Advice needed for creating photo DVD's

KStaford

Hi
I am helping a local charity with some computer related training. One specific requirement they have is to be able to create photo slideshow DVD's incorporating music etc.

I know many of the commercial packages (Nero etc) can do this but I don't have the luxury of spending any money so does anyone know of any freeware that can do this for us?

I have researched the net and am finding a few trial versions but these eventually require payment.

So just to re-iterate the requirement
1. We need to be able to select images for a slideshow
2. Perhaps choose transition effects between each image
3. We need to be able to choose music (mp3 etc) as a backtrack to the slideshow.
4. And then burn this to a DVD (in DVD format)

If anyone knows of any freeware or free way of doing this. Ideally free software that I could train them to use for themselves into the future.

Many thanks for any help

Gadgetman496

KStaford wrote: »

Hi
I am helping a local charity with some computer related training. One specific requirement they have is to be able to create photo slideshow DVD's incorporating music etc.

I know many of the commercial packages (Nero etc) can do this but I don't have the luxury of spending any money so does anyone know of any freeware that can do this for us?

I have researched the net and am finding a few trial versions but these eventually require payment.

So just to re-iterate the requirement
1. We need to be able to select images for a slideshow
2. Perhaps choose transition effects between each image
3. We need to be able to choose music (mp3 etc) as a backtrack to the slideshow.
4. And then burn this to a DVD (in DVD format)

If anyone knows of any freeware or free way of doing this. Ideally free software that I could train them to use for themselves into the future.

Many thanks for any help

There is a built in program in XP & Vista called "Windows Movie Maker" and it will do everything you require for free with the exception of the final step of burning to DVD. It is exceptionally good & has all the features you require other than the final burn to DVD but there are many free programs that will take care of that aspect for you. Check out the Essential Free Software section HERE

You can watch a series of video tutorials on how to use it HERE and you will see just how easy it is to make professional presentations in minutes.

-

Ponster

Picasa allows you to do all that for free except adding the background music I'm afraid.

EDIT : Wondershare Movie Story......ahh I see it's no longer free. Ok still looking but I don't think you'll ba able to do exactly what you want in one free piece of software though it's probably possible using several (one to create video slideshow, one to encode music and another to burn). This though would be tough to train people to use properly IMHO..

I'll go back to looking....



P.s. If you don't come up with anything I'll happily donate €25 to the charity in the form of a license for PhotoDVD

KStaford

thank you both for those great replies. I'll keep lookin and if I cant find a free full solution, I may go with one of your suggestions. The people I'd be training are not overly computer literate and the solution would need to be as simple as is feasable.

thanks again

spurious

Haver a look at DVD slideshow GUI. It's free.