by
Vinod Jetley , Assistant General Manager , State Bank of India
If you're using a PC, Photo Story3 is a free, easy to use package. It's similar to Powerpoint to use. You can download it free from MicroSoft as long as your PC is running a legal version of Windows XP. On your PC, you'll also need to install the latest free version of Windows Media player (version10) available from the MicroSoft website. There are many other packages available, but most require payment. If you're using a Mac, you can use iPhoto to create a quick and easy slideshow. See http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/ for more details. There are many other packages available, but most require payment. A good place to start looking is the Apple Downloads site. Photo slideshow packages are ideal for people who have no knowledge of filming and/or who want to produce a simple film within a short space of time. They let you create a slideshow using digital pictures (so you'll need a digital camera). You can also edit your pictures, add music by recording it onto your computer using a standard microphone, add narration, and then transfer the film to a number of different formats including dvd, web and email.
Watch an example - Romeo and Juliet performed by Grasmere School »
Most packages includes touch-up features to remove glitches like red eye and correct lighting. They also have pan and zoom effects to add drama, picture rotation, and cropping tools to customise your photos. The final result is a series of images sequenced together which includes motion, narration, and music. Usually there are several different options for saving a story and its associated project so that you can edit the story later or view it immediately. Make sure you save at the highest quality or size you can .