The Future of HD Slide Show Presentations
Allow me to tell you about the results of a “test” I did last night. A while back, I upgraded to Photodex ProShow Gold 3.5. The drawing card was it’s ability to write BluRay disks in 1080p HD video. Proshow Gold has already established itself as the leading slide show software on the PC.
I needed a way of producing very high quality merchandising show for my Art Show booth. The concept is to allow all passers-by to glance at images as they cycle and be draw in by their quality. Everything I sell is in the slide show, including DSLR Boot Camp Training and Field Workshops.
Lacie D2 BluRay Drive
The missing piece of the puzzle was a decent BluRay burner. I wanted an external Firewire (no glitches!) unit because I want it to be portable between my different work computers.
At this point in time, there isn’t much that fits those requirements: External, Bluray, and Firewire.
The only device I could detemine that would do the job is the Lacie D2. In the past I have had better luck than most with Lacie drives. They basically package OEM drives and resell them.
Lo and behold, this D2 unit was built like a Sherman tank!
Installation was tedious, but all went well. After a reboot, I opened up Proshow Gold 3.5 and it immediately recognized the Lacie BluRay burner device.
ProShow Gold 3.5 supports BluRay
OK, now we’re getting somewhere!
I originally built the entire presentation in PowerPoint to make use of its graphic layout capabilities.
I exported each of the 119 slides as a hi-rez 1920×1080 TIF file. In Proshow Gold, I loaded each TIF into a frame. (I preset the show parameters for 16:9 at 1080p resolution.)
Bingo! I burned the 18 minute show in about 12 minutes (rendering and burning at 2x) using my 4-core main PC. I played this back on my BluRay player and the results are astonishing.
Stop by the “Christmas In The Colonies” Show this weekend and see for yourself! I am in Booth #31. This show is in Medina at the Medina County Fairgrounds in the Medina Community Center. The address is 735 West Lafayette Road (US-42). Times are:
- Friday November 28 – 10 AM to 7 PM
- Saturday November 29 – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Sunday November 30 – 11 AM to 5 PM
I hope to see you there. A great time is planned!!!
Cheers,
Bob
Presentation: “Developing a Distinctive Style: Learn To Be Still”
I will be presenting a talk at Wooster Camera Club on December 1.
The topic will be “Developing a Distinctive Style: Learn To Be Still”. Like most of my club presentations, this is about core photography and not technology. That is of broader general interest (for now, at least, heh heh).
The meeting takes place at the United Methodist Church in Wooster located at the corner of North Market & East Larwill. It starts at 7:00 PM.
Presentation: “Taking Your Work to the Next Level; Strength, Statement, Simplification”
On Tuesday evening November 11th, I will be giving a presentation at the Western Reserve Photographic Society. I enjoy these evening events because I get to mix with friends new and old. Also, there is an element of satisfaction as I am able to connect on an educational level and perhaps help a few people advance in their photographic journey. This will be my 3rd appearance at WRPS in recent years.
You can learn more about WRPS at: http://www.wrpsphoto.org/
The topic of my talk is “Taking Your Work to the Next Level; Strength, Statement, and Simplification”. I am especially pleased that this topic transcends all forms of cameras and technology and speaks about the essence of the photograph. You should all find interest in that, right? If not, why do you practice photography?
The talk starts at 7:30 PM at Lake Farmparks (note: this is a changed location for WRPS). The address is 8800 Chardon Road in Kirtland, Ohio. You can get directions at the Lake Farmparks Website at http://www.lakemetroparks.com/select-park/farmpark.shtml
As far as the talk goes here is what will be covered:
- Strength – captivating the viewer and getting their attention
- Statement – telling a story and say something
- Simplification – avoid distraction and cutting out the noise
I hope you can make it. I intend to make this an entertaining, informative, and inspirational evening.
