davegee

Original Mode is still there – it is just activated in a different way and takes one more button press. I make my shows in Fullscreen Mode with images that are 1920x1200 and these images fill my screen (1920x1200 resolution). Imagine that I want, for some reason, to introduce a 1024x768 image in Original Mode. In 5.5 I went to O&A, clicked on the COMMON tab and changed the mode from Fit To Screen to Original. What did this do? It changed the image from filling the height of the screen to a 1024x768 image in the centre of my 1920x1200 screen. In 5.6 I go to O&A, click on the COMMON tab and I see a button marked “Size/Position in pixels…”. I click on this and get a little box marked “Size/Position in pixels of parent”. I click on Size and my image changes from filling the height of the screen to a 1024x768 image in the centre of my 1920x1200 screen. One extra click. The two methods achieve the same objective – so can someone explain what has changed? I appreciate that it is no longer possible to globally set “Disable Scaling….” in Screen options and hence the Original Mode has to be set for each slide individually, but is that all that this Original Mode arguement is about? DaveG

Umberto, Only ONE thing affects the optimum resolution - the maximum zoom which an image is subjected. If it is subjected to 150% zoom then it needs to be 150% bigger than "actual pixels" on screen (ORIGINAL). If you have a 1024x768 show and your 1024x768 image is subjected to 150% zoom it needs to be 1536x1152. DaveG

David, The only way of achieving what you want is the way Peter described. The mask can be any colour you want ( the same as your BG colour in PTE) and the size of the cutout in the mask would be exactly the same size as the image. It only has to be used on images where PZR effects are taking place and if your Photoshop skills are up to it then the viewer is completely unaware of the presence of the mask. BTW - If instead of making a DVD, you connect your laptop to your TV (preferably by a DVI/HDMI cable) there is no TV safe zone to worry about. This only applies for your own viewing - obviously, if you are sending your work to someone else then you may need the DVD approach. DaveG

Colin, For completeness and for everyone interested, could you explain, in general terms, how you calculate the "appropriate size". If I zoom to 200% I use an image which is 200% bigger than the "starting size" in pixels on screen if zooming in and the "end size" in pixels on screen if zooming out. DaveG

.....and include a French/English translator that works. DaveG

The following is just my opinion: You should not be writing data to your C: drive. Get yourself a USB drive and transfer/write all of your data to that. Then you can put your "favourite" folder in the root of the USB drive and solve all of your problems in one swoop. While you are at it defrag your c drive (and do it regularly) - you'll be surprised the difference it makes to programs like CS3 and NX2! Just my opinion - I think Igor could spend his time on much more pressing things. DaveG

BB, The native resolution of the NEC LT155 is 1024x768 and that is the resolution your projector and laptop should be set to. If you make a 4:3 Fullscreen (or Windowed 1024x768) PTE show it does not matter what the resolution of each image is, but it does not need to be more than 1024x768 except for PZR effects. At MAXIMUM quality each JPG is then going to be around 750Kb - that's as good as you need. DaveG

Reine, Check again. Should that be 1920x1080 (not 1200)? The inference is that their projector is 1920x1080 - I don't think there is a 1920x1200 projector? DaveG

I would like to back Igor on this! I was one of the biggest fans of Original Mode and thought that I would be disadvantaged without it, but the solution he has provided is workable and if it gives us a better PTE in the end, then I am in favour of persevering with it. If Original Mode is ESSENTIAL to your method of working then use 5.5!! PATIENCE, EVERYONE!! DaveG

Re: Nominal size if screen greater, else Fit to screen I proposed this a few versions back - no one was interested then! DaveG

Probably Project Options / Comments / Insert Template? DaveG

Reine, Create a black PNG mask in PS with a 3:2 cutout to put in front of the object. That will do it. DaveG

Gary, This goes back to resolution and aspect ratio. If you are going to make a 1024x768 video or a 1280x720 video then you need to use 1024x768 or 1280x720 images (and Windowed Mode 1024x768 or 1280x720) to get the optimum result. When viewing, your view needs to be set at NORMAL - you will then get an actual pixels representation of your original pics. Anything other than NORMAL VIEW (Half or double) means that QUICK TIME is interpolating the original size upwards or downwards and softening of the images will take place. DaveG

I don't think so Den, I originally had the problem on my XP machine - haven't tried it on my Vista machine yet - it seems to be related to the Codec. Igor will fix it. DaveG

FRED, How long were the successful HD Videos? DaveG

It's obvious isn't John!! Why else would SIZE be blue and underlined? Thanks a million. DaveG

Igor, I think that we will all come to accept the loss of ORIGINAL MODE sooner or later. But, for those of us who used it almost exclusively for certain applications and have to cope with MANY images which are not the same size as the project window (fit to screen is NOT an option), could we PLEASE have the pixel size of the MAIN IMAGE showing in O&A the same as on the MAIN PAGE? Setting ORIGINAL size (or ACTUAL PIXELS as I like to call it) into the "SIZE/POSITION IN IN PIXELS OF PARENT" would then be a simple matter of copying the figures from one part of the same page to another. As it is now, we have to go between O&A and MAIN PAGE to get the ACTUAL PIXELS figures to type into the "SIZE/POSITION IN IN PIXELS OF PARENT". I hope that this makes sense to all and that I haven't missed something obvious. DaveG

Apart from the Progress bar thing - that's the sort of thing I was getting. Working hard - doing nothing. DaveG

Thanks all, Media Player Classic is included with the ACE CODEC SET - I'll try it. I have upgraded to Beta 2 and the second 20 minute show I converted was done with Beta 2 - I didn't notice any particular improvement but..... DaveG

Peter, Your system is probably OK - BUT - I was able to do what you described when I originally had the problem. The real test is to do a MUCH longer show - 10 minutes - 20 minutes.. I am now able to do as long a show as I wish (apparently) but it was not always so. I think that the giveaway sign is if the PROGRESS Bar appears almost immediately you are OK. DaveG

Gary, I have made two 20+ minute avi's this afternoon in the highest quality - SUPERB! Time taken was around 30-40 minutes each (maybe longer) and file size is around 400Mb each. The only "problem" that I have at the moment is that they will only play in Quick Time. Real Player and Windows Media refuse to play them (??). DaveG

Great work Igor, Re: MUXING - never heard that expression before. DaveG

10 minutes of High Quality 1280x720 video made and looks really good. That's enough to prove that my problem was the incorrect, corrupt or missing MPEG4 Codec. I will leave it at that for now. EDIT: Sorry Igor, I posted without seeing your request - the codec I have used was from the ACE CODEC SET and I had already done this. DaveG

I am now up to 2 mins 15 secs of HIGH QUALITY 1280x720 and it's looking GOOD! Now to extend time at the same quality and size..................... DaveG

Igor, I have posted this elsewhere: I have loaded the MPEG4 codec using ACE CODEC SET and all is now well. Progress bar comes up immediately and I have converted a 2 minute show to HD Video - 1024x768 - High Quality. The problem seemed to be the absence (or incorrect version) of the MPEG4 codec on my computer!!! User error!! Sorry if I caused you a problem! P.S. in progress bar there is a small spelling error MUXING should be MIXING? DaveG