Resources
Supplementary class materials
“Tell Your Story with Pictures”
This web page provides additional information and resources for students of the "Tell Your Story with Pictures" class, offered through the Arlington Adult Education program. This page gives you some starting points, but is not intended to provide exhaustive listings.
Sample
- Need an idea to get started? Look at this short slide show made from a few of my vacation pictures:
- Class promo (created with MS Photo Story 3 in about 10 minutes)
Software for Creating Slideshows
- Download and install software to create a slide show on your computer. Most of this software is for Windows.
- Photo Story 3 — free from Microsoft
- Running Windows Vista or Windows 7? I've heard conflicting reports, and supposedly Photo Story won't work on these newer versions of Windows. I got it to work on my system (Windows 7 Professional, 64-bit), but if it doesn't work on yours, you'll need to try Microsoft's Movie Maker instead.
- DVD slideshow GUI — Not as easy to use as Photo Story, but has very extensive functionality, so it might be worth taking the time to learn it if you're trying to create something very sophisticated..
- PhotoFilmStrip (free open source) — limited functionality but very easy to use
- Picasa (free from Google) (also available for Mac) — even easier, but very limited
- iPhoto — for Mac only; part of the iLife suite
- Software already on your computer? If you have photo-editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop Elements) or CD/DVD burning software (such as Roxio or Nero), you may find slideshow functionality included.
- There are loads of other programs available, including commercial offerings — too many to list here, and I haven't had the chance to try them. But these articles will help you explore the options.
- Create Slide Shows and Photo Albums for Windows
- Create Slide Shows, Photo Albums and Screen Savers for Macintosh
- There are several on-line services that allow you to upload pictures and create a slideshow — sometimes for free. I haven't tried them, so can't vouch for them, but you might want to give one a try. Here are some; you can find more via a Google/Bing search.
- Kizoa
- Smilebox
- Animoto
Want Background Music?
- Keep it legal! If you didn't create the music yourself, using it could constitute illegal copyright infringement.
- CreativeCommons.org — learn how Creative Commons works and how you might benefit, both as a content user and content provider
- Opuzz — they sell royalty-free music clips; register to get some for free
- Partners in Rhyme — more royalty-free music, some of which is free
- Free Music Archive — free music!
- SoundJay — free sound effects
- FreeAudioClips.com — free music and sound effects
- Flash Kit — free music loops and sound effects
- The Freesound Project — no, not music, but free sound effects
- Photo Story 3 — aside from creating slide shows, it can be used to generate original background music
Software for Creating DVDs
- If you already have a media-creating package such as Nero or Roxio, you don't need this, but otherwise, here's a solution for creating and burning a DVD of your story. (If you're running Windows 7, the Windows DVD Maker does a decent job as well.)
- DVDStyler — free open-source software (for Windows and Linux)
Sending Large Files
- Sometimes we want to mail something large like a video, but many e-mail systems choke if an attachment is larger than 5-10 megabytes. Use this service to upload your file; your recipients will receive an e-mail message containing a link that allows them to download the file.
- YouSendIt — their free level of service is probably good enough for the purpose
Hosting Videos
- If you have your own web site, it's a logical place to host your videos. But there are other options.
- YouTube — free open-source software (for Windows and Linux)
- Vimeo — for a more professional-looking environment
Audio Hardware
- Need a high-quality microphone or interface? Yes, there are many bargains to be had by shopping on-line. But if you're not sure about what you're buying, it's probably worth paying a little more to deal with somebody face-to-face. Here are two knowlegeable suppliers I've worked with.
- Washington Professional Systems — located in Wheaton
- Guitar Center — several locations in the area
- The How-To Geek Guide to Computer Microphones
- Microphone University — articles about microphone technology
Tutorials
- WindowsPhotoStory.com
- PapaJohn.org — tutorials on Photo Story and Movie Maker