davegee

Using your figures above you ned to use: 16:9 (or 16:10) 1920x1080 (or 1920x1200) - Virtual Size of Slide Your 1200x800 image then fits in the centre of the 1920x1080 (or 1920x1200). When you drag an image in go to O&A and click on the word Size to set the 100% size of the image (assuming that your image is 1200x800). MPEG4 - Publish > HD Video for PC and MAC. DG

If your intention is to use HDMI then you have just the one option: Use 16:9 in place of the 16:10 for your computer. I struggled for quite some time trying to decide which AR to use to have a decent show on both media. In the end I decided that I was getting the optimum by sticking with the 16:9 AR for both computer and TV. Having a black line top and bottom on my computer monitor is FAR better than having black lines left and right on the TV. I can't really advise you wrt the DVD problem because I gave that up a long time ago in favour of, firstly, HDMI and then MPEG4 via USB Key straight into the TV. As far as I remember, for the DVD I was using the 16:9 AR with Fixed size of slide unticked. If you are concerned about losing a little each side because of TV Safe Zone go to PO > More and set % of slide etc to around 90%.However you project is taking a terrible quality hit. DG P.S. you have another alternative. Have two PTE Projects. Save your 16:10 project and then save again as a different name. Change the AR to 16:9 for HDMI - your images are 1200x800 so will fit into both AR comfortably. Also, if your TV has USB see this:

MPEG4 Files for HDTV When preparing a project for converting to MPEG4 for playing on a HDTV via USB the following, in my experience, are the settings which get the optimum results. In Project Options > Screen set the Aspect Ratio (AR) of the project to 16:9 and the resolution to 1920x1080. If your actual image AR is something different to 16:9 (3:2 or 4:3 etc) then the images will drop into the 16:9 frame and show with black lines either side. [if the 3:2 or 4:3 AR is used for the project then with some HDTVs it is possible that the MPEG4 will be made to fit to the screen's width and cause the images to be distorted. Even if it shows OK on your HDTV it could show differently on someone else's HDTV if you are going to share it] Use 1920x1080 (or 1080 High) images. Obviously, if the images are going to be zoomed into, then this has to be addressed. A general rule is that if you are going to zoom into an image to 200% then your images need to be twice as big (3840x2160 or 2160 High). When you are ready to create the MPEG4 file, click on PUBLISH and choose "HD Video for PC and MAC". In the next screen choose 1920x1080 and High Quality with Pan & Scan Enabled. These settings have proved (in my experience) to give a result which VERY closely approximates the quality of the same project when saved as an EXE and viewed on your computer monitor. Using the CUSTOM parameters do not in my opinion enhance the final result for MPEG4 files for HDTV. Select the location that you want for the resulting MPEG4 file – the default is the Project Folder where the PTE file is stored. Transfer the MPEG4 file to a memory key and plug into the TV. The method of playing in the built in Media Player will differ with different makes of TV so that will need to be researched in the TV's Manual. Because of the large file sizes of MPEG4 files it's wise to get a memory key which will hold a collection of them – I use a Kingston 16 Gb. If you decide to try this approach I think that you will agree that the viewing experience for small groups of people - family etc - is well worth the effort. DG P.S. See examples here:

Make your show at 1920x1080 resolution (16:9) - the same size as the TV. If you want to use a different aspect ratio i.e. 3:2 or 4:3 then just drop those images onto a 16:9 project size and your done. You could re-size your images to 1080 high. You'll get black bars down the sides but you won't have objects thrown at you by the family. When you feel up to it try cropping your images to suit the 16:9 AR. DG

Hi Ken, I know where you are coming from BUT, if you examine Peter's posts carefully I think you'll find that what he actually said is that he has no interest in inserting video into his slide shows - whilst I feel the same way I feel that I need to know about it. What I'm talking about here is creating H.264 MP4 Video from a "conventional" slide show (sans video) which can be played on a HDTV. There is a difference. I don't think that the ex-pat needs any help whatsoever - he is doing nicely (thank you). DG

Brian, I pointed out that the "mistake" was mine - I mentioned varying the CBR value. But I still haven't really had a definitive reply? Assuming that my computer and HDTV are "up to it" is there any value in raising the Bit Rate in the CBR Modes from their default settings of 10000 to 100000 or somewhere in between? Of course I can try it but there must be a point beyond which any increase in the Bit Rate has no further effect? ....and what applies to my computer / HDTV will not necessarily apply to someone else's Computer / HDTV. Peter has stated elsewhere that he uses the presets and therefore presumably VBR. I'm tending to agree and no one seems to be able to say WHY those settings are OK and don't require customising. On another point, Igor has, I think, said that there is little point in using anything larger than 1280x720 but my feeling is that I can see a difference between those settings and the 1920x1080 High Quality settings I am favouring. Is that because of my system or something else? I thought perhaps we could debate it? DG

