Convert Photos to DVD Slideshow
Planning Your Project
The process to convert photos to a DVD slideshow isn't especially difficult if you are somewhat computer savvy and you know how you're going to be using your slideshow.
However, a little planning about how to convert photos to DVD slideshow will probably make the process much smoother and enjoyable.
There are two main aspects you should consider before you convert photos to DVD slideshow. The first is what format your pictures are currently in. The second aspect is the intended use for your DVD slideshow.
Using Prints
If you plan to use print photos, then you will need to convert your photos to a digital format. Depending on your personal preferences and available equipment, you may want to scan your pictures on a home scanner, or it might make more sense to use a scanning service to help digitize your photos. There are many picture scanning services available, at a wide range of prices, features, and turn around times.
Using Digital Files
If the pictures you want to use are already digitized, then this part is easy, so long as the digital file is a JPEG, JPG, GIF, or BMP, which are the most popular digital photo formats. If you used a program that came with your camera to crop or adjust your digital photo, it may have created a special file that won't work smoothly with other programs. If this is the case, you should either try to convert the file to a standard type or revert back to the original file and make edits in a program that creates the above mentioned picture file types. There is also an additional consideration to be made for file size, but that is a different discussion.
Creating Your DVD Slideshow
Once you know which pictures you want to convert to DVD slideshow, the next issue is how you will show this DVD slideshow, which will help you decide what program to use.
If you simply want to string together a few photos for effect and have a projector, then PowerPoint might be a good option. However, PowerPoint will not allow you to burn a playable DVD.
If you want to create a custom DVD slideshow, there are a variety of programs that allow you to rearrange pictures, add special effects, music, narration, as well as titles and chapters. One of the most reasonable programs we've found for this is Pinnacle Studio 11, which also incorporates comprehensive video editing capabilities. This allows you to intermingle video clips into your DVD slideshows, as well as publish to the web, if you should want to share with friends and family who don't live nearby.
Many scanning services will also convert photos to DVD Slideshow for a reasonable price, as well as provide your images in other formats, but not all of them can be played on a DVD player.
If you haven't gotten started, we can help! Get those family pictures scanned to DVD so you can start enjoying them again.
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