Cool Tool : Photo Story 3
Microsoft Photo Story 3 is a life saver for those like me who have a digital camera, and have to create slideshow videos quickly and easily. I’ve always been a supporter of this software but it’s not always been free. Earlier, it used to be part of the Windows Plus - Digital Media Edition package, but Microsoft recently made it free software, and thank the heavens they did.
This is a simply excellent piece of software that you can download for free from this link. It basically works on top of Windows Movie Maker, but makes the job a whole lot easier and faster. Using this software is a piece of cake !
- Download the software from here.
- Install and run the software. Select “Begin a New Story”
- Import the pictures you want to and in the next step, add text to the pictures. In the next two steps, add background music and/or narration which is as easy as clicking on two buttons, and you’re done !
- Finally, save the story to a video file (.wmv). This takes just a few minutes, which is amazing, considering that Photo2VCD, which I used earlier took over an hour.
Also, because the file is saved with the Windows Media Video codec, it takes up very little space ( 8 Mb for a 640*480 video having 50 pictures, with an interval of 2 seconds per picture). MPEG - 2 takes over 50 MB for the same. So, if you’re running on Windows Xp, have a digital camera, and are looking for an easy way to share your memories, this is a tool you cannot miss out on.
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Here’s a review of Photo Story 3
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/photostory3.asp
Looks Cool, I might try it out after I get my digital camera cleared from the customs!!
Nice review,looks like its worth a try.
Good blog too
Stoker
I tried using Photo story. I am facing the same problem that I faced with Windows Movie Maker. If I want to incorporate .mov clips (shot with Nikon coolpix 3700) in the silde show how do I do that? and How do I make a VCD out of the resultant file which is in .wmv format?
Thanks.
Have you tried Nero. I think (although not sure) it supports conversion from WMV to burn a VCD.
No, it does not support conversion from wmv to VCD format. As I told you earlier I tried Riverpast Video converter which leaves its logo on the clip and there is a quality loss. If you can think of any other way to do this please tell me.
Thanks
sharmila
http://home.cogeco.ca/~avi2vcd/
The above is a free avi to MPEG encoder. You mentioned something about avi earlier, so this may be of help. I’ve not tested it yet though.
Didn’t any conversion software came with your Nikon? I’ve got a software with my Kodak but haven’t tried it yet(having opened the box just an hour ago), but I think that it should support MOV to AVI or WMV conversion, not sure though. But I think that if it doesn’t then I’ll also need a software since my Kodak also makes MOV clips for video.
No, there was no conversion software provided by Nikon last year. Now this year they are providing a software called Picture project but it it not at all easy to use. And not as friendly as Wnidows Movie Maker.
And Abhinav, I was wrong when I mentioned about .avi format. It is actually .wmv format which is not readable by Nero. Windows Movie Maker resultant file is in .wmv format. And there is no option to select any other format. I don’t know if there is any latest version available, which might be having this facility. I have used 5.1 version.
Bye, nice talking to you guys..
Take care
Sharmila
Well, since WMV format is loads better than AVI, the Movie Maker uses it & another thing is that WMV is a proprietory format by Microsoft, so like Apple uses only MOV, Microsoft uses only WMV & WMA.
Search Google and you’ll find lots of software that will convert from MOV to AVI and also WMV to AVI. Though I doubt you’ll find a free one and free trials will be limited in what you can convert. These softwares are anything above $18-$20 or so.
If you find a free software, don’t forget to post a link here along with your experience with it. :tup:
I found a tool for MOV conversion, called WinAVI Video Converter. It allows you to convert MOV files to any format you want, be it AVI or WMV or whatever, also allows conversion to DVD/VCD format as well. But then its not free, costs about $30. There’s a free trial though, I’ve not tested it but I doubt it’ll be fully functional trial!!