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Burn photos to DVD

PhotoVidShow, create a DVD slideshow from photos and videos


FAQ's

 

Q) What's the difference between the trial version and the full version?

A) Trial version is limited to 30 slides and has a 1 minute water mark on all slideshows. Apart from that the software is identical.


Q) Do i instantly get the full version after buying online?

A) Yes, after purchasing an email will be sent to you straight away. The mail contains a text key which you enter when first starting up the program (select registration). Note: when registering the key you will need to be connected to the internet. After validation you will the have the full version.


Q) Does PhotoVidShow work on Vista?

A) Version 2.16.4 and onwards is 100% Vista compatible. For older version 1.x.x PhotoVidShow does not automatically work on Vista. We recommend freely upgrading to the latest version but if you wish to get an older versions of PhotoVidShow working on Vista you may need to do some of the following:-

Firstly our normal 'client install program does not work' so you will need to download the full package and install the .net framework 1.1 yourself if this is not already installed on the machine.

Download the dotnetfx.exe from microsoft website and then install
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en

Download the .net 1.1 service pack 1 from microsoft website and then install
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=a8f5654f-088e-40b2-bbdb-a83353618b38&displaylang=en

Download and install PhotoVidShow 1.18.5 FULL install package (not the client
install one) from
http://www.photovidshow.com/install/1.18.5/photovidshow118005.exe

Also you will NEED administration rights to run PhotoVidShow.

You may need to:-

Make sure your user account has administration rights (It normally would have) if not you need to change this in the control panel.

RIGHT click on the shortcut to PhotoVidShow on your desktop and select 'run as administrator'

If that option is not available then navigate to the PhotoVidShow application itself. It is stored in c:\program files\photovidshow\photovidshow.exe and right click, 'run as administrator' there instead.


Another option is to disable 'user account control' on vista.

see http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm ( we recommend method#4 being the easiest to understand


Q) I have an older version of PhotoVidShow can i freely upgrade to 2.16.4

A) Yes. Version 2.16.4 is our latest version although it does not contain any new features compared to version 1.18.5. The main difference between these versions is that version 2.16.4 has better Vista compatibility. Version 2.16.4 can be installed from here

http://www.photo-dvd-slideshow.co.uk/install/2.16.4/photovidshow216004.exe


Q) My machine crashed and i need to re-install PhotoVidShow

A) PhotoVIdShow can be re-installed from this link

http://www.photo-dvd-slideshow.co.uk/install/2.16.4/photovidshow216004.exe

If you have lost your license key, please email support@photovidshow.com (from you registered email address is best) and we will re-send the key to you.


Q) The license key sent to my email does not seem to unlock the program?

A) There are normally two common problems when this occurs, either a the key has not been entered correctly or the computers firewall is blocking internet access for PhotoVidshow. PhotoVidShow needs internet access in order to check the key with our server.

When entering the code it is best to cut and paste it in to prevent errors. If entering it manually it is worth remembering all 0's in the license key are the number zero and not the letter 'O'

'If you are entering the key correctly and the firewall is not blocking PhotoVidShow, or you are unable to change this, please email support@photovidshow.com for further instructions.


Q) PhotoVidShow does not seem to accept my video file, or i get an error when importing it.

A) The most common problem when PhotoVIdShow does not accept a video file is that the computer is missing a DirectShow codec to decode the file.

We recommend downloading and installing ffdshow which a free download and contains DirectShow codecs for the most common video formats including mpeg4

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm

Some apple .mov files can be loaded into PhotoVidShow by installing this codec

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/quicktime_alternative.htm


Q) Can i create a slideshow with just a CD burner that will play on TV?

A) Yes, PhotoVidShow can create two types of CD's that will play on a normal DVD player. These are know as Video CD (VCD) and Super Video CD (SVCD). Please make sure you DVD player will accept VCD or SVCD, most modern players will although some older DVD players do not accept SVCD. SVCD gives better quality output than VCD and VCD has quality like VHS and works better with video rather than photos. Also worth noting that you can not create a SVCD/VCD on a DVD disk and if you're lucky enough to already own a DVD burner, then DVD output is always the best option to use in terms of quality and compatibility.


Q) Do i need to do anything to my pictures before using PhotoVidShow?

A) No, PhotoVidShow can import jpg's, bmp's images etc. Note: please store your images on your hard drive before importing in PhotoVidShow rather than straight from your digital camera. When importing, PhotoVidShow only stores a link to the images rather than copying them.


