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A professional slideshow has
no hidden secrets. But by choosing the best photos, you can greatly
improve a show's quality. Keep in mind these are only tips;
we simply wish to help you include the best possible pictures! |
Select
good-quality photos for your digital photo slide show |
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While we can improve your images with photo restoration
work, it's best to start with good photos for slideshows.
Look for photos that are:
– In focus (not blurry).
– Lit enough to see people's faces.
– Printed on flat paper. Textured photos are
not ideal.
– Free from major damage, such as spots or large tears or
creases.
– Physically intact and horizontal (not cut into shapes for scrapbooks)
Of
course, you may have to use photos possessing one or more
of the above qualities, especially if you are working with
older photos. But your slideshow will be better
if you limit these photos. Just keep in mind: Photos that look
great as prints printed will also look great onscreen. |
Horizontal
photos are better than vertical photos |
Television screens are wider than tall,
so horizontal pictures fit more naturally and
look much better. If you must include some
vertical photos, try to intersperse them among horizontal ones
– avoid having vertical shots appearing one after
the other. During our editing, we generally crop or pan a vertical
photo to fill the screen as much as possible. However, some vertical
photos may be presented onscreen with black borders on each side
if we cannot crop without losing essential content. |
Select
pics in which the subject is centered well |
Avoid photos in which
the people are framed badly. For example, avoid photos in which subjects' heads
are close to the top edge, or ones in which their shoulders are
cut off on the sides. We will not be able to position
these photos very well. |
A
professional slideshow needs action shots! |
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The best photo montage evokes
emotion or cause laughter to erupt from your audience. Frequently,
those will be "action" shots, where someone in the
photo is doing something. Therefore, try to intersperse
your posed photos with action shots. For
example, if your wedding slideshow has formal photos of your
wedding party,
select a few other candids to mix in, such as pics of the best
man drinking champagne or the bridesmaids laughing together. (Camcorder
video transfer clips can add action too.) Look for pictures
that are natural, candid, and spontaneous, and show character and
personality. |
Mix
up your group photos |
Too many group photos can
be deadly to a photo on DVD slideshow. If you
have a group photo of your family from last Thanksgiving
dinner, add some shots of the grandkids eating turkey or the
guys throwing around a football. Even mixing in photos showing
a few people closeup rather than
a large group can add visual
drive to a Christmas slideshow like this one. |
Eliminate
similar photos |
Cutting extraneous photos will improve
the pace. For example, you may have
10 photos of your child playing outside with your dog. Most people
watching your slideshow will get the point after at least 5 photos,
and naturally, some of the photos will not be as clear or
well-composed as others. Don't be afraid to omit them. |
Include
photos of the audience |
If you are showing your slide show montage
at a party, keep in mind that everyone loves to see
themselves on the screen! Try to include photos of audience
members when possible. It makes your guests feel
part of your special event! (If you can, adding funny clips from
a tape
to DVD transfer works too.) |
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Sometimes it's impossible to avoid these photos
as a slideshow creator. You
may inevitably wind up with back-to-back group pics or
five posed shots in a row. But by considering these tips,
you can help make your DVD slide show professional!
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Choose photos carefully for your
digital photo slide show! |
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