Lin Evans

Hi Judy, LOL - yes, indeed - a truly messy desktop!!!. I have far more software installed than Windows XP can display so to be able to quickly find programs I use daily I have a huge mess of desktop icons.... Best regards, Lin

Hi Tonton, The files are zipped with PKZip - the only zip program I have - I've been using PK zip since 1990. I don't think it could be any more standard than that.... Best regards, Lin

O.K. Here are the links and information... http://www.lin-evans.org/avidemux/avidemux.zip (link to zipped archive of Avidemux version 2.5.6) about 16 meg http://www.lin-evans.org/tutorial/Avidemuxtutorial.zip Tutorial on using Avidemux 2.5.6 to extract selected sequential jpg frames from a video (56 meg) http://www.lin-evans.org/tutorial/creatingpngtransparency.zip How to use Photoshop to create PNG objects with transparency for use in creating animated gifs with Photoshop (about 78 meg) http://www.lin-evans.org/tutorial/animatedgif.zip How to create animated gifs in Photoshop from PNG files with transparent backgrounds (about 90 meg) The last file (animatedgif.zip) contains a text file in rtf format with important information. Please read. It also contains the tutorial as well as the 22 png files created as explained in the tutorials and a zipped PTE file demonstrating the end product. The tutorials were made using Avidemux 2.5.6 and Photoshop CS5. There is information in the text file about how to use CS6 or Photoshop CC which differe slightly. There is also information about why the latest version of Avidemux isn't suitable for extracting a jpg sequence. To install Avidemux download the zipped archive to a folder and extract all files. Then create a shortcut for the exe file and drag it onto the desktop. Let me know if there are any questions. Best regards, Lin

Hi Guys, Thanks! I'll get to work on the tutorials right away. The first one will be concerning outputting jpg stills from video and should be ready in a day or so. The second one will be on using Photoshop to convert these jpgs to PNG transparencies and the third on how to use Photoshop to convert the transparencies to an animated gif. Best regards, Lin

Hi Umberto, No, PTE can't generate or use uncompressed AVI files with transparency. PTE can use compressed AVI files such as RGBA transparency from the Huffyuv ver 2.11 codec, but not uncompressed AVI. Actually, I need to explain the above. PTE can generate an uncompressed AVI file but can't use it as strange as this may sound - it will lock up PTE if you try to run the uncompressed AVI created. The uncompressed AVI created with PTE works fine in programs which can use uncompressed AVI files. However, PTE can't generate an uncompressed AVI with transparency. When you generate an AVI with PTE using the Huffyuv ver 2.11 codec, you do not have the option to "save" the alpha channel even though PTE can use an RGBA AVI with transparency. I use BluffTitler and ParticleIllusion, both of which can output RGBA with alpha channel transparency and use the output in PTE. I know the developers have been working on a new graphical engine for PTE and I believe a future version will be able to use other alpha channel formats and probably uncompressed AVI but right now it's limited to RGBA compressed AVI or achieving transparency by using an alpha matte as a mask with the video running beneath. Best regards, Lin

I have had several PTE users ask me about creating animated gif's for use in their PTE shows. Not the little cartoonish animated gifs commonly seen on the web, but realistic and believable animations. I make many of my own using Photoshop and free video software by taking video clips of real subjects then separating these into a series of jpg images, importing these into Photoshop and removing background when desirable and replacing it with transparency then in Photoshop combining these into very realistic animations which don't add a great deal of overhead and work flawlessly in slideshows. My question is whether there is sufficient interest for a couple tutorials. First, which software to use and how to use it to create a stream of jpgs then how to remove unwanted backgrounds and produce png transparencies and finally how to create animated gifs from these sequential png transparencies. If there is sufficient interest, I will be happy to make video tutorials and also provide the Windows installation code for the freeware I use to extract the jpg images. Please let me know. TUTORIALS ARE FINISHED - Links on the last post. I'll put links in the Tutorials Section Tomorrow... Links also posted in my PTE Made Easy Tutorials as numbers 48, 49 and 50 - link below: http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7901-pte-made-easy-tutorials-continuously-updated/ NOTE! Experimentation has shown me that better smoothness in the movement of the horse will be found by using only the first 20 of the 22 png files. When selecting a sequence from the video - remember that movement repeats in the animated gif so it's actually better to end the sequence one or two frames before the original motion is duplicated so that as the sequence repeats the first image completes the motion. If one actually reaches a frame where the motion is identical or nearly identical to the first frame, there will be a "stutter" because the first frame's time will be in effect doubled. So for those who have downloaded, take the first 20 of the twenty two and create your animate gif from them and you will have smoother results. Best regards, Lin

