How to Make a Slide Show

Using computer software or websites, you can create online or DVD slide shows of your favorite photos. Share any photos from your digital camera or cell phone, or scan your photographs onto your computer to show electronically. Organize your photos, customize your background and add some music to optimize your presentation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Visit a website such as Slideroll (see Resources below). Open the Slideroll creator screen to open the blank palette interface. A box will appear that prompts you to upload your photos to the site. Once you've uploaded your photos onto your computer's hard drive, upload the photos to the website.
2. Add your photos to the "Slides" section on the left side of your screen. With your mouse, drag your photos to the timeline at the bottom of the screen to arrange the order and duration of your slide show. In the timeline, drag the upper left corner of your photos to adjust the starting points. Drag the bottom right corner to edit your photos' stopping points.
3. Crop your photos while they are placed in the timeline. Use the bottom left or upper right corners to adjust the sizes, or to pan or zoom in on the images. Preview your slide show in the small movie preview screen on the top right of the interface, and select the musical note button at the top of the screen if you want to add a music file. Rearrange your photos if necessary to perfect your slide show presentation.
4. Click "Save" at the bottom of your screen to save your slide show. Hit "Publish" to publish your slide show to the site as an HTML. Choose your settings when the dialogue box appears. This gives you a chance to include controls or loop the slide show for playback. Send emails to your loved ones if you want them to view your slide show.
5. Burn photos to a DVD by using software such as DVD Photo Slide Show. Download the software, then open it to create a new slide show. Click "Organize Photos" at the top of your screen to add photos from your hard drive to your photo album. Organize your photos in the order you want them to appear in the slide show, then choose the "Transition & Music" tab above your album to add transition effects, music and photo captions.
6. Create your DVD menu. At the menu creation page of DVD Photo Slide Show, choose one of the templates on the right side of your screen. Use the "Background Music" or "Background Images" tabs at the bottom of your screen to include your sound WAV file or JPEG image. Preview your entire slide show at this stage by clicking the "Preview" tab before saving the file.
7. Go to the "Burn Disc" button to transfer your slide show to a blank disc. At the "DVD Recorder Options" tab, set your disc speed, allow the software to test the disc burning process before recording, then enter the number of copies that your wish to create. Include publisher and copyright information on your disc, and modify your TV system settings if necessary before showing the disc on your TV.