PhotoStory3 - Create a slide show with music

In preparation for the February meeting, here is a short refresher on PhotoStory 3 software.  This is FREE software that you can download from Microsoft and it allows you to prepare slideshows of your photographs complete with music track, special effects and titles.  There are lots of slideshow tools available but if you have never used one then PhotoStory 3 is a great place to start because it walks you through the process step by step.

Download from:   http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11132      OR search Google for Photostory3.  Make sure you download from the actual Microsoft site.  The software will indicate it is PhotoStory3 for XP but it runs fine in Windows Vista and Windows 7.  There is an Apple version as well.

Step 1: Begin a new PhotoStory

Import your pictures.  The software will assist in removing black borders and resizing the photographs for a data projector.  In this step you can reorder your photographs,  adjust color levels, rotate and add special effects (like pencil sketch and washout for title slides).

Step 2: Add titles

You can add titles or credits to you slide show or even add captions to each slide.

Step 3: Narrate & customize motion

If you have a microphone attached to your computer you can narrate your slide show.  I this step you can also change the panning motion selected for each slide, the length of time each slide is displayed and the type and duration of the transitions between slides.

Step 4: Add music

The software will recognize any .MP3 song.  If the music is longer than your slide set, the software will take care of fading the sound at the end of the slide show.  Just select the slide you want the music to start on and PhotoStory3 does the rest.

Step 5: Produce your show.

This is the last step.  The software will format your show and create a .WMV video file that can be shown on any computer (you can even upload it to YouTube).
 
Remember to save your PhotoStory work so you can go back and make edits and tune-ups if you want to.