Igor

Sorry, I didn't know that this control was used so often and I though that it's useless. OK, I'll add this control back again.

No, I'm still working on v5.12 which should include ATI gamma fix.

Updated build 5.11: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr-deluxe.zip (4 MB) + Updated language files. * Fixed small bug in VideoBuilder when slideshow on DVD had chapters only for first 9 minutes. In the next version 5.2 will try to solve problems with burning DVD discs on some PCs in VideoBuilder. We plan to use another DVD burning library.

I'll release soon an updated version of 5.1 with my own fix for all ATI cards.

In USA Epson suggests two models Home ($2800) and Pro ($3999). Pro contains free ceil mounting, spare bulb, black color of the projector and more professional color settings. European version (TW2000) is exactly same projector as Pro (black color and professional settings) but without ceil mounting and no spare lamp. In Russia official cost of TW2000 is $13000. Much more than in Europe. Because of this I ordered the projector on eBay (for $3300 + customs duty).

Please leave all global settings by default ("Application controls"). PicturesToExe and slideshow automatically set necessary parameters. If disable some global settings, such as "Vertical synchronization" slideshow will not play smooth Pan effect, for example.

I recommended this projector because it's a first LCD projector with real contrast 4000:1 (50'000:1 if dynamic IRIS turned on) and contrast matches the best one chip DLP projectors. For now I will compose my slideshows in 16:9 aspect ratio. Later when we add Blu-Ray authoring, you will able easily create and burn 1920x1080 slideshows on Blu-Ray discs for such FullHD projector or TV.

This moment will be improved in next version 5.2 We will not re-initialize fullscreen mode when you start next EXE slideshow from first slideshow.

I just bought newest FullHD 1920x1080 LCD projector Epson 1080UB. This projector is real breakthrough for LCD projectors. It has in five-seven times more deep black level than my previous LCD projector Panasonic AE900. Epson 1080UB has real contrast 4000:1 without IRIS. No flickering and no rainbow effect, of course. I watched several slideshows and I never seen before such natural picture with clear colors and perfect contrast. Pure joy to watch slideshows on this 16:9 projector. Highly recommended. Cost of home version of this projector $2800 in USA. Released in December of 2007. Review: http://www.projectorreviews.com/epson/powe...080ub/index.php

PicturesToExe detects capabilities of video card and decide can it provide hardware acceleration or not. But regrettably some low-level video cards (SiS, Intel) report that it can work in Direct 3D mode and support all features, but work absolutely incorrectly. How Microsoft approved these drivers - it's another question.

scj, What version of Windows you use and what video card installed in your PC? Slideshow may skip slides and transition effects if you used very large images and close interval between them. If pressing of Esc button doesn't help and you can't exit slideshow, there is a problem in drivers. Please update drivers for your video card. My experience shows that such rare problems with EXE files created in versions 5.x happen because of incorrect work of drivers of video cards. And updating of these drivers solves the problem. I consider we did well our part of work, but we depend on quality of drivers. p.s. I'm sorry for slow response, our technical support will work during weekends soon.

It happens if you configured DEP protection for all programs under Windows Vista. This problem related with main program of PicturesToExe only. No problem with created slideshows. To solve this problem, please read this article: http://wnsoft.com/apr/windows-vista.html

We didn't add special limitation of images size. The possible limitation can be in JPEG/PNG library which we use. Personally I never reached this limit in my slideshows and demos. But even if you reached this limit, slideshow will not load these images on any PC, because we use built-in JPEG/PNG/GIF/BMP loader which works equally on any PC. Also don't worry about limit of particular video card and its memory size, because we use special mechanism of loading of large images to video memory. Some other slideshow makers I've tried don't have this mechanism and fail to load large images depending on particular video card.

Please try to update drivers for video card in your PC. If this version worked before it means some settings or files of Windows are damaged and it can't use DirectX hardware accelerated mode more.

We'll include special "Use mipmapping" option for Image and Text objects to solve visual problem during animation when picture/text "shimmer" when you greatly reduce or enlarge objects, say from a dot like size at a center of a screen (1%) to full size on entire screen (100%). How better to call this option? "Mipmapping" name used in 3D terminology. Or "Anti shimmering" as more intuitive. How you consider?

Thanks for reporting about it! I'll contact to Invision support about this problem on Monday. It better to don't write them right now, because the forum in a process of moving to another server. Please always write me about similar moments.

Invision web hosting company informed us that they will move the forum to a new server today-tomorrow. Updating of DNS records may causes temporal delays with access to the forum.

Integration of timeline to main window is going well. It really looks much better now in main window with ability quickly switch - Slides list or Timeline. p.s. Excuse me for possible delays with my replies, I would like to concentrate on this task.

I would like to answer on many questions regarding work of PicturesToExe and created slideshows on Mac computers. We started work on Mac version of PicturesToExe half year ago because of increased popularity of Mac computers and Mac OSX. Probably it will be only for Intel based Macs. As a first result of this work, since some future version, PicturesToExe will generate executable file of a slideshow for Mac computers. Although you will work with PicturesToExe under Windows, but the program will capable produce native executable file for Mac OSX and EXE file for Windows. And your slideshows can be played on PCs and on Macs. Full version of "PicturesToExe for Mac" (editor, VideoBuilder, etc.) scheduled later. It's a stupendous work.

You can download self-extracting installation package of PicturesToExe: http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/apr.exe

Newest LCD and LCoS projectors: Epson TW2000 ($3999 street price) and JVC RS1/HD1 ($5000) have very good contrast and black level comparable with DLP models. Personally I plan to buy Epson TW2000.

PicturesToExe license terms provide two variants if you bought one registration key: - For one PC only (for any number of users). - Or only for one user who has two or three PCs (home PC, laptop and PC at his office, for example). In other cases you have to buy second registration key.

Thank you, friends! I wish you Happy New Year! And let help make this world better and people happier with a wonderful possibility which was given us - photography. The beauty recorded on photographies will inspire people improve all aspects of life. With cordial regards, Igor

Due to national holidays in our country, all offices including our one, are closed since December 30 up to January 8th. Because of this I would like to take one week of a vacation. Progress on version 5.2 is good, I consider that we have already completed a quarter part of the work.

bjc, Perfect presentation! You inspired me how to better promote PicturesToExe. I also seen stuttering on scrolling of a map. You wrote that you used windowed mode and then I modified your EXE file to get it work in fullscreen mode and voila - absolutely smooth scrolling of a map reached. Although slideshow works with hardware acceleration in windowed mode, but it can't be exactly synchronized with refresh rate of a display under Windows XP/2000. Only under Windows Vista windowed and fullscreen modes work at same manner and with ideal smoothness. Conclusion: if you use Pan/Zoom effects it is highly recommended to use fullscreen mode.