software to spread the word on FotoMagico. I am not paid for that effort but I do receive a small commission but only if the purchase is made off my site. I am also always available to answer any questions from photographers using the software.

Hope that helps.

Rick

[tim]

What impressed me so much about FotoMagico when I discovered it (their marketing could be better here in the states) was that the program creates a slideshow using full resolution image files, it does NOT reduce the resolution of those image files like many other programs do. The value of this approach is that you can create a slideshow and then use it for any application that you want. You can export the show from FM for the web, iPhone, iPod, and DVDs, even 1080P HD. I don't have to take the time to create a show for the web and then either pay someone else to make a DVD or create the show all over again in another software for my own DVD. I believe that Pro Show for Windows does the same.

ProShow does the same, ShowIt Web doesn't - it uses low res proxies. I think with ShowIt you can check a box to say you want DVD compatible files, but that's still quite low res, not fit for 1080p.

[viperx27]

ProShow does the same, ShowIt Web doesn't - it uses low res proxies. I think with ShowIt you can check a box to say you want DVD compatible files, but that's still quite low res, not fit for 1080p.

actaully its more than enough for 1080p ;)

[tim]

DVDs are 720×480. 1080p is 1920×108. What resolution are the images that ShowIt creates?

[bnlearle]

Anyone know when/why David Jay got banned?

[viperx27]

DVDs are 720×480. 1080p is 1920×108. What resolution are the images that ShowIt creates?

you can make it whatever you want, its completely selectable. I can show a slideshow that matches my 1080p plasma and show it via a dvi to hdmi cable and it looks spectacular ;)

most showit shows are designed for the web, so of course they are small resolution, but the program itself can do any size you want

[troyphoto]

Anyone know when/why David Jay got banned?

I'm not sure. Anyone know?

[viperx27]

I'm not sure. Anyone know?

probably something to do with a combo of bickering with Rick and mods feeling he was selling his product when he was just answering questions about it.

[cdjr4@cox.net]

I wondered this as well....I really like him and wish he was back on the forum. I just go to his OPS blog

[viperx27]

I wondered this as well....I really like him and wish he was back on the forum. I just go to his OPS blog

might want to check out his whole forum ;)

[Rick Rosen]

probably something to do with a combo of bickering with Rick and mods feeling he was selling his product when he was just answering questions about it.

I don't know what happened but please don't bring my name into it. I am still here and intend to remain so. I have twenty years of experience in weddings and considerable experience creating slideshows and DVDs. I am always open to help where I can.

Thank you.

Rick

[cdjr4@cox.net]

might want to check out his whole forum ;)


Yes, it's awesome! I joined his Freedom Club also. He's really a great guy I think and has done a remarkable job with his business. I think "Bcap" will be the next "young one" to take it to the top.:)

[siddr20]

I wish fotomagico made a version for windows. So easy to use.

Will give proshow gold a try and see if its the same. Little bit of a bump, but are you guys still using proshow? If not what else is out there?

[tim]

Yep still using proshow gold.

[siddr20]

Thanks tim. Downloading the trail now and see if I like it.

cheers

[blessedbawan]

This come handy! http://www.couponsindia.net/imgs/signature_couponcodes.jpg

[Numenorean]

Showit is crap. At least for a while he made it seem like his videos that he did were done with Showit. Nope, Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere. Can't be that good if the person offering it doesn't even use it.

Stick with ProShow. It's a good product.

[scorpio_e]

I use proshow producer. Very solid program.

[juicedownload]

I use Proshow Producer

In the past, I've researched the available options from animoto, flixtime, and the other less flashy ones, but I think an actual local application is best - not a hosted cloud service.
When you make shows time and time again it pays off having the software.

I design and sell plenty of styles and a few templates for Proshow Producer. I guess I just really like it.

See some of my Proshow styles here (http://styles.photographadventure.com)


Tim

[scorpio_e]

I use Proshow Producer

In the past, I've researched the available options from animoto, flixtime, and the other less flashy ones, but I think an actual local application is best - not a hosted cloud service.
When you make shows time and time again it pays off having the software.

I design and sell plenty of styles and a few templates for Proshow Producer. I guess I just really like it.

See some of my Proshow styles here (http://styles.photographadventure.com)


Tim

I agree it is more cost effective to use a stand alone app. I like your style pak 2. Are you giving forum members a discount ?

[K-9 Cop]

I am trying to figure out if ProShow Producer is worth paying mearly 4 times as much. I want to do some slide shows for weddings. I have narrowed it down to either ProShow Gold or Producer. What can Producer do that Gold cannot?

[tim]

No idea. Get gold.

[Red Tie Photography]

I am trying to figure out if ProShow Producer is worth paying mearly 4 times as much. I want to do some slide shows for weddings. I have narrowed it down to either ProShow Gold or Producer. What can Producer do that Gold cannot?

http://www.photodex.com/proshow/compare

[timecut]

i created more than 30+ slideshow with showitweb and I mainly use it to create slideshow on my blog. Here are some pros and cons

pro:
- easy and fast
- program can run on mac and pc
- when share the slideshow on the web, user can fast forward by clicking on the photo. You cant do that with video base slideshow.
- once uploaded the slideshow, I can easily to replace the soundtrack without render the whole thing again

con:
- the transition effect is boring
- it creates flash base slideshow so client can't view with iphone/ipad. That is a big no no to me. I am moving toward to animoto because of this
- can't output to dvd without $