Best Software for Video CD Slide Shows

[Jalva22]

I tried JASC v.4, but though the pictures are clear when called up within the program, they aren't sharp on the VCD, even when viewed on the same monitor. Tried recording at the highest quality setting I could activate (deleting soundtrack) but didn't see a change. I'd like a program that will keep the images sharp and allow for more than one track of music behind it. Thanks! Jim

[emalvick]

Well, the first mistake you are making is expecting a VCD to have a sharp high quality. The best programs can't give you that with a VCD. VCD's are just too low of resolution. VCD limits you to about 350 x 240 (NTSC) or 350 x 290 (PAL).

That means all your images are being resized to that resolution (depending on your country and region) when you make a VCD. It won't matter whether you watch it on TV or on computer. That is the resolution you have. Your images lose a lot of sharpness when at that size. DVD's will do you better as you can get 720 x 480 resolution. That is twice the resolution of a VCD and a lot better in terms of sharpness.

Ok... having that in mind. I think the most popular software for creating slide shows with soundtracks, captions, nice transitions, etc is Proshow Gold. I tested ULead's Photoshow software and Magix PhotoStory software and Proshow Gold, and Prowshow offered the best package. You can add soundtracks to the show, and you can add commentary to individual slides. You can blend multiple sound files and it has a ton of transitions to give you the right fade, etc between slides. You can even pan and zoom across an image. ULead's software is very limited and unstable. Their original program was great, but it has just fallen behind. Magix software would be the best, but it lacks a few features that Proshow has. I believe there is a free trial for each program. The Proshow software can be found at:

http://www.photodex.com

They have a board where people post their shows. Take a look at the samples, although they take a lot of time to get what those users have gotten.

Erik