CD galleries, not slideshows

I need to create a CD or DVD that has a menu, autoloads, and allows you to select the photo instead of just having a slideshow. It'll basically be like a web gallery but on a CD, preferably not in HTML.

What its for is a shoe company that wants to showcase their current show line for promotional purposes. They just don't want a folder full of photos on the CD/DVD.

What kind of software is capable of this? I have Nero Photoshow, SmartStart, and ProShow, but all these programs do is slideshows and I can't really find any programs that do what I am looking for. Any suggestions?

I've put galleries on CD with JAlbum.. (http://jalbum.net/)
There used to be an autorun application that came with it, but I don't think they supply one anymore. Ask in their forum.

It will generate thumbnails, build your webpages and link to either the original files or resized copies, then upload to the host server for you. Just point it to the directory where your files are located and choose an output directory. Very easy to use. And it's free. Lots of different page designs, too.
Try the "Vertical" skin with the Black.css "Style" for a clean album that doesn't get between your work & the viewer.

You can also order the images without worrying about the file names or dates. Press the edit button in the image ordering section. You will then see a text editor pop up with each image on its own row. Just rearrange the images and save, then generate an album again. Only downside is that you'll have to do that for each folder if you have a multi folder web.
Enjoy!

Well, I already have an HTML gallery on my web page. What I am looking for is something that I can use on a CD, that isn't in HTML. These are going to be mailed to magazines for promotional materials.

Frank with JAlbum, just say if i did a proof book with it, but instead of a book all hard copies use JAlbum to show all of the proofs - is there anyway the client can take those photos and use them for themselves? Or are they all processed down to a smaller reso?

Thanks

Either way you want. You have choices to "Link to originals" or "Link to scaled-down images only" & can choose the sizes, too.

Why?

Well, if it's not HTML then it'll be a Flash-based CD/DVD ....

But, either way, you're going to have "...a folder full of photos..." somewhere on the CD/DVD. I don't see how you couldn't.

So why can't you use the very same HTML gallery on your web page for the CD/DVD ?

I create my on-line galleries with BreezeBrowser Pro, and I can (and do) also put those same galleries on a CD to send to clients. These CD's automatically open up to the gallery index when inserted into the CD player - the client doesn't have to "look" for any of it. The CD gallery has the full capability of the on-line galleries - viewing, ordering, checking-out, paying, etc.

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what you're ultimately planning to have this CD/DVD do for your client ....

If having a folder full of pictures is a concern, authoring to DVD might be the way to go. Also, the clients would simply use their DVD players to view the gallery DVD just like a regular DVD release.

Avid Liquid, or its forerunner, Pinnacle Systems' Studio (coincidentally recently bought by Avid) can help you to do this.

Thanks I will give Avid a try.

Does BreezeBrowse allow customizable menus and logos and such? Does it include the Autorun feature for a CD with the program? I might just go this route.

Yes, if you're comfortable editing .js files ....

Take a look at what I've got on-line now for a gallery: Women's Lacrosse
Now, what you see when you get there is just what a client sees when they insert a CD of this gallery into their machine - it's automatic. I've got this gallery set up into sections for easier viewing and quicker loading, but you would not have to set your's up this way (nor have the background or logo or colors, etc that I have on this one). Browse through this and play around with it .... and if you have any questions about it, then I'll be happy to answer any specific questions that you have.

No, as far as I know, the autorun doesn't come with it - I've just always done my own ... and if I can do it, it can't be that hard ....

I can dabble in JS files. I really appreciate the help. I am going to try out something like you have going.

What do you do for your Autoruns? I have never made one before so I am entirely unfamiliar. Do you use a program, code it yourself, anything like that? Any info would be appreciated.

I can e-mail that to you when you're ready .... it's only two small files.

Certainly. I will drop you a PM this weekend. Thanks!