There will be no indication that they are live - just click. DG

Thanks guys, It appears that I have used a word or phrase in (possibly) the wrong place and sent three of you off at a tangent and for that I apologise. Let's re-group. When making an H.264 MP4 file (in PTE) we are offered in the first instance some presets with which to work. If we select a preset and then select Custom we can see what the settings are for that particular preset and we can "customise" them. All of the presets use the "MODE 1" parameter of "One Pass - Quality" and we could, for instance choose to change the quality setting to a higher or lower value. We could also choose to alter the Audio quality. I am going to assume, at this stage, that all of the presets and Mode 1 (One Pass - Quality) are VBR (because there is nowhere to specify a fixed Bit Rate). If we choose to selet a different MODE - we are offered "One Pass - Bit Rate" and "Two Passes - Bit Rate" and the quality setting changes to a Bit Rate setting. I am going to assume here that MODE 2 and MODE 3 are CBR because we are offered a fixed or CONSTANT Bit Rate (CBR). It might be a good time to state here, Brian, that this thread/discussion has absolutely nothing to do with making a DVD of any description and therefore the quality of the non-existent DVD Player does not come into the equation. I realise that VBR and CBR might, originally, have been necessary for that purpose but that's not what we are going to do. We are going to make an H.264 MP4 - what we are going to do with it is irrelevant. However, Peter and I have both advocated at one time or another the use of MP4 files for playing on suitably equipped HDTVs and this is my primary use for the files. So, to get back to my original (intended) question, is there any benefit, when making an H.264 MP4 file for showing on a computer or HD TV, in using the CUSTOM option and MODE 2 or MODE 3 - "One Pass - Bit Rate" and "Two Passes - Bit Rate". I have already noticed that the default setting of the Bit Rate for the lowest quality file (800x600 - low quality) is 1300 for MODE 2 and MODE 3. The equivalent setting for the highest quality file (1920x1080 - high quality) is 10000 for both MODE 2 and MODE 3. The Preset Options don't offer us One Pass or Two Pass variants. So, I guess it boils down to this: Is there any benefit, when making an H.264 MP4 file for showing on a computer or HDTV, in choosing MODE 2 or MODE 3? Supplementary question: Is there any point in setting a bit rate higher than 10000? DG

ah, i was not talking of variable bit rate (i dont think?) . you can vary the bit rate when making custom mp4 files. which is best single or two passes. default bit rate is 10000 - is lower or higher better - why? dg

I have been looking once again at the settings available when making an H.264 MP4 Video. The "standard" settings supplied by Igor for a 1920x1080 High Quality MP4 are: Pan & Scan Enabled 1920x1080 FPS=30p One-Pass Quality (Mode) Quality=100 Audio 256 / 44100 / Auto The one thing that I have yet to see a convincing description of is the MODE setting when using CUSTOM. Options are: One Pass - Quality 100 One Pass - Bit Rate with a variable Bit Rate value Two Passes - Bit Rate with a variabe Bit Rate The first option is obvious but the Bit Rate options are a little confusing. Anyone have any insight into this? DG

Well done Howard: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/11/11/the-winners-of-national-memorial-arboretum-photography-contest-are-revealed-97319-29757378/ DG

Have you tried REMOVING the slide and replacing it with a new version? Right click - REMOVE - and then add a new blank slide and new text object. DG

Go to the offending slide in Slide View and Double Cick to bring up the O&A screen. In Properties click on the drop down next to PICTURE and make sure that the correct file is listed there. If the offending image is an OBJECT rather than the Main Image then you should look for it in the Objects list and delete it there. If that fails look at the error message - it will tell you the name of the file it is looking for and where it is looking for it. Put the original image (or another file named identically) where it is looking for it and replay the show - that will show you where you originally had it and allow you to do something about it. DG

DG

Page 20 - User's Guide to Version 7 PDF? DG

To me, this tends to suggest that it is the Samsung File which is the problem. Which is why I suggested that Igor take a look at it. I can produce a LARGE H.264 MPEG4 video (1920x1080) from a PTE show. When I try to insert that into a PTE Project I immediately get a message that it needs to be converted. If I ignore the message I get a show which stutters a little but is in sync with its sound. If I convert it all is well and still in sync. You are doing virtually the same thing with a file out of your Samsung but it does not work. I originally had the same problem with MUCH smaller MOV files out of a Nikon L2 compact camera - sound out of sync. I sent the file to Igor who managed to cure the problem in the next Beta. DG P.S. The Video Converter has to be made to work with all Video Clips otherwise there is no point in having the facility within PTE to insert Video Clips. Using a third party converter is definitely NOT the way forward.

colin while you are testing do as i said above? by smaller i meant shorter but still hd. small file size. send igor the link and explanation. if u use the hd file in pte what happens? dg

if you can reproduce the problem with a very much smaller video clip, upload it to mediafire and send the link to igor in a pm with a full explanation. give all details of camera etc. is it a new model? dg

Here's the updated PDF. I've made no attempt to describe the inner workings of the Converter - that's outside of the remit of this PDF. Thanks to Lin for the reminder that the "Trimming Utility" is built also into the Video Converter. DG

not yet ken. dg 07:00

thanks lin. you just did it. it occured to me that anyone with some files needing conversion might post them so that others might use them for practice? dg

PDF added. DG

This tutorial has been replaced by articles in the Online Help: http://docs.picturestoexe.com/en/video/addvid DG

use png for this. if using photoshop use save for the web to include the transparency. all files should be in one folder per project. dg

Simply create and specify a different folder when asked for the folder name during the installation. However Gayland, 702 is a FULL version and not a Beta. I allowed the overwrite because 702 is an improvement over 701. If things didn't work out I could delete 702 and re-install 701. All Beta versions install in different folders (I think). I've got a bunch of them that I need to delete. I have kept 4.49, 5.6, 6.5 and 7 in different folders. DG