JRR

Ruth: Images of 500-600kb will work fine in PTE so long as the transitions are well spaced out and the computer is fairly recent. (I initially set up my shows with images straight from the camera at 2-4mb - not recommended !!) Images that size (500-600kb) will make your final .exe file quite large. Again not an issue depending what you want to do with it.... Images compressed into a jpg will be sized differently depending on the amount of detail in them. The more (in focus) detail the larger the file. That is why re-sizing to a single quality setting can be a problem at times (but I would not worry about it until you get to be an AV expert (if you aren't now).) I tend to use 300-400kb files for 1280x960 and it will work for most recent (and some not so recent) computers You could re-run your sizing actions and change the quality setting to something a little lower if you wanted. Hope that helps a little

Ruth: I have PhotoShop CS and I use Russell Brown's Image Processer 2.3 as a script Look for Image Processor 2.3 (About halfway down the page) http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html But it is built into CS2. It allows you to save by size (length and height), quality etc It's called the Image Processor. You can access this new version of the Image Processor from within the new Adobe Bridge application. Choose Tools > Photoshop > Image Processor.

Bob: To my mind there is an advantage, some would likely disagree with me. .mp3 is a compressed file, just like .jpg is. If you work on a jpg, saving it as you try different versions etc, overtime it loses quality. That is why we are taught to always work and save in .tif or .psd and convert to .jpg at the end. (obviously as PTE doesn't accept .tif or .psd I convert to .jpg for use in PTE but keep the uncompressed version until I am happy with the overall effect. The same applies to .mp3. I learned this the hard way in some of my earlier shows.

Charles: We had a somewhat similar issue a few months ago which is outlined on the forum some place. It turned out that when I converted the .wav to the MP3 I accidently used some weird options. Make sure you use stereo, 44,100HZ, constant bit rate and 128kbps (or 96). When I do that I have no problem going back and forth between .wav and .mp3. I do all my initial testing and synching using the .wav file and once I am happy and have finished tweaking the show and the music, I then convert to MP3 and away I go.

Maureen: I downloaded it this morning. Yes there are a few minor "glitches" but a really good job taking images from many different people and melding them into one great show. That is not easy !! Thank you very much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We can open an image in our image editing software by CTRL+W, (or right clicking) it would nice if there was some way open a sound clip that is attached in the SOUND LINE of the main page in our sound editor. Or I guess in the MUSIC page of PROJECT OPTIONS.....

I was pulling out what little hair I have left working on a new show last night. Some images were FADING, while others (randomly) were changing as a QUICK transition. Finally solved it this morning... : In a nutshell I had two transition settings for each image, one a cut and one a FADE at 1500ms. In working with the show initially (selecting and sorting images etc) I had set the EFFECTS as all cuts (QUICK), then when I started to work on synching I went into EFFECTS and clicked on FADE, assuming that would turn off the Quick Transitions – it didn’t !! I should have scrolled down all the way the check it. Not sure if that is a small glitch in PTE or it is by design, but just to let others know....

Thanks Igor

Igor: I am not sure this is a request for the next version or not as I suspect it might not be required in version 5 as I understand the OBJECTS will be stay where created with version 5, but just in case... The computer and projector that I use for making presentations to large groups uses a screen resolution of 1400x1050. When setting up the OBJECTS (to line up behind text already on the image) there is no 1400x1050 preview. Grouping the OBJECTS does not help as I am trying to line up to existing text. As I do not have ready access to that computer except at presentation time, and the four computers at home do not have that screen resolution, I can't line the OBJECTS up ahead of time. It would be nice if 1400x1050 were an option... Thanks

Subject to being wrong .png files support transparent backgrounds and I think Igor is allowing them in Ver 5 (even as objects)

Steve: very nice !!!!

Tom: If it works the way you want OK, but you have gone about it a rather unorthodox way. (by the way 250 images is along show, hope you have a captive audience ) Normally we would take the music and link them together in one sound track, via a sound editing software such as Audacity(free) or Audition(not free) ) and add the music through the Project Options TAB and then custom synch the show. I assume you are at least saving the .pte file If you want to create a DVD, then I suggest you go here for further help

Gilbert: If you say you have been successful with mp5's before OK Did you look at Ronniebootwest's and Alrobin's postings of Jan 23 @3:28 and 5:11est several postings above yours ?