Q) I can't seem to work out how to import more than one image at a time

A) There are many to import multiple images in one go.   First run PhotoVidShow then:-
 
Select 'Start' from your desktop and select something like MyPictures,  which will then bring up an Explore window.  drag and drop individual pictures onto the storyboard from the explore window or even drag and drop a directory containing pictures.
 
Similarly, you can bring up an Explore window, right click on 'Start' and select 'Explore',  then navigate to the folder containing your pictures and drag and drop accordingly.

It might be worth just using the the 'Add images/videos' button in PhotoVidShow,  you can then navigate to your photos and select and open them but not drag and drop.  If you wish to select multiple items either left click and hold whilst rubber banding a whole selection of pictures or hold down the shift/control button and click on individual pictures.  Once you've selected your pictures you want, just select the 'Open' button. To highlight all the files in a folder just select control+a


Q) I always get a 'Error when burning' message when burning a DVD

A) The problem may lie in the blank media being used or something wrong with the burner hardware.

The following is recommended if this occurs:-

I1) in the final burn wizard window try ticking the 'use nero drivers' if this option is available (it may not be available if the nero drivers are not installed on your computer)

Alternatively, try download an external dvd burning tool, starburn (it can be found here)

www.photovidshow.com/install/StarBurn.exe

Run the tool ignore the part about freeware projects

When running this tool, select your dvd burner then select next

When it asks for a data source, you need to select the VIDEO_TS folder
PhotoVidShow created when you encoded/burnt your project. PhotoVidShow has
to encode/create a video dvd on your harddrive before it can burn it to
blank DVD media (this is what takes most of the time). The encoded dvd
will be stored on your harddrive in a VIDEO_TS folder.

If you are running version 2.16.4 this should be located in My
Documents/PhotoVidShow/Authored/"project name"/VIDEO_TS

If the VIDEO_TS folder does not exist for your project, you'll have to
re-encode you project. Select burn/encode as normal from Photovidshow but
untick the 'burn to dvd' option in the final burn screen. When creating, it
should then go through the whole process and say 'video creation
successful' at the end.

If you still get a problem with startburn you may want to investigate further that your dvd burner hard is working correctly. I.e. try to create a normal data dvd with software provided with the hardware.

Also other dvd burning software may be able to burn dvd video format (e.g. nero), i. e. using the output VIDEO_TS folder as source.

 


Q) Can PhotoVidShow handle DivX/mpeg4 avi files.

A) Yes, assuming appropriate codec's are installed. This also includes other video formats like DV or videos with Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC-3) sound. Note: it is best to use the trial version of the software to make sure it is 100% compatible with any of your video files.


Q) Can PhotoVidShow output mpeg or wmv files so i can use them on another application?

A) Yes, but only mpeg files. When you author the disk, PhotoVidShow creates mpeg2 video files for each slideshow  (with .mpg extension). These can be found in the PhotoVidShow temp directory normally c:\program files\photovidshow\temp.  Copy these files after authoring to the required folder.

When authoring if you don't want to burn to a disk simply just tick the save to hard drive option and un tick the burn to DVD option but don't get confused with this option compared to the above. When using the author to disk option, PhotoVidShow will also create a VIDEO_TS directory with VOB files as well as the original mpeg2 files.  The VIDEO_TS directory is simply a DVD file structure which is useful if you wish to burn at a later date.


Q) Is there a way to pause between slides on playback?

A) The simple answer is use play/pause button on your remote control. Some people prefer to have next and previous buttons typically seen in DVD extras where you can often have a galley of the actors in a film for example. PhotoVidShow does not produce DVD's like this for various reasons. e.g. such slideshows can't have background music, pan/zoom etc.


Q) I've created a VCD or SVCD and i'm stuck in the menu when i play on my DVD player.

A) VCD and SVCD works differently to DVD. On a DVD typically you use the up/down/left/right enter buttons to navigate through the menus. VCD and SVCD do not support these, so navigation is done by selecting numbers. If your remote does not have numbers there will always be another way to navigate through the menu. (i.e. else the DVD player would not recognize the disk in the first place). In such cases please refer to the manual for your DVD player.


Q) Why can't PhotoVidShow import some of my wma files.

