In general, a video slide show runs at 5 seconds per image. This may vary with pans and zooms. This means that the average running time is computed at 12 images per minute. A ten-minute video would therefore require 120 images. Musical selections run at 2½ to 3½ minutes. You can figure that a 10-minute video would require five musical selections. In most cases, you do use the entire selection, as it is preferable to change the music to fit a change in the visual theme. This is done with dissolve transitions in the music. The most preferable images to use in a video slide show are medium resolution (4-6 megapixels) digital images. We will resize these images to fit the desired aspect ratio.
There are two aspect ratios to consider when creating a video slide show. They are 4:3 and 16:9. An aspect ratio of 4:3 will fit all TV screens, while a 16:9 will play best on a widescreen TV. It is preferred to use an aspect ratio of 4:3 unless you intend to play the DVD only on a widescreen TV. Most photos are taken with cameras that create an image at the 4:3 ratio cropping to 16:9 can cause the loss of important details.
A note on Standard and High Definitions. Standard Definition for US televisions (NTSC) can be considered 640x480 pixels per inch or 480ppi. This definition meets the 4:3 aspect ratio criteria. For a widescreen (16x9 aspect) you are still maintaining the 480ppi resolution and are merely cropping the image to fit. Computers and some TVs will accommodate a resolution of 720ppi. This results in an image that is 720 x 540 pixels per inch. We produce our Standard (4:3 aspect) in this resolution. It produces a better viewing image. The resolution for High Definition (HD) is 1080ppi. For a 4:3 aspect the image size will be 1440x1080ppi. Resolution should not be confused with widescreen. Resolution is the fineness of the image displayed, while widescreen represents the aspect ration and image cropping. When shooting video you have the option to shoot in standard or widescreen format. This does not increase the quality of the image it only affects the crop. If all of this resolution mumbo-jumbo is confusing, don’t worry about it. We can recommend the best format and resolution to fit your needs.
Usually it is necessary to scan slides, negative or prints for a video slide show. This requires care and time. The hierarchy for scanning is 35mm slides (best), 35mm or APS negatives (good) and prints. We can scan all three types.
The scanning of photos takes the most time. Older photos will have many flaws such as cracks, spots, and faded colors. Photographic prints reprsent a second-generation image (the negative is considered first generation), prints are not as sharp as the slide or negative that was used to create it. Prints are created on different types of paper. Glossy prints yield the best scan as they have a tight surface. Semi-gloss prints have a grainy surface pattern that will degrade the sharpness of the scan. See our Scanning Service Page.
Every image used in a video slide show must be edited in Photoshop. The editing includes color correction, sharpening, spot removal, straightening, and cropping. It requires about 4-minutes to scan and edit a photo slide or negative. For 120 images, you can figure on 8 hours.
To edit a digital image requires about 3 minutes. Once all of the images are in a digital format, edited and cropped to the desired aspect ratio they are organized, usually by timeline, and inserted into the V ideo DVD production software. Here is where titles and menus are created, music is added and the pans and zooms are added to selected images for effect. This process takes about 4 hours for a 10-minute production.
After the video slide show is created, it is reviewed on a TV screen. If you are satisfied with the video production a DVD is burned, labeled and a case cover is created. If you desire the video file converted and exported to YouTube, our Web site or a Web site of your choosing we will do that for an additional $20.00. Extra DVDs with cases are $10.00 each.
If you desire we can provide you with a labeled CD or DVD containing all the scanned and Photoshop corrected images for an additional $25.00. This is fantastic way to preserve those treasured prints and family memories that have been fading away under acid producing plastic in albums or in shoeboxes. |