Gilbert Try an MP3 file. If my memory serves me correctly .wma is not a valid file type for PTE (and some other softwares as it is a windows proprietry file). But I have been wrong before...

Tommy: I'll let someone else answer the TV questions, but for the Timeline guide, click: here

Geoff: I am with you on this. I have specifically asked for feedback on a few of my Beechbrook shows and received constructive comments. From experiences elsewhere I know that some people do not want feedback, or feedback givers are reluctant to coment without specific invitations. Then there is the risk that someone will say something that will be taken the wrong way (as can so easily happen with e-mails and forums as we have seen) and we all know what that does.... Personally I feel it is worth the "risk" to ask for comments

Lew: I can understand why you are not "up" on the Pan and Zoom being a newbie as you have not been party to the forum for the past 4-6 months. But Pan and Zoom are in version 5.0 which is expected very soon. No date promised as Igor did that once earlier and he did not make it. Igor takes his time to get things RIGHT. We all appreciate his thoroughness and wait patiently

John: It is a simple (once you have done it a number of times ) matter of putting many of your images, one per layer, into a single .psd. Usually the .psd background layer is your canvas to be used on all images Then sizing (via transform) and placing them carefully for nice transitions, over lapping and non-overlapping as you wish. Then saving each layer as a jpg file for PTE and carefully select the transition you want to use. There was a wonderful show "Olga Boritsch" (produced by her husband) that used to be on Beechbrook that gave us all many wonderful ideas in this regard. The show is no longer there, I will send you his e-mail address privately and you could ask for a copy - I am sure he would share it.

Skeevie: (I am likely a sucker for answering this as members of the forum who have been around will know what I mean, but we do try to help...) The file size should be around 300kb, saving as jpg will let you see the size of the file either using SAVE AS or SAVE for web. You can't go by a fixed quality setting. The "resolution" is a red herring as has been "discussed" many times. It is used to determine print size. Ignore res and just crop to pixel size you want. I hope this does not get the old discussions going again.....

John: I am not going to reply to your entire notes, I will leave much it to those techies with much more knowledge than I.... Our club just bought the Canon Realis Sx50 and we have now calibrated it for the screen we use (or should use). It is an absolutely great projector, the highlight and shadow details are tremendous. Regarding your wish not to crop. I understand what you are saying, and I would prefer not to crop (saves a lot of time if you don't) but I crop virtually all mine to the resolution that I use (1280x960 This choice is for a number of reasons and is not meant to be a comment re your dilemma). The scond reason I crop is help improve the transitioning from one image to the next. By selective cropping you can get parts of the two images to line up the way you want for the transitions which can make a difference in the quality of your finished product.

Barry: Sorry to hear you are having problems. While we all run into frustrations at times, we have found PTE to be a marvelous software, among the best out there, if not the best. You are better to use the Pictures to EXE forum than the presentations forum go Here Others more techie inclined than I should be able to help you there.

Good luck with free MP3s, there are likely some (are you giving away any of your photos these days?? ) Best bet is to google Royalty Free Music, or even just do a search this forum as Royalty Free music is a recurrent topic

Ron: I just downloaded it again. Took 10 minutes. I tend to work away on other things while items download so I don't really pay much attention to the elapsed time. The pace can seem "fast" if I am absorbed elsewhere. It might be that it is not resident on Beechbrook, but Bill is hosting only the link to the producer's site that has a slower connection, but my shows for which Bill does host the file, downloaded at the same rate as 65 acres

Ron: I had no problem downloading it, came at its usual fast pace. Didn't notice it being any slower. I am on cable.

I should have mentioned the 300kb is based on files of 1024x768 or 1280x960 or thereabouts One can make shows run with files straight out of a 6MP camera, but it is not recommended. I do it only for initially setting up a draft of a show.