A) If you are having trouble with importing wma files it may be that the wma files have protection from copying.  You can check by right clicking on a wma file and selecting properties. If you look under the License tab it may say something like 'Protected Content'.  We can not import protected wma files and would be illegal if we did. If this is the case,  either try ripping without protection (if possible), or find a un protected version of the music file.  Also there are ways to re-record the wma file via the sound card.  


Q) Can i have a video as my background in a menu?

A) Yes, just select a video file as your background image in the DVD theme menu option. Although you may only see the first frame when editing, on final output this will be a video. Note: the length is set to the 'menu repeat duration' in the menu theme menu.


Q) Is there a maximum number of slides in the full version?

A) There is a maximum of 400 slides per slideshow, but as you can have many slideshows, you are only limited to space on the disk for total slides. Typically a 1000+ slide DVD is possible. Note: Only 99 menus are allowed, although you would rarely need more than 3.


Q) How can i make my overlay text move with the slide when i'm panning and zooming?

A) Double click on the slide with the overlay text on it, this brings up the decoration window. Select the text in the preview window, such that a dotted line is around it. Then tick the 'Attach to slide' option on the left panel. Note: un-ticking this will cause the opposite effect of the text not moving when pan and zooming is applied.


Q) My CD/DVD drive is not recognized or i always have problems when burning.

A) Although our burning engine is compatible with most drives we can not be 100% sure it will work in every case as we are not solely a engine burning company. In the rare event your drive is not recognized it is advised to create your video output into a folder on your harddrive. i.e. it will produce a VIDEO_TS directory for DVD or BIN/CUE files for VCD/SVCD. You'll will now find that these can be imported into other 3rd party burning software (e.g. Nero)

Note: In version 1.17.3 onwards it is also possible to tick the 'use nero drivers' option for DVD authoring (assuming you have Nero installed). It may be worth ticking this if you have problems with the native burning engine.

For authoring SVCD/VCD cd's you could also try the free application burnatonce.

http://www.burnatonce.com

download 0.99.5 version install and run it

When the App is running select 'File' and 'Load New Image'

Then select the .cue file PhotoVidShow has generated

Then select the 'Write' button (making sure the correct device is selected for writing)

 


Q) My hard drive is crunching away like mad and encoding has come down to a crawl.

A) Please make sure PhotoVidShow has plenty of hard drive space. DVD authoring eats through disk space. Remember a DVD alone holds 4.7gig, so combined with temporary video and audio files which PhotoVidShow needs, you can see why a lot of disk space is required.


Q) What does 'reduce output to safe region' mean?

A) Basically most TV's do not show the complete picture on a DVD. i.e. around 10% on the outer edges on a typical 4:3 picture is not shown. So simply, if you want to be able to view ALL of your picture then select this option (i.e. it reduces the size of the picture by about 10%). To get a guarantee no black border around the pictures and if you are not worried about losing a few pixels around the outer edge, then don't select this option.


Q) I did not select 'output to folder option' where is my output gone to apart from the disk?

A) The default working directory (depending on where you installed the software) is C:\Program Files\PhotoVidShow\temp\dvdfolder or vcdfolder. Note: the temp directory also holds any encoded mpeg2 video files before they are created onto the DVD.


Q) I am experiencing the blue screen of death when i select the burn button.

A) We have had a reported case that Roxio Easy CD creator 7 can conflict with PhotoVidShow, although we can not reproduce ourselves. If you do get this problem it may be worth uninstalling Roxio Easy CD Creator 7


Q) The editor caption and general layout of PhotoVidShow seems to be wrong and the burn icon is covered up at the top.

A) You will probably find that you have selected your graphics card to do 120 DPI. If you go to your control panel and select Display, then Settings, then Advanced, you may find under a tab in your graphics card window a DPI setting. This must be set to the normal 96 DPI for the PhotoVidShow editor to work correctly.


Q) Why do my pictures in the preview window have lower resolution then when i normally view them (even when i full screen the window)?

A) We try to provide the preview window to represent the final output resolution as much as possible. i.e. DVD output does not have high enough resolution to hold a 5 mega pixel image for example, so we don't wish to mislead the user when adding text for example in the editor and later on find out (after burn time) that it comes out as just a blur on the TV.

If you are experiencing problems not identified on this list make sure you are running the latest version. Run PhotoVidShow and select 'Update' from the 'Help' menu.

dvd photo video slideshow


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