Convert Your Photos to Video Slideshows with Free Software

  • S06E44
  • July 23, 2013

Robbie and Christa take a look at a piece of free software (Windows, Linux) that is making it easier for you to make attractive slideshows from your photographs.

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This episode is sponsored in part by: Eco Alkalines.

Topics Covered:

  • Robbie Ferguson and Christa Wells present from the Category5 studios in Barrie, Ontario.
  • {play 3:34}Thank you to the viewers who have sent us a donation this week. Your donations will be used to help expand the show.
  • Greetings to our new viewers, and viewers on YouTube.
  • {play 5:27}Robbie's Favorites: Bored of Lorem Ipsum? Why not try Bacon Ipsum for the meat lovers' special, or Picksum Ipsum for movie fans.
  • {play 8:47}Feature: Create an attractive "Ken Burns effect" video slideshow from your still images using the free ffDiaporama software for Windows or Linux.
    • Obtaining ffDiaporama from cat5.tv/slideshow.
    • Why we'll install from a .deb package rather than using a repository.
    • Note: While live on the air, Robbie had trouble finding the correct .deb package for Debian/Point Linux (but fortunately had downloaded it previously for the demonstration). As it turns out, the package was in fact the LinuxMint (Debian Based) package. So if using Debian or Point Linux, go for the "LinuxMint (Debian based versions)" package.
    • Installing ffDiaporama by double-clicking the .deb installer.
    • Launching ffDiaporama for the first time and configuring the software video standard before producing your first video slideshow.
    • Creating your new project.
    • Adding photographs to our ffDiaporama project timeline.
    • Re-ordering photos in your slideshow.
    • Setting the transition type for an individual slide.
    • How to create the Ken Burns effect using ffDiaporama.
    • Cropping or reframing an image in ffDiaporama.
    • How to overcome the mouse snapping when reframing a photograph in ffDiaporama.
    • Setting the shot duration of each photo in your slide.
    • The preview animation on ffDiaporama is a bit jerky, but don't worry: it will be nice and smooth when you render your video.
    • Reframing a photo that has been taken vertically so it fills the entire screen.
    • Why the Ken Burns Effect based on our method is much better than automated software, because you can control all the points that are in the field of view.
    • Creating a slide with more than two frames.
    • Adding music to your slideshow.
    • Why you may want to wait until the end before adding music.
    • {play 49:24}Jump to the point where we preview the video production.
  • {play 34:19}Top Stories from the Category5.TV Newsroom
    • Online porn will be blocked by UK Internet Service Providers by default.
    • Millions of Sim cards are vulnerable to a hack attack.
    • Ubuntu hopes to blast past Indiegogo and Kickstarter’s records by raising $32m to build the Ubuntu Edge smartphone.
    • Birmingham University has chosen Linux to power their 15-teraflop super computer.
  • {play 44:14}Category5 is expanding its sales force, and we would like you to help us sell advertising in your community. Interested in making a commission while supporting Category5 TV? Email your name and location to contact@category5.tv.
  • {play 46:02}Viewer Comment: The Indiana Linux Fest is this weekend, and is free to attend! Visit www.indianalinux.org.
  • {play 46:55}Viewer Question: I installed Linux Mint on my external hard drive, but upon reboot it did not load, and the drive is in fact blank. I'd really love to try Linux! What can I do?
    • If running Linux or even Windows 7, you can double click an ISO file to burn it to DVD. However if you are running Windows XP, you will need a tool such as CDBurnerXP.
  • {play 49:24}Preview our video production from the earlier feature.
  • {play 51:21}Viewer Comment: Good news for artists: Lynda.com has open source training videos including Blender and GIMP. That said, I still think Chaos & Evolutions has some of the best GIMP tutorials around.
  • {play 52:55}Viewer Question: I've been trying to run Clonezilla in VirtualBox but cannot get it to run. It just gives me a black screen. I'm using the clonezilla-live-2.1.2-20-i686-pae.iso file. Any ideas?
    • Activating PAE on your VirtualBox virtual machine.
  • {play 57:17}I love the show. It has great information! Keep up the great work! I can't always watch the full episode live, but I always download it via the RSS feed.
  • {play 58:24}Unboxing the new Rikomagic MK602.

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