Workflow for Photo Slideshow

bwillett wrote on 6/27/2006, 10:48 AM
I'm working on a family project. I've scanned hundreds of my family's old photos, some going back to the early 1900's. I'd like a way to display the photos, preferably on a tv, while my father records the narration. The time for each photo needs to be variable based on how much he has to say about it. Later I need to match up the narration with the photo, and add in pans, zooms, etc... based on the narration. The final output will be to DVD.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on a workflow to accomplish this.

Comments

bevross wrote on 6/27/2006, 11:00 AM
For the purpose of recording narration, it seems like it'd make more sense to have some clickable slideshow presentation from the computer (if need be, output from computer to t.v.). A video-based DVD presentation at this stage doesn't make sense 'cause you'd have to be fumbling for the pause button, etc. You could also have a narration spanning a series of photos, too (you don't want too static of an image on the screen).

I'm working on something similar but it's old family films. My parents watched & discussed the video while I recorded -- twice. I'm taking comments from both & putting it together.
busterkeaton wrote on 6/27/2006, 11:12 AM
I would get together with the narrator beforehand and make sure you have the photos in order.

I would then create a Slideshow based on that order. Even Windows Picture and Fax viewer would be enough.

Record the narration as he clicks through the slideshow.

Then build your DVD.


You make want to look at the tool Ultimate S from Vasst. Very handy slideshow tools.
TorS wrote on 6/27/2006, 11:13 AM
If you get something like ACDSee you can view thumbs of your snaps, rearrange them and most importantly: rename them in numbered sequences.
Then set a mean (average) time for added stills in Vegas. Select all the images and pull them to the timeline. They will automatically arrange themselves in the set order and length, with the preselected amount of overlap.
After that you will have to readjust the length of some of them (If you knew beforehand which ones, you could drop them in a separate operation with a different time set, drop them on a second track. Then either make room for them on the first track or better still, drop the other ones in smaller chunks, alowing for the gaps already.

You will certainly have to open pan/crop for all and at least set "match output aspect". I don't think there is a way to do this one and for all - unless someone sells you a script?
Severa years ago (2002) there was a brilliant idea on how to make a stunning slide show in Vegas.
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=115107
Scroll down to Shredder's post.
Tor
Sol M. wrote on 6/27/2006, 1:08 PM
All of the suggestions are good, but if your dad would be more comfortable doing the narration while sitting in front of a TV, then there's another (very simple) solution if you've got DVD Architect. And in only 5 easy steps!

Create a DVD slideshow using a Music Compilation in DVDA.

This is how I've created image galleries/slideshows for several DVDs. You can manually advance to the next slide (using prev/next chapter buttons on remote) and/or automatically advance to the next slide after whatever duration you desire. Your slideshow can contain huge amounts of images without taking much space at all (as opposed to using a Picture Compilation in DVDA).

Steps:

1) In Vegas, create an audio file of silence for your desired duration (5 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.)
- Make it longer rather than shorter if you think your dad may talk at length about some of the pictures
- You're only going to use it once, so file size is not a concern
- Still, to conserve as much space as possible, render the audio file as an AC3 file compatible with DVDA

2) In DVDA, create a Music Compilation (right-click in Project Overview window and select "Insert Music Compilation").

3) Drag your images into the "Compilation" window

4) Select all of the images in the compilation, right-click and select "Set Audio..." and select the audio file you created in Step 1. All images will now display for the duration of the audio file.

5) Burn the DVD!

Single Caveat: Any title on a DVD can only contain 99 chapters. Therefore, if your slideshow is more than 99 images (each image will be a chapter), you'll simply need to split your images up into multiple music compilations and set the end action of each music compilation to go to the next music compilation.
Adontech wrote on 6/27/2006, 4:11 PM
I completed a Photo DVD project for Hurricane Katrina using a combination of Vegas and Proshow Gold. Photographers recorded their voices while talking about their pictures and sent me the audio files. They would say the filename, pause, then talk about the picture. I diced up the audio file in Vegas, loaded the pictures in Proshow Gold, attached the audio files to the pics, set the duration of each pic to match the length of the audio file, set pan and zoom options and output the file. There were a few more steps, but Proshow Gold makes the picture/voiceover compilation easy. BTW, we have sold over 10,000 copies of the DVD so far.
ctrl-z wrote on 6/27/2006, 8:29 PM
Also keep in mind if this whole show is longer than 20-30 minutes it's going to be a real groaner. Consider dropping most of those 'hundreds' of pictures. And for god's sake don't let him talk about one pic more than 5-10 seconds - can you say YAWN?

Don't believe me? Just try to sit and watch a 60 minute show about *any* family. Even the 'busy' ones like the Kennedys gets real boring real fast.
TorS wrote on 6/28/2006, 1:41 AM
I agree about keeping it short. For the sake of archiving stuff you could create a DVD-ROM with all the scans sorted in neat folders. But for the DVD itself, 15-20 minutes is probably just right.

I guess the normal thing is to make such presentations for "future generations", but some of you people with old parents and in-laws might consider this idea: Give them a DVD of their grandchildren, the house they grew up in, the music they love, the landscape they love etc etc - all edited together to one media happening. (If needed, throw in a DVD player.) I gave something like that to my father-in-law at his 75th in April. He is still bringing it with him when he goes visiting people! Not that it's such a great show, but it strikes home where the heart is. And I felt so good giving it.

Have a peep at some of it if you will
The second chapter
The final 2 minutes
The clips are wmv, 256 kbps, 6.5 and 4MB. (The whole thing is 15 minutes.)
It's my daughter singing Easter hymns (recorded in Stavanger Cathedral). There is some 8 mm footage, some video I shot during Easter this year and some stills. It makes sense to the the family and close friends, which of course is the intended audience.

As for future generations, I do not want to guess how they would like to have such material presented to them. This worked now.

Anyway, good luck with your photo montage.
Tor
Paul_Holmes wrote on 6/28/2006, 9:30 AM
TorS:

Here's the script: Match Aspect Ratio

I've done several slideshows recently and was irritated I couldn't select them all and set aspect ratio, then ran into this script -- great timesaver
TorS wrote on 6/28/2006, 3:16 PM
Thank you for mentioning that script, Paul.
I was thinking of you when I posted the two clips. I know your folks came from further north, but at least some of this is Norway a long time ago. You might like to see it.
Good to know you're around.
Tor
Paul_Holmes wrote on 6/28/2006, 4:40 PM
Tor, watched both your videos and liked them a lot. Reminded me of pictures my brother has obtained from 2nd 3rd cousins, what have you, in Norway. It's obviously a beautiful country.