Here is the procedure for Windows 7: From This Link: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=how%20to%20set%20color%20management%20with%20windows%207

Yes, but is your display and video card set to the default or using a different colorspace? Which version of Windows do you have on your new system? If you follow the procedure I just marked in bold on my earlier post above on your new system you can see if there is any specific colorspace being used by your video card and display. Above is what my control panel looks like but until I know which version of Windows you are using I can't be certain that your will be identical - but you should be able to figure it out from the general procedure... Best regards, Lin

PTE and the vast majority of displays and systems use sRGB colorspace. When you adjust photos in some editing software such as Photoshop, you have a choice of saving to different colorspaces which have a different gamut. The way to find out is to take one of your images into Photoshop if you have it and save it but look carefully and see if it's being saved to an ICC Profile followed by sRGB. If it's being saved to other such as CMYK or to Adobe RGB, etc., it won't look right in PTE. The chances are that the problem may be in the default setup of your display. Since it's a custom system, it might be best to contact the person who built it and ask about the colorspace. Which version of Windows are you using? Are you using the same display as on your old system? That could be where the problem is. If you could save a quick small show with a couple slides and link it so I can have a look I'll see if the colors look correct on my displays. If you go to your "control panel" in Windows then to Display, Settings, Advanced, you will see a tab which says "Color Management" - that's where you would check to see if the display and video card are set to something other than sRGB.. Unless you are using your new system for your presentation, my guess is that your show will look just fine on a different system. It's just going to be a matter of correcting the colorspace issue and you should be fine... Best regards, Lin

Hi, Do you have the deluxe or essential version of PTE? Just to be certain we are on the same page here.... If the colors don't look right, it's more likely that you have not saved them in sRGB colorspace. That's the first thing to look at. You said you have a new computer and it's possible that it's set up so you are seeing other than sRGB color. If you could let us know the brand and operating system and type of video card it would help a great deal. The icon which Gary showed is found by clicking on Timeline at the bottom right of your screen when you are in the slide view screen. The timeline button by default in on the bottom right of the display. You can also get there by clicking on "Settings" at the top of your opening screen then choose "Timeline" from the menu or press the keyboard F6 key at any time. Could you possibly do a screen capture and show where you found the "fit all slides to soundtrack"? Best regards, Lin

Hi Eric, Ahhh - now I understand.... Learning to play a banjo takes a little time but the learning curve can be greatly shortened if you would take some lessons from a good picker. It's amazing how much you can learn quickly with just a little help. I was able to pay most of my college and university tuitions by playing bluegrass. I had the privilege of being lucky enough to play with some of the great bluegrass musicians of past years and learned a lot quickly. I never reached anywhere near the proficiency level of the greats but a friend and I promoted bluegrass festivals in southern California and by doing so were able to hire the best bluegrass bands and talent available and learned a lot just by observing. Don't give it up - get a good teacher if only for a few lessons... Best regards, Lin

Nice one Eric! Shouldn't it be "Duel" though? Best regards, Lin

Hi Ken, Thanks! Yes that's not hard to do, but this one was done for the friend who owns the ranch and is essentially what she saw when the actual tornado swept west to east across her view. Maybe in a future version I will make one which approaches the viewer and engulfs the entire screen at the end.... Best regards, Lin

I took an image from a friend's balcony on her ranch in rural southern Colorado about 12 miles from Calhan and about 10 miles from Ramah, Colorado. Shortly after I shot the image (a few days) a tornado swept through the rural ranching community and it prompted me to make this little sixty second animated show for my friend. https://youtu.be/Do57eJUbO20 (Youtube Link) http://www.lin-evans.org/demo/Ramahstorm.zip (Windows exe - about 56 meg) Lin

Hi Dave, You're right, there's more than one way to "skin a cat." Each way of a work-around has it's strengths and weaknesses. The strength of converting a single animated slide to video is that it's easy to change any parameter at any time or place such as color, opacity, blur, zoom or pan etc., with minimal effort because you're working on only a single entity. The down side as you discussed is primarily size. I don't think "quality" is greatly affected if this is being used as a backdrop across multiple slides but using a master video does indeed greatly increase size of an executable show. On the other hand, it actually adds nothing to the size of a video conversion because each frame including individual slides and backdrop still constitute only a single frame. The up side of doing it via the style is quality, but the down side is flexibility. In order to effect any changes in opacity, color, size, etc., it must be done on a per slide basis which is more time consuming. Also changing the duration of individual slides becomes problematic. Best regards, Lin

Hi Eric, Why not add it to the suggestions for next version? L

Hi Jt, The easiest workaround is to simply convert the still slide with animation to a video and use it as a mastervideo with duplicated linked copies on subsequent slides... Best regards, Lin

Hi Eric, No, you can't do that... Best regards, Lin

Here's a quick sample: http://www.lin-evans.org/igor/zoomrotatesides.zip Lin

Hi Igor, Yes, I have done this. I'll see if I can find an example for you and post it. Essentially, the mask rectangle must have the same pan Z properties as the sides of the cube and one must be careful to not zoom smaller than 100% or pan beyond the edges of the frame of the image on the side of the cube but it works very well. Give me a few minutes and I'll try to find a sample for you... If not I'll make one quickly... Best regards, Lin

Eric, could you define "Make them all disappear"? Are you trying to set opacity to zero or remove these files from your show? Best regards, Lin

Did a tiny bit of perhaps "improvement" by using a slightly different carousel so no color splash... link below: http://www.lin-evans.org/demo/haley2.zip (Zipped Windows Exe) Lin

Hi John, Yes, that approach would work fine as long as the image sizes and orientation were the same. Of course you could make several such templates and you would have then a number of possibilities. Best regards, Lin

LOL Dave, John, Here is a quick sample - obviously not even pretending to be good - just a very quick sample to give you an idea of some possibilities... No pretense at anything you would want to use for a serious presentation but using some of my suggestions.... This done with some simple use of blur, keyframing, a couple sample styles, etc. coupled with some quick screen snaps of your images in Animoto and the same sound track. I didn't size the images for the carousel so the colors you see wouldn't normally be there - just images. Just a quick jumble of possibilities. I manipulated a single still image for the backdrop then quickly converted it to a video all in PTE then used it as the master track with linked tracks. Buy using masks many more great effects could be made but I wanted to keep it quick and simple.... http://www.lin-evans.org/demo/haleyzip.zip (zipped windows exe sample) Best regards, Lin

Hi John, Thanks! That makes it so much easier to answer your questions. Yes, you can create these effects with PicturesToExe but the difference is that with PTE it's a nuts and bolts approach where you have total control over the each element while with Animoto you have very few choices. It is, on the other hand, MUCH easier to create this type show with Animoto because Animoto has a multitude of pre-programmed effects which are automatically applied. With PTE there are numerous transitions and styles which you can use but the true power is that you can create your own styles and transitions then pick and choose from among them and you have total creative control. If you are a working photographer who is producing shows for many clients, your time is extremely valuable and you most likely make your income from your photography and supplement it a bit with slideshow presentations. To that end where you can simply drop in a few images and very quickly pop out a professional looking presentation with automatic matching of music beat to slide, Animoto is superb. PTE really doesn't work that way. PTE takes more time to use to create the specialized effects which once created can be saved as styles or transitions and used over and again in any order or way you desire. The up side with PTE is creativity and control. The up side with Animoto is speed of production. Conversely, the down side of PTE is time of creation and the down side of Animoto is nearly a total loss of creative control. The answer to your original question based on the brief show you linked is yes, you can do this with PTE. The question you must ask youself is whether you are willing to spend the time necessary to create some styles which work the way you want to get the desired results. PTE can do amazing things with your images. You can take a color slide, change it to monochrome, sepia or anything in between in real time and at the speed and intensity you choose. You can take an image, blur it completely, use it as a backdrop for the same image and animate each independently. You can take a still image and save that still image as a video (all without leaving PTE) then use that video as an animated backdrop by fading, changing it's color, rotate it, zoom it, size it, position it and have it persist between slide transitions. In short there is, in a practical sense, no real limits on creativity with PTE. The trade-off is time. The result is total creative control and quality of the end product. If you give me a bit of time - perhaps a day or so, I will take some of the images demonstrated in the Animoto presentation and create a little sample for you to give you some ideas.... Best regards